The Glenwood post., 1924-05-01

YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Lessons From Israers Downfall.
I. Israel Taken Into Captivity (vv.
l-8).
This was in fulf1llment Of that which
Amos had predicted in the days of
JerOboam II at time when the nation
was at the height of its prosperity.
The northern kingdom was ruled by
nineteen kings, all Of whom were
wicked. Their wickedness was not be-
cause of lack of information or op-
portunity but in spite Of 1t. God
promised the first king His blessing
If he would be loyal to Him. Jero-
boam departed from God and the apos-
tasy thus begun continued downward
to the end. In the reign of Hoshea,
the last king, the king of Assyria came
and besieged Samaria and carried the
children of Israel captive to Assyria.
from which they never returned.
II. The Sins Which Caused Their
Doom wv. 7-1s).
1. Conformed to the Ways Of the
Heather (vv.7-9). God had command
ed them not to follow in the ways Of
the heather, but these Israelites, in
stead Of maintaining lives of sepa-
ration, secretly did that which was
displeasing to God. Secret sins, as
surely as open sins, bring ruin, for all
things are naked and open to Him
with whom we have to do. The One
who visits Judgment upon the sinner
knows all things.
2. Serve Idols wv. 1910. They not
only compromised by walking in the
statutes Of the heathen," but wor-
SHIPPED their gods. 1t was a short
step from following in the statutes Of
the heathen to worshiping their gods.
Before they worshiped Idols they cast
of the true God. Indeed idolatry came
into the world because the race did
not wish to retain God in its affections
(Romans 1 :21-23). Idolatry did not
come in through Ignorance but through
willful perverseness. People today
worshiping false gods have first cast
off the authority of the living God
Man is religious being. When he
ceases to worship the true God he
worships other gods.
8. They Were Rebellious wv. 13-15).
God by his prophets has said unto
them, Turn ye 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 men to persuade them
to turn from their sins, such as Eli
1ah and Elisha, but they stiffened
their necks and plunged deeper into
wickedness. This they did In defiance
Of God.
4. Caused Their Sons and Daughters
to Pass Through Fire " 10. This
was the dreadful Molech worship, the
most cruel rite of heather worship. It
was done by kindling a fire in hol-
low metal image until Its arms were
red hot and placing live children there
In to be burned to death. This was
the depth to which the Israelites had
sunk.
s. Rssortsd to Magical Practices
". 17). When faith in the true God
wanes men always turn to the magical
arts. In this way the Israelites sold
themselves to evil in the sight Of the
Lord apd provoked Him to anger.
III. The Judgment Falls ". 18).
At this stage of the drama the cur
tain dropped. God could not be mac
tive longer.
1. God Was Very Angry. His anger
is not raving fury but the revulsion
Of His holy nature against sin. God
cannot tolerate sin in His presence.
His wrath must strike. Though He
waits long, the debt must be paid and
that always with compound interest.
There is only one way to escape Gods
wrath; that Is to turn from sin unto
God through Jesus Christ.
2. Remove 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.
These people are still scattered
among the nations and as political
organization they will never return
to their land. The judgment was Sc
we're, but not more 80 than the sins
merited. God had waited long The
desplsing Of His grace eventually
works ruin. Therefore, what Judgment
must fall upon the people who In the
light Of this day reject His grace and
His mercy.