The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-05-16

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JUNIOR TOPfC-Obeying God.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Doing What God Commands.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Obedience Essential in True Re-
iigion.
The prophet stood in the gate of the
temple in order that the multitudeS
might hear him. The occasion was
the coming together of the people
from all over the country to attend
some feast.
!. What God Requires wv. Id.
/. Amend your ways ". 81.
Their general course of living
should be reformed, bad deeds giving
place to good ones. On the basis of
this change, God would permit them
to remain in their city and country.
Failure to do this would eventuate in
their expulsion.
2. The folly of trusting in religious
forms ". ~.
The people regarded the temple as
a charm against evil, irrespective of
the condition of their hearts. Without
heart experience, the most sacred
institutions and ordinances are value
less.
3. Social justice ". 81.
The proof of their having reformed
was the execution of judgment be-
tween man and his neighbor. The
proof of ones being in touch with
God is his fair dealing with his fell
lowmen.
d. Not to Cypress the helpless ". g..
The stranger would likely be ig-
norant of the laws of the land. The
widows and orphans could easily be
imposed upon. Protection for the
weak is a requirement of godliness.
5. Not walk after other gods ". g..
Worship of idols and conformity to
heather customs go hand in hand.
True morality is determined by the at
titude of the individual toward God.
II. Solemn Warnings wv. $50.
1. Teaching of false prophets wv.
SID.
These prophets taught the people
that attention to ceremony, and OBJ
servance of religious forms, exempted
them from strict attention to morals.
lying prophets were not slow to steal,
murder commit adultery, swear false
ly and practice idolatry. They would
even come into the Lords house and
claim freedom to practice such abom-
nations. The sacred temple itself,
filed with such worshipers would be
a den of robbers
2. Warning of Shiloh wv. 12-15).
God caused His tabernacle to be set
up in Shiloh, but in Ellis time He gave
it into the hands of the Philistines be-
cause of the idolatry of the people.
(Psa. rs $4,000. Even so would He
do with the temple, the city and the
whole country. This He had already
done with Ephraim, the northern king
dom.
u. The Hopeless Condition of the
People wv. 1920.
Their propensity to do evil was so
strong that all efforts at reclamation
were futile.
1. Pray not for them ". 16).
There is such a thing as shining
unto death, in which case prayer is
useless Il John 5:16).
2 Entire families devoted their en-
ergies to that which provoked Gods
anger wv. IT'D.
This was done by young and old
men and women. This they did to
provoke Gods anger. He assures them
the outcome of such conduct would
be their utter confusion.
w. Judgment to Fall ". 20).
Because the people poured out their
offerings to idols, the furious anger
and wrath of God would be poured
out upon man, beast, tree, and the
fruit of the ground. How this has
been fulfilled, the history of the Jews
makes clear.
V. Obedience Better Than Sacrifice
wv. 21-26).
The prophet appealed to history to
show that God requires heart service
rather than the observance of re-
ligious forms. Blessings came to Is
rael through obedience. while cursings
followed disobedience. On the condi-
ton Of obedience to His requirements,
God promised to own them as His peo-
pie and to bless them.