The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-03-09

nation. but sin Is a rcproach 10 any
p,olt. Prov H..4
REFERENCE MATEEIAI1-IIoses I.
Amos -Y-lu
PRIMARY roplc-what Game Of
JUNIOR TUrIC-lsraeIs Punishment
for U.sUr.diaute
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
ia. suits OF Disobedieuce To- God.
YOUNG PEOPLE ASD ADULT TOPIC
How National = MS Are Punished
I. Israel Taken Into Captivity
Wv. l-O.
This was the funllmypt Of that
which Amos had predicted in the days
OF Jcruhoum IT, at time when the
nation was at the height Of its pros
prrIty. The northern kingdom was
ruled by ~ kings all Of whom were
wicked. Their wickeducss was not be
.uu~r Of lack of Information or OPP
portunity. but Inv spite Of it. God
promised the first king His blessing
II he would be loyal to Him. Zero
hu1m departed from God and the
Iro~tu~y thus begun continued down
ward 70 the end Ia the reign of
llu>hea. the last king. the king Of
\-Syr'a came and beSiegod Samara
and carried the children of Israel cap
tive TO Assyria, from which they never
returned
H. The Sins Which Caused Their
Deem wv. T-1S).
!. Conformed to tire ways Of the
heather wv. 7-9). God had com
oh 70 FOL In, La
ways of the heather. but these
ISruelites. instead Of maintaining lives
n separation. secretly did that which
was displeaSing 10 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 practicing these sins, the
ISraeites followed in their ways. God
demands separation I'll Cor GID.
.. Served idols wv. 1O-l2). They not
only compromised by walking in the
StatuteS of the heathen," but worshiped
their gods II was not a long step
from following in the statutes of the
heather to worshipng 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 from. 81
23). People today are worshiping
idols because they have first cast on
the authority OF the living God. Man
is worshipful being. When he
ceases 10 worship the true God, he
worships other gods. Neutral ground
Is impossible.
3. They were rebellious wv. 13-
l5). God by his prophet had said
unto them Turn We 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
persuade them to turn from their
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 ". III. This
was the dreadful Moloch worship-the
most cruel rite Of heather worship.
II was done by kindling a fire In
hollow metal image until Its arms were
red hot and placing live children
therein TO be burned to death.
;. 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.
~. Judgment Falls ", 49,.
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
wrath must strike. Though He waits
tong. the debt must be paid and always
with compound interest. There Is only
one way 10 escape Gods wrath; that
is, 10 turn from sin.
. 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 tudg-
ment was severe, but not more so
than the sins merited God had waited
long. The despislng OF His grace
must eventually work ruin. What
Judgment must fall upon the people
today who reject His grace and mercy