Evening star., 1923-05-26
Sunday School Lesson

that manifested itself i'm the divisions
that existed between the upper and
lower social classes and between the
rich and the poor. Judah was suf-
fering from the aftermath of war
that intensified these divisions and
differences. Isaiah recognized the
complications that Judah faced with
Egypt on the south and Assyria on
developing in the east, south of
Assyria with Babylon as its capital.
He perceived, however, that JudahS
problems were not so much political
and social as they were religious.
Their religion had become formal.
distrusted Jehovah. He was en-
trusted with a message that prom
tsed the nation salvation and security.
Isaiah was an evangelist with
message that called for the people to
repent and reform. Against the dark
ground of ruin caused by sin he
painted a message of hope through
the salvation offered by the Lord.
His experience of Gods grace enahled
him to preach the assurance of SAL
vation that Jehovah would save the
nation through the remnant that were
left. They had the possibilities of
being saved through their repentance
and faith. He clearly perceived the
relation that Judah held to all the
other nations "zion's righteousness
bless all the nations of the earth.
While Isaiah was the gospel
preacher of the prophets whose ad-
dresses marked the golden age of
Jewish literature. he was a preacher
of a social message. He pointed out
that the vanity of the ladies was an
offense against the law of God. 'He
ridiculed it most unsparingly. He
denounced the upstart Shebna and
the profiteer traders of Syria as
Offenders against social fairness and
justice" He took a strong position
on the temperance question. He Sc
verely censured both the priests and
prophets when they were found in
dulgins in strong drink because of
the wrong influence they eXerted. He
denounced the formality of their re-
ligious life. In no uncertain words
he demanded that they prove the re-
ality of their faith by their life.
Wash you. make you clean: put away
the evil of your doings from before
mine eyes: cease to do evil. learn to
do well; seek justice, relieve the op-
pressed, deal justly with the father
less. plead for the widow" The son
of Amos refused to satisfy the men
who insisted that he preach the
smooth things and prophesy deceits
His message to individuals, society
and the state were based upon a few
cardinal principles which served as
a good guide at all critical junctures
He believed that the nation was un-
der the protecting care of Jehovah,
who was not only a holy God but
also all powerful. The peace, pros
perity. as well as the security Of the
nation depended on their faith in Him
and obedience to His law. He op-
posed all entangling alliances with
other nations not because he favored
policy of isolation but because of
his spiritual ideals. He saw in the
! proposed alliances a source of spirit
ual weakness that would ruin Judah
by corruption and degeneracy He
dared to oppose the king even in the
| hour of war. He considered that
Judah would be invulnerable. not
through membership in a league COM
posed of foreign powers. but by her
absolute dependence and trust in
| Jehovah.
He advocated a policy of quietness
and faith when Judah was threatened
from the north. The wisdom of his
statemanship was demonstrated then
as well as when Sennachherib made
his campaign against the nation and
was defeated through q divine inter
terence that routed the conqueror's
army and liberated the besieged city,
The aftermath that has followed the
world war is due to the fact that the
allied nations Were not united with
the same spiritual motive that
prompted our activities in the war
and covenants will all fail unless
they are established upon a religious
foundation. which Isaiah predicted
would come with the advent of the
Measianic kingdom
When Jesus returns as Messiah.
tnen, according to Isaiah, men will
be moved by His teachings to do
away with war and turn the weanons
or warfare into implements for the
development Of agriculture. He
.1Sokeu forward to the time when
there would be an international
court, whose impartial decisions
would be based upon law. founded
upon religious principles and ideals
me success of this world court depended
go, IN the view of Isaiah. upon men ac-
cepting the precepts. principles and prom
lses OF Gods word as their guide in
solving all the problems Of men and
nations: When Christ rules oppres-
SION will cease and justice viii be
eStaollShed Across the centuries
that nave intervened since tho
propnets day, we are summoned nv
Isaiah to hasten the proclamation of
era. 0 nc"