Evening star., 1917-09-29
THE GOODNESS AND SEVER
ITY, OF GOD.
Daniel. 9.3-16.
Golden Textile Lord is merci-
full and gracious. slow to anger.
and plenteous in mercy
Bv Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

The lessons for the quarter have COW
cred a period of more than 2oo years
During that period some OF the most
,mportant events in connection Win
the history of the Hebrew nation trans
n,red One can no more isolate the
events In connection with Judah's his
tory during that period from the CO.
temporaneous movements in other ma
tions than one can record the history
Of any nation during the last three
wears without tracing the influence OF
the central powers of Europe and that
of the allies in the life of that people
The history of the rivalries of Phoe-
nicia and Damascus. of Egypt ana AS.
syria, of Assyria and Babylon. and OF
Babylon and Egypt. has left It's m
Auence upon the records of both Judan
and Israel. although the northern king
years after Isaiah's call. was not con-
sidered in the quarters lessons as
much as Germany. Austria and turkey
on the one hand and England, france:
Russia. Italy and Japan nave played
in Americas recent history.
The Hebrew historians had an eye Tor
the salient features of history. They
understood the philosophy OF hlstory.
The supreme value Of Jewish history IS
that IL reveals the purpose. plan and
power of God. who controls the des-
tiny of men and nations. During the
quarter, the lessons have been con-
sidered that taught the goodness and
severity of God the truth that the ma
fions are run in accordance with His
law of nations has frequently been i'm
pressed Jehovah hath determined the
times before appointed and bonds of
their habitation" in accordance with
one fixed eternal purpose. that has pro-
claimed that Blessed is that nation
whose God is the Lord" and the nation
that will not serve Him shall perish"
The strength of every nation and its
stability depends upon its loyalty to
God Fidelity to Jehovah secures the
blessing of His grace. while departures
from His law. word or viii always re-
suit in suffering the punishment that
makes one realize the severity OF a just
and good God.
The epochal events of the period COW
cred by the Lessons furnished many a
patriotic and persuasive sermon to the
prophets, who tried to turn the nation
back to God. The fall of Samaria and
the miraculous deliverance of Jerusa-
lem from the clutches of Sennacherib:
the finding of the Book of the Law.
which SO profoundly Influenced the sub
sequent Hebrew history. life, literature
and religion: the death of Josiah on
the field of battle presenting great prob
lens for faith to solve; the deportation
of the first exiles from Judah to Baby
lon; the fall OF Judah and the over
throw of Jerusalem, with another eXpe-
dition of exiles into Babylon, were all
the basis of prophetic deliverances. The
three prophets whose ministry has been
considered in the quarters lessons were
Isaiah. Ezekiel and Daniel. Other
prophets were active during this period
Jeremiah, the noble patriot. vas in Ju-
dah trying to call the nation back to
God. Habakkuk. Nahum and Zephaniah
were also spokesmen for God at that
period. Isaiahs ministry centered in
Jerusalem. while Daniel and Ezekiel
were men of vision among the captives
of Babylon.
The kings whose reigns have been con.
sidered numbered five. The influence OF
the character OF Uzziah was seen in the
first study of the quarter when Isaiah's
call to the work Of prophet was corsid-
cred. Then followed a succession Of men
Wicked Ahaz, who despoiled the temple
Of God and utilized the precious materials
for the creation OF idol worship. was sue
ceeded by his son Hezekiah, whose ad
rninistration revealed his excellent char
acter His last years, however. were
clouded by sin. which retarded the re
forms he had inaugurated. They made
possible the reaction under Manasseh. wht
.sueceeded to the throne of his father
tHoGekiah. Mana4seh led Judah astray
into apostacy. which he was unable Il