The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-05-11

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l3b-18: II Kings l7:7. 8.
GOLDEN TEXT-O magnify the Lord with
me. and let Us exalt His name together
Psalm 34:3. /
Nations as well as people come
to crossroads in their history, and
taking the wrong road then means
future disaster. Solomon had built
up a great national prosperity, but
at the expense of heavy taxes. He
had forgotten God, and was sue
ceeded by son who followed in his
footsteps.
Offered an opportunity to ease the
burden of the people Il Kings 1910,
Rehoboam in his folly made it great
er, and the nation was divided. The
ten northern tribes, which were
henceforth to be known as Israel,
followed Jeroboam, and the two
southern tribes under Rehoboam be-
came the kingdom Of Judah.
Jeroboam started with Gods
favor, and might have led his people
Alright, but instead he became the
king whose name stood for wicked
ness (see II Kings 1919. The story
of that downfall is a sad picture Of
unbelief and failure.
| I. Religion Meets Politics Il
Kings 12:26-30).
! Jerusalem, now in the rival king
dom of Judah, was the center Of
Hebrew worship. While the people
of Israel were free to 60 there
to worship, Jeroboam saw that it
might lead to their being led away
from him. It was shrewd political
deduction, but it left God out Of the
picture.
He established new centers Of,
worship, where calves Of gold were
set up. They were probably In
tended TO be a symbol Of God, but
they bespeak the folly of mixing
worldly things with the things Of
God. They become an abomination
and q snare.
| The people responded to the ap-
parent interest Of the king In their
welfare, and worshiped at the most
convenient place. Religion had met
politics, and had let politics take the
upper hand.
| Someone has suggested that
when we begin to find ways to make
our religion easy, we can be GER
tain that it is the enemy Of our
souls who is at work. When Satan
begins to be solicitous about our
| welfare and suggest that it is too
far to 60 to church, or that the
weather is too cold Cor too warm),
etc., etc., we should be on guard.
| Religious ease was big step
downward for Israel, and it can be
for any other nation. Where does
| America stand in that important
matter?
! ii. A Queen Meets a Prophet Il
Kings 1914, 13b-18).
| Elijah under the mighty hand Of
/ God had defied the wicked king,
4 Ahab, asd his more wicked queen,
Jezebel; yes, and all the prophets
of Baal, and had been gloriously
victorious Il Kings 18:17-4D.
The queen, who was devilish in
her wickedness and determination
to destroy the worship of the true
God, threatened the prophet. He
who had met the challenge of the
hundreds of prophets fled in fear
before the relentless hatred Of this
| venomous woman.
The prophet felt that all was lost,
but God revealed to him that even
in that dark day there were many
who were still true to Him ". 18).
| It is precious and encouraging bit
1 of light in an otherwise dark scene.
Our main interest in this lesson is
not the experience of the prophet,
but in seeing the cause Of Israers
downfall. Here we see one great
reason-every king of Israel was a
| wicked man. Some were better and
| some worse, but all Of them forgot
God.
A nation is on the downward path
when it's rulers forget God. What
about our own nation? What about
the elected Representatives of the
| people? Do we choose men for pub
lie Office because of their Christian
faith and character, or On the
basis Of political expediency or af-
! filiation?
III. A Nation Meets Its Doom III
| Kings 1877, 81.
The hour had struck when Gods
heavy hand Of judgment had to fall
on Israel, the northern kingdom Of
10 tribes. Verse of this chapter
relates their carrying away into cap
tivity to Assyria, and verses TO tell
US the reason for that judgment. .
Ingratitude for Gods blessing ".
y led to the worship of other
gods ". 81. They knew Gods hatred
for the sin Of idolatry, and His
judgment upon those who walked
in that way, but they went right
on.
Note in verse that these things
were done secretly" 1.-THE same
thing is true today Of many who
| profess to be the people Of God. The
line Of demarcation between the
church and the world Is not clearly
drawn. We do wen to note care
fully the outcome Of this course Of
! nrocedure on Israels part (yv. G.