Middletown transcript., 1922-03-18
LESSON FOR MARCH 19
THE DOWNFALL. OF ISRAEL

LESSON TEXT-II Kings 17:1-1S.
GOLDEN observation-disclosures exalteth
nation; but sin Is a reproach to any
people.-Prov. H:A
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Hosea 4;
PRIMARY TOPIC-what Came Of
Wrong Doing.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Israers Punishment
for Dsobedlence
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Results of Disobedience to God.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-How National Sins Are Punished.
I. Israel Taken Into Captivity
wv. 1-6).
This was the fullllment of that
which Amos had predicted In the days
of Jeroboam ii, at n time when the
nation was at the height of its 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 Op-
portunity, but In spite of it. God
promised the first king His blessing
II he would be loyal to Him. Jero-
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
u. The Sins Which Caused Their
Doom wv. 7-1S).
1. Conformed to the ways Of the
heather wv. 10y. God had COM
manded them not to follow in the
ways Of the heather. but these
fsraelites. instead of maintaining lives
of separation, secretly did that which
was displeasng 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
men while practicing sins. but ruin
Will sooner or later overtake him.
Even though God had cast out the
heather for practlcing these sins, the
Israeites followed in their ways. God
demands separation UI Cor. 6:1O.
2. Served idols wv. 1O-12). They not
only compromised by walking in the
statutes of the heathen," but worsl!ped
their gods. 1t was not long step
from following in the statutes Of the
heather to worshiping their gods.
Before they worshiped idols they cast
off the true God. Idolatry came In
because the race did not wish to re-
tain God In its affection (Rom. :21-
23). People today are worshiping
idols because they have first cast off
the authority Of the living God. Man
is 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 Turn ye from your evil
ways and keep my commandments"
but they stubbornly refused His
testimony, even rejected His statutes
God. in love, tried to save them. He
sent some of the noblest and best
prophets who ever spoke to man to
sins, such as Elijah and Elisha, but
they hardened their necks and plunged
deeper into wickedness.
4. Caused their sons and daughters
to pass through the fire ". ~. This
was the dreadful Moloch worship-the
most cruel rite of heather worship
1t was done by kindllng 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
". ~. 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 ". 1S).
At this stage Of the drama the cur
tain falls. God could not be inactive
longer.
/. God was very angry. Gods anger
is not raving fury, but the revulsion
Of His holy nature against sin. Sin
cannot exist In His presence. His
WIdtll olilhSs lHOuSl I1e willis
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 o
separate nation doubtless they will
never return to their land. The judg.
ment was severe, but not more SC
than the sins merited. God had waited
long. The despising Of His grace
must eventually work ruin. What
judgment must fall upon the people
today who reject His grace and mercy