Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-03-16

LESSON FOR MARCH 10
THE DOWNFALL OF ISRAEL

THE DOWNFALL OF ISRAEL
LESSON TENTH kings l7l-lS.
GOLDEN TEX T-Ri ghteousness exalteth
a nation: but sin is q reproach to any
people. prov 14:Sf
REFERENCE MATERIAI<-IIosea 4;
Amos 2.5-16.
PRIMARY ToPlc-what Came Of
JUNIOR ToPIc--1sraels Punishment
for Disobedence.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Results OF Disobedience to God.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
How. National Sins Are Punished,
I. Israel Taken Into Captivity
(vv. 10y.
This was the fulhllment of that
which Amos had predicted in the days
of Jeroboam ii, at a time when the
nation was at the height of it's pros
perity The northern kingdom was
ruled by 10 kings, all of whom were
wicked. Their wickedness was not be-
cause of lack of information or OPP
portunity, but In spite Of 1t. God
promised the first king His blessing
IL he would be loyal to Him. Zero
boam departed from God and the
apostasy thus begun continued down
ward to the end. In the reign OF
Hoshea, the last king, the king of
Assyria came and besieged Samaria
and carried the children of Israel cap
tive to Assyria, from which they never
returned.
II. The Sins Which Caused Their
Doom wv. T-1S).
/. Conformed to the ways of the
heather (vv. TOY. God had COM
manded them not to follow in the
ways Of the heather, but these
Israelites, instead OF maintaining lives
of separation, secretly did that which.
was displeasing. to God. Secret sins
Just as surely. as open sins bring ruin,
for all things are naked and open to
Him with. whom we have to do. One
may maintain his reputation before
mon while pfactieings sins; but ruin
WIN sooner or later overtake him.
Dyen. though. God. had ,cAst out the
I hseehnn Ter pFarxicings thSses SINS ~
Iesaelitess felleweA IN their wayh God
Demands separation, (us Cor. 0c1I)s
4 r. served idols wv. 1919. They not
only compromised BY walking In the
statutes OF the heathen." but worshiped
their ecdss r. was not ~ long step
from following in the statutes of the
heathen. to- worshipings thsira goda.
| Before they worshiped idols they cast
| OK the true God, Idolatrys came In
because the race did not wish to re-
tain God In Its affection (Rom. / al
2S). People today are worshiping
| idols because they have first cast of
the authority Of the living God. Man
is a worshipful being. When he
ceases to worship the true God, he
worships other gods. Neutral ground
Is impossible.
3. They were rebellious wv. 49,
15). God by his prophet had said
unto them "rurn We from your evil
ways and keep my, commandments"
but they stubbornly refused His
testimony, even rejected His statutes.
sent some Of the noblest and best
prophets who ever spoke to man to
persuade them to turn from their
sins, such as Elijah and Elisha, but
they hardened their necks and plunged
deeper into wickedness.
a. Caused their sons and daughters
to pass through the fire ". III. This
was the dreadful Mooch worship-the
most cruel rite Of heather worship
1t was done by kindling a fire in a
hollow metal image until its arms were
red hot and placing live children
therein to be burned to DEATH
5. Resorted to magical practices
| ". 10. When faith in the true God
wanes, men always turn to the magical
arts. In this way they sold them
selves to evil IN the sight Of the Lord
to provoke Him TO anger.
III. Judgment Falls W. 1S).
At this stage Of the drama the cur
| tain falls. God could not be inactive
longer.
l. God was very angry. Gods anger
is not raving fury, but the reyulslon
Of His holy nature against sin. Sin
cannot exist in Ills presence. His
wrath must strike Though He waits
long. the debt must be paid and always
with compound interest. There Is only
one way to escape Gods wrath; that
is, to turn from sin.
2. Removed them out of His sight
| The land Of Palestine is regarded as
| the land of Gods sight; that is, the
| place of His manifested presence
| Their national identity was blotted
out forever. These people are still
scattered among the nations, and as
| separate nation doubtless they will
never return to their land The judg-
| ment was severe. but not more so
| than the sins merited God had waited
long. The despising of His grace
| must eventually work ruin. What
| judgment must fall Upon the people