Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-29
Golden Text: II will delight myself
thy statutes; / will not forget the

Golden Text: II will delight myself
thy statutes; ! will not forget the
ord"
Never did a kingdom have bright
prospects than did the northern
ngdom of Israel. The prophet
ought Gods promise to Jeroboam
a great kingdom if he would but
true and obey. The shame of it
that os every king who succeeded
: "a it could be said that "he did
I II in the sight of the Lord, and
hlked in the ways of Jeroboam the
n of Nebat who made Israel to
q" Not one king of Israel was a
bod king.
The nation lost prestige and pow
Dynasty succeeded dynasty.
nally Jehu usurped the throne,
Slt to him the prophecy was made
at his sons should sit on the
rome until the fourth generation.
: is grandson was Jeroboam II, in
amy respects a great king. Israel
fospered under him in spite of the
CT that he did not depart from the
cked ways of his illustrious pred
essor of the same name. He built
p the kingdom wonderfully and
lSned a long time. 1t seemed as
ough the prophet would fail, for
rely his dynasty would stand. He
Rs succeeded, however, by his son,
ld at the end OF only six months
fhlch was the fourth generation)
was slain by a servant, and Shall.
m began a new dynasty. The
Gophet's word came true.
From now on. for forty-one years,
e record of IsraePs kings reeks
tn blood. Shallum reigned only a
II month when he was killed by
enahem, the captain of the guard.
enahem, with the military behind
m, was able to subdue all pretend
3 or those who might be, and ex-
bited ruthless cruelty in killing
eXpectant mothers. He held the
rone Tor ten years. In his reign
ll TOR Tiglath-Pilezer) the king of
fsyrla, invaded the north. Realiz-
that he was not able to stand
alnst the trained armies of the
ghty Assyrian host that had con-
ered all the east, and was now
arching VIGOROUSLY toward Egypt,
ma mem settled with him on the
SIS OF a thousand talents of silver
llch he eXtorted from 200 wealthy
en of Israel at the rate of so tai.
Us each. Menahem's power was
Eong enough to keep his son, Pc
hlah, in office two years, when he
assassinated by Pekah, the son
Remaliah.
Pekah held the throne for twenty
ars. In his days the Assyrian
g returned-probably they were
paying their yearly taxes
omptl y-and they took captive
ne OF the most important cities of
north and carried them captive
the land Of Assyria.
Down in the southern kingdom of
dah the great prophet Isaiah was
ng his utmost to keep the peo.
OF Judah from entering unholv
lances with the king Of Egypt and
Plng them to return to God and
list Him only. He used Israel in
north as an Illustration and as
warning. The Assyrian king was
IDS hammer with which He was
Ylng to break the stony covering
put the heart of Israel. He was
PDaDly the author of the consDir-
y by which Hosea, the son of
an, assassinated Pekah and be-
me king in his stead. Hosea was
vassal of the AsSyrian king for
first six years of his reign. Then
refused tribute and entered into
alliance with SoCaco, the power
nf -
Syrian king against him, who
ptured him, and shut him up
lnd, while. he went on to besiege
F city of Samaria.
For three years the city with
pod his hosts, but finally sue.
mbed N the ninth year of Hosea.
Psea means Saviour; it is the same
Joshua. 1t is rather a sad COM
entary that he who should have
en- Jsrael's saviour was the Cause
their downfall. The nation was
ptured and deported to Assyria,
here they intermingled with those
tons and lost their identity as a
pple-until Jesus, their rejected
ng, comes back again and the two
cks, Ephriam and Judah, will be
ned again and made one. The
r1dage of Egypt was the cradle of
nation, and the Assyrian bond
e became it's grave.
The Cause
What was the cause Of the ma.
ms downfall after it had started
t with such brilliant prospects?
ell, it was the same that causes
deterioration--it was sin! The ma
Pn sinned against Jehovah Flo
IN who had brought them out of
e land of Egypt. and from the
bd of Pharaoh.
They turned to other gods. They
lived idols in direct disobediance
JehoVah's command. On every
Eh hill, in every grove, idols were
heed, and worshipped in nameless
fys' and by degrading practices
be worship Of the Raalm and the
Eherahs was the opposite of Ella
ting to either the spiritual o.
bral life of the people; it was det-
Mental to their bodily health even,
God sent prophets to warn and to
bo them, and they would not hear
lem, but hardened their necks.
hey would not believe in the God
their fathers They caused their
ns and daughters to pass through
lie; they used divinations and en-.
antments; they sold themselves to
evil. What else could God do