Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-10-27

giveth his neighbor drink.-Hab 2:l5.
REFERENCE MATERIAL--Isa. S:lI-la,
II. 81; Amos Al, Q.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Story Of the Rech-
abites.
JUNIOR ToPIc-The Faithful Rechab-
ties.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Enforcing Prohibition.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
World Prohibition.
I. Gods Judgment Upon Israel
(vv. 1-4).
1. The sin for which Israel was
judged ". IL. 1t was drunkenness,
which seems to have, been national
sin. (See lisa. GIL, II; 7:5; Amos
2:8, 8, IL; Al; 8, 81 Samarla's posi-
ton was an enviable one. The whole
nation was proud of her. The crown
of pride whose glorious beauty had
been so marked was fading through
the blighting effects of drunkenness.
q The instrument by which the
punishment was effected ". y. 1t was
to be by the strong hand of the Assy-
rians. The imagery Of this verse
shows that this destruction was to be
sudden. swift and irresistible.
Some of the evils wrought by drunk
enness:
| (a) Strength Is wasted by 1t ". IL.
"Are overcome with wine." Mans
manifold strength, physical, mental
and spiritual. is soon mastered by
strong drink. (b) Honor brought into
the dust. "Shall be trodden Under
feet" (vv. 1, 81. Just as this proud
city was humbled through intemper-
ance. so does drunkenness bring down
into the dust those high In educa-
tional, social and business circles.
(c) 1t despoils beauty (vv. /, Al.
Beauty is fading flower" Beauty
soon departs from the form and spirit
of men and women who indulge In the
intoxicating cup. (d) Wisdom Is
turned aside ". u. "They have erred
through wine and strong drink" AS
consequence they were cropping In
darkness instead of walking In the
light of the Lord.
II. The Lords Promise to the Rom
nant wv. 8, 90.
Out Of this awful darkness shines
ray of brightness, for following the
destruction Of the proud city the Lord
of Hosts is promised for crown OF
glory to the remnant of His people.
THIS pointed forward to the coming
Of the Savior Czech. 6:13). Their
hopes were partially fulfilled at the
first coming Of the Savior, but the
real fulfillment shall be when drunk
enness, pride and all unrighteousness
shall disappear before the glaring
light of the Sun of Righteousness
(Mal. AZ; Pet. $40.
NJ. The sinfulness Of Judah
(vv. 7-10l.
/. Drunkenness ". ~. Judah had
also erred through strong drink. Even
their priests and prophets had fallen
through the blighting effects Of wine.
Il was a violation of Gods law for
priest to take wine before entering
the tabernacle. The drunkards Of
Doth judah and Ephraim are de-
nounced. The message is fitting one
Tor this day, for the Scriptures de-
clare that no drunkard shall enter the
kingdom Il Cor. SILL; 6:10).
2. Unnamable filth ". 81. This de-
scription shows condition which Is
1eplorable indeed. Filth and drunk
snness go hand in hand.
3. Mockery wv. 0. 10). In addition
to their drunkenness and filth they
scornfully mock Gods prophets. These
priests had become, so hardened by
their drunken debauchery that they
set at naught Isaiah's instructions
and scorned Gods messengers. They
questioned their authority and gave
back the answer of ridicule as If to
say. 1--WE are teachers, what do you |
mean to teach us? Are we babes that |
have Just been weaned? You come
to us with your line upon line, line
upon line" They were not only UNI
willing to receive the message, but
Tired of the way In which it was de-
ivered. Not being willing to receive
the message, they complain of the
manner In which it is delivered. The
doctrine of salvation by blood alone
Is not very popular one; the preach
ng Of the cross Is foolishness to some
Il Cor. 1921; 2:14l.
Nv. Judah's Punishment. wv. 11-13l.
The prophet replies to these drunken
,coffers that their very drunken-ques-
tons should be answered by the Lord
n Judgment. God had repeatedly off
Tered them rest. but they had as re-
peatedly refused 1t. Their scorn and
are answered with the bit
.erest sarcasm. Tile bloody conqueror
would come upon them and cause
hem to be shared and taken.