Evening star., 1922-06-24
REVIEW: UJDAES PROSPER
ITY AND ADVERSELY.
Devotional reading lesson
Psalm, e5.1, 2, 8-13. =,
Golden TeKt-Blessed is the
nation who's God is Jhovah-
Psalm, 33.12.

nation who's God is Jhovah-
| Psalm, S3.12.
BIZ REV. HUGH r. STEVENSON.
During the quarter we have been
studying the history Of Judah from
tho time of the division Of the He
brew kingdom. due to the rebellion Of
Israel. under Jeroboam I. to. the
downfall Of the southern Kingdom.
The period covered in our lessons has
been about three hundred and nifty
part among the nations for 13s years
after Israel. whose history We con-
sidered in ths first quarter Of the
year, had fallen. While nine different
dynasties ruled the northern king
dom during the period Of six genera
tions. there was only one dynasty,
that Of David; to exercise dominson
studies for the quarter have con-
firmed the statement Of Stanley con-
corning Judah, that we study the
history of dynasty rather than OF .
nation-of city rather than OF .
country" Our lessons started with
grandson Of Solomon and grandson Of
Rehoboam. whose reactionary policy
and personal insolence caused the al
vision Of the kingdom, when Israel
broke from Judah, and ended in our
lesson Of last week. with the de-
struction of Jerusalem in 6S6 b. G.
and the carrying Of Judah into cap
tivity.
During tho quarters studies We
have seen how history repeats stself
for we have been brought face to
face with political, social and intsrna-
49, ~ nj la -
at this very moment Of the worlds
history. The story Of Judah We have
found closely connected with the po-
litical institutions. the imperial am
billions and the colonial policies OF
neighboring nations. The rtyalrtss
of Phoenicia and Damascus, Of Egypt
and Assyria. Of Assyria and BABYLON.
are apparent In the annals Of Judah.
where they arc registered AZ accu-
rately as the rivalrles Of the various
powers that were revealed 1t Yer.
sailles, Washington and Genoa
history Of other nations has taught
US that we must understand . great
many things outside Of the Bible, II We
are to understand tho sacred Scrip.
lures. During our study OF the les
sons and the history Of the nations
that have been closely identined with
to us tho realization Of the presence
Of God in the history of men and ma
tions. SO that we have come to see
In the records Of nations and In the
annals Of mon His story. In fact,
tho unity Of human history comes
presence of the Lord controlling both
men and nations.
AS we traced the story Of Judah
the evidence OF the presence OF Je-
hovah with His people became ap-
parent. The reformers among the
sent by Him to save the people from
apostacy and destruction. His atrug-
gle and that of His servants to keep
Judah loyal to their covenant obli-
cations was due to the fact that God
did not desire them TO forget that
There was constant clash between
the powers Of righteousness and sin.
due to Jehovah's desire to eradicate
sin from the lives Of men and the
state.
Last quarter we saw how the fer
tile fields and commercial position Of
Israel gave to 1t great prosperity and
power. The rugged land OF judah
could never compare with Israel In
fertility. The source Of its prosper
from that Of the soil. Its isolation
protected the people from frequent
contact with foreign customs with
their religious Ideals, which were de-
structive Of spiritual Worship. There
were several Small fertile sections
Jordan valley and the plains Of
plain OF Esdraelon. The prosperity
Of Israel resulted In the prophets
proclaiming a gospel OF social jus
tice. demanding square deal for the
poor and the oppressed. The wealth
character. as 1t was spiritual. :.
Nevertheless, tho southern king
dom had Its periods Of material pros
perity and military power. It ar-
pears strange to Us, ~ we look back
upon those days. that Judah failed to
She failed to profit by the example OF
the northern Kingdom. Judah ought
to have escaped the pitfalls Of Israel.
She had the prophets Of outstanding
character. whose loyalty to Jehovah
and their country was demonstrsted
ed nation in the ways Of righteous
ness. Tho standards that they pre-
sented were peculiar to their ago and
land, yet they contained the elements.
which Amos hrst recognised, that
pointed out the supremacy Of Gods
rulership among all nations.
We have seen that although the
Lord was supreme among the nations,
yet He mover deprived any individual
or nation Of the power to resist His
will. Ths nations prosperity came.
as we saw, by its reliance upon
God. its faith in Him BY its
courageous venture for" Jehovah
and utilization Of business methods
for tho glory Of the Lord. We have
witnessed how the vision Of God came
to isaiah calling him to service. We
have studied his message concerning
the law and leadership Of Jehovah
and noted how It pointed out the
pathway Of peace, protection. pros
perity and power to the nations. who
today are at strife. We have fellow
ed Hesekiah leading the nation back
to God, and studied the place that
the Bible holds in building up the
nations life. with all these l1ssons
Impressed upon Judah. the nation
sinned and lost its place In the world.
When we turn to follow the down.
ward course Of Judah'u history, We
found the glory Of the nation was
not IN the hands Of the kings, al
though Asa, Joash and He3ekiah
tried to walk In the way Of the Lord.
We have observed how tho prtssts,
who ought to have been the leaders in
all religious life, unfortunately failed
as . whole TO rofiect credit upon their