Middletown transcript., 1921-10-29
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Si11nldaySc}lool q
' Lesson
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 30
STRONG DRINK IN A NATIONS
LiFE-WORLD'S temper.
ANCE SUNDAY.
(By REV. p. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
q, 1921, Western Newspaper Union.)

REFERENCE MATERIAL-Isa. stills.
q, q; Amos Al, e
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.
!. Gods Judgment Upon Israel
wv. 1-4).
1. The sin for which Israel was
judged ". ~. It was drunkenness,
which seems to have been a national
sin. (See lisa. GIL, II; 7:5; Amos
2:6, 8, p; IL; 6, g. Samaria'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.
2. The instrument by which the
punishment was effected ". p. 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.
SoAhe of the evils wrought by drunk
enness. Just as the flower severed
from the parent stem droops and
fades, so drunkenness had sapped the
vitality from the nation and left 1t
as fading chaplet Of flowers on the
head of drunkard.
(a) Strength is wasted by it ". ~.
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, -. Just as this proud
city was humbled through intelnper-
ance, so does drunkenness bring down
into the dust those high in educa-
tional, social and business circles.
(c) 1t despoils beauty wv. l, A..
Beauty Is fading flower" Beauty
soon departs from the form and spirit
intoxicating cup. (d) Wisdom is
turned aside ". y. "They have erred
through Wine and strong drink" AS
q consequence they were cropping in
darkness instead of walking In the
light of the Lord.
II. The Lords Promise to the REM
nant (vv. 5, g..
Out of this awful darkness shines
a ray Of brightness, for following the
destruction of the proud city the Lord
Of Hosts is promised for a 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 fulfllment shall be when drunk
enness, pride and all unrighteousness
shall disappear before the glarin:.
light of the Sun of Righteousness
(Mal. 4:2; Pet. SD.
III. The sinfuIness Of Judah
wv. 7-1O).
l. Drunkenness ". y. Judah had
also erred through strong drink. Even
their priests and prophets had fallen
through the blighting effects of wine.
1t was a violation of Gods law for
priest to take wine before entering
the tabernacle. The drunkards of
both Judah and Ephraim are de-
nounced. The message is fitting one
for this day, for the Scriptures de-
clare that no drunkard shall enter the
kingdom Il Cor. I'll; 6:1O). The
awful sin of drunkenness should be
denounced In the strongest terms pos.
sible by Gods servants.
2. Unnamable filth ". 81. This de-
scription shows condition which Is
depIorable indeed. Filth and drunk
enness so hand in hand.
8. Mockery wv. 8, 10Y. 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 un-
willing to receive the message, but
tired Of the way in which it was de-
livered. 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
ing of the cross is foolishness to some
Il Cor. 1:1S-21; 2:14). Men do not
like Gods message because it calls
them to make a surrender of their
sins.
". Judah's Punishment. wv. 11-13).
The prophet replies to these drunken
scoffers that their very drunken ques-
tions should be answered by the Lord
in Judgment. God had repeatedly Of
fered them rest, but they had as re-
peatedly refused 1t. Their scorn and
contempt are answered with the Bit
terest sarcasm. The bloody conqueror
would come upon them and cause
them to be shared and taken.