The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1922-03-16
LESSON FOR MARCH 1s
THE DOWNFALL OF ISRAEL

49, SOWNFA ALI OF iSnAEE
LESSON TExT-II Kings FILLS.
GOLDEN TEXT--Righteousness exaltetf
q nation; but sin is a reproach to any
people.-Prov. 14:34
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Hosea 4
Amos 2:6-16.
PRIMARY ToPIC-what Came OF
Wrong Doing.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Israers Punishment
Tor Disobedience.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Results of Disobedience to God.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
How National Sins Are Punished
I. Israel Taken Into Captivity
kyv. 1-6).
This was the fulhllment OF that
which Amos had predicted in the days
Of JerOboam II, at 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. Zero
beam departed from God and the
apOstasy thus begun continued down.
ward to the END. In the reign of
Hoshea, the la'l XIII, the king OF
Assyria came and lDsi kged Samaris
and carried the children of Israel cap.
tive to Assyria, from which they never
returned.
II. The Sins Which Caused Their
Doom wv. 7-1S).
/. Conformed to the ways Of the
heather wv. 7-9). 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 t.
Him with whom we have to do. One
may maintain his reputation before
men while practicing sins, but ruiz
will sooner or later overtake him
Even though God had cast out the
heather for practicing these sins, the
Israelites followed in their ways. Coo
demands separation I'll Cor. GID
2. Served idols wv. 1912. They moi
emily compromised by walking In the
statutes of the heather" but w0rshipet
their gods. 1t was not a long steI
from following in the statutes Of thu
Aeathen to wOrshlping their gods
Before they wOrshiped idols they cas-
off the true God. Idolatry came IL
because the race did not wish to re
tain God in its affection (Rom. 1921
23). People today are worshipinl
idols because they have first cast of
the authority of the living God. Mar
is worshipful being. When he
ceases TO worship the true God, h,
wOrships other gods. Neutral grount
Is impossible.
8. They were rebellious (vv. 13
15). God by his prophet had sale
unto them ''Turn We from your evi
ways and keep my commandments,
but they stubbornly refused HI
Testimony, even rejected His statutes
God, In love, tried to save them. HI
sent some of the noblest and hes
prophets who ever spoke to man {,
persuade them to turn from their
sins, such as Elijah and elisha, bu
they hardened their necks and plunge,
deeper into wickedness.
4. Caused their sons and daughter
to pass through the fire ". ~. Thi
was the dreadful MolOch worship-th
most cruel rite Of heather worship
1T was done by kindllng a fire In
hollow metal image until its arms wer
red hot and placing live children
therein to be burned to death
5. Resorted to magical practice
". 10. When faith in the true Co
wanes, men always turn to the magics
arts. In this way they sold them
selves to evil in the sight OF the Lor,
TO provoke Him % anger.
III. Judgment Falls ". 1S).
At this stage of the drama the cur
tain falls. God could not be inactiv
longer
/. God was very angry. Gods ange
is not raving fury but the revulsiO
OF His holy nature against sin. Si
cannot exist in His presence. Hi
wrath must strike. Though He wait
long, the debt must be paid and Away
with compound interest. There is Onl
one way to escape Gods wrath; tina
as, to turn from sin.
2. Removed them out of His sight
The land of Palestine is regarded a
the land of Gods sight, that is, tn
place Of His manifested presence
Their national identity was blotte
out forever. These people are still
scattered among the nations, and as
separate nation doubtless they vii
never return to their land. The jude
ment was severe, but not more S
than the siRs merited. God had waite
long. The despising Of His grace
must eventually work ruin. Whs
judgment must fall upon the peopl
today who reject His grace and mercy
Bound to MateriaIize.
Every thought we think images il