Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-24
BY DR. MARION McH. HULL

the Northern Kingdom, of Israel,
and traced it's course from a great
opportunity to a complete disaster
because it's leaders without excep-
ton turned away from God. During
the past three months we have been
studying the history Of the South
ern Kingdom, Of Judah, and have
noted a checkered career-prosper-
ing when they relied on God and
obeyed Him, and getting into trou-
BILE when they turned away from
Him. For 200 of the 354 years the
kingdom lasted, it was under the
leadership of men who walked in
the way of their father, David, and
followed God-but the minority Of
years during which they were under
the leadership of men, though Da.
vid's descendants, they turned away
from Cod and were led by them
so far away that the nation was
completely taken out of the land
that had been promised to their
fathers forever.
Prosperity and Adversely
AS we review this history with
the purpose of discovering what was
the cause of the nations prosperity
and what caused its down fall, we
are impressed with the fact that
it was not Gods fault. 1t almost
broke His heart to have to allow
the troubles to come upon the PEG.
pie He loved and yearned after, and
for whom He had given so much;
and it was nothing else than His
everlasting love that made it pos
sible for Him to allow that purging
Judgment and prevent their COM
plete destruction. AS We analyze
the history we discover at least
four elements that ministered to
success, and four-the opposites -
which brought about disaster. The
first four of Asa, Joash, Uzziah,
Hezekiah and Jonah. Most remark
able to discover also that in the
lives Of the very same men the op-
posite elements are illustrated aa
bringing about disaster-these ele-
ments being reliance in self, neglect
of Gods word, rejection of His law,
and refusal of His love.
You will recall how Asa rested in
Gods Word and relied entirely on
Him, and how God made the Ethio-
plans scatter before Him; and then
later in his history how he trusted
in himself and failed, and how the
prophet rebuked him as he spoke
that wonderful statement of fact to
him-"the eyes of Jehovah run to
and from throughout the whole earth,
to show Himself strong in the be-
half of those whose heart is per-
feet toward Him." e Chron. 16:9).
You will remember how Gods Word
to David hung on the life of just
one little baby boy, but how God
preserved Joash and put him on the
throne. You will recall how Uzziah
grew strong and prospered as long
as he sought God but that when he
was strong and lifted up he forgot
who had lifted him, and through
pride disobeyed and fell. And how
Hezekiah yielded to Gods love as
Isaiah proclaimed it, and was won
derfully blessed, but that when he
took things in his own hands, he
made a mess of it in bringing forth
Manasseh, the worst king Judah hnd.
For it was due to Manasseh that
the law of God was neglected so
long until during his grandson
reign, Hilkiah found the book in the
rubbish of the temple an0 the book
found the. king and his peolpe. vow
will recall also how Jehoiahim, 10
slah's son, tried TO avert, the disas.
ters threatening the kingdom OF Ju,
dab by destroying the law of God,
but failed. And how Zedekiah and
his princes persistently refused to
yield to the entreaties of Gods pro-
phet jeremiah until the city and
people were completely ruined.
We have often noted that human
nature has not changed, that men
are the same today although their
outward circumstances may vary
greatly. The same principles are
operative now as then. Temporal
prosperity, prosperity connected
with their tenure of the land of Pal
estine, was a condition that had
special reference to the Jews. Their
promises of blessing were largely
connected with the land and were
therefore earthly. True prosperity
does not always mean temporal pros
perity. Some of the greatest saints
the world has known were posses
sors of very little of earthly goods.
Some did not want that, others could
not have it and have the best. Pros
perity is having that for which we
hope-our hearts desire. The
Christians prosperity is to have his
hearts desire, which is the will of
God. Many times that will means
large possessions, often it will mean
close figuring.
However, the principles are the
same today as then. Reliance on
God, trust in His Word, obedience
to His law, yielding our all to His
love will bring prosperity today.
While dependence upon self. neglect
of His Word, rejection of His law,
refusal to yield to His love will
bring disaster to any nation or in
diVidual.
Ruin and Restoration
Israel would not yield to God and
ended in ruin. The ten tribes are
still lost. Judah lasted longer, but
we learned last week the utter dev.
astation that resulted from their
stubborn resistance to Gods will
the city laid waste, the kings sons
slain, the king blinded and taken
capture, the mobiles deported, the
women ravished, the children starved
and eaten; a small remnant only
left and these finally carried captive
to Babylon.
All of this had been foretold by
jeremiah; but they had refused to
hear. But Gods love had not chang
ed. Through Jeremiah-as we'll as
| through the other prophets-He had
told them of a golden age to be. Ruin
would be followed by restoration.