Evening star., 1924-06-28

We conclude our survey of the Old
Testament with this weeks lesson.
During the last six months we have
by our studies sough: to obtain a
clear and comprehensive conception
of the Bible of our Lord. We have
traced a close intimacy between the
life of Gods chosen people and the
Old Testament. We have found the
unity which characterizes the vari-
GUS books Of the sacred Scriptures OF
that God, through His revelations to
great men, from the call of Abram
to the final prophetic message, was
seeking to reveal Himself and His
marvellous plan for the redemption
of men.
Our studies during the past quarter
have covered approximately 600 years,
from the division of the kingdom un-
dss a to Derea the We OF
found that the development OF He
brew history was closely interviewer
with the political institutions, the
imperial ambitions and the colonial
"The rivalries of Phoenicia and Da-
mascus, of Egypt and Assyria, OF
Assyria and Babylon and OF Babylon
and Egypt" registered themselves
clearly in the history Of the divided
kingdoms of Israel and Judah. This
called for US to consider in connec-
ton with our lesson studies many
things outside of the Bible, espe-
cially the work Of the modern ex-
plorers, whose wonderful work with
the spade in Egypt. Assyria, Chaldea
and Palestine has made the Old les
lament throb with life and reality.
We have studied the cause or the
division of the kingdom, and then
followed the careers of both lsrael
and Judah from the time of their
separation from one another up 10
their disappearance from the roll or
nations. our lessons have taught US
that the cause of the downfall OF
each kingdom was due to their oe-
parture from the principles. practices
and precepts of Jehovah They were
blessed with peace, prosperity ana
power as long as they walked In the
way of the Lord. We saw in our
studies how when they became se1-
centered, sensual and sinful both ma
tions rebelled against God, refused 10
support the worship or obey the Word
of Jehovah, and were then punished
for their sin. 1t was due to their
ineuuity that they were divided, de-
feated and driven from Palestine INTO
exile.
Modern Messages.
We have found modern messages
in our studies Of the history of the
divided kingdom, because history rs
God teaching by example. The most
important message that we learned
as we saw these two nations hasten
along the path Of doom until, crushed
by conquest and chastened by exile exile,
thew learned something of His divine
grace, is one that many nations have
failed to learn: SO their arss somss.ens 5iseas
shau he turned into hell, and all the
nations that forget Cod" Our gold
en- text has emphasized the lesson
of the lessons we have studied in
the statement that righteousness
exalteth a nation. but sin Is re-
proach to any people
Israers unique mission called 1or
it to pass through peculiar expert
ences 1t was not until after the
Christening trials of the exile that
their view of Jehovah became fxed
and free from idolatrous influences
of other nations. The idea that men
have of God is fundamental IN re.
ligion, in worship. in morals, and l.
absolutely determines their outlook
upon life and upon all its problems:
The prophets were the teachers OF
the character of Jehovah. 1t was be-
cause the Lord spake in divers man