The Omaha guide., 1947-08-02

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Nations ~ wen ~ people come 70
crossroads In their history. and tax.
ing the wrong road then means NJ
turs disaster. Solomon had built up
great national prosperity. but Ut the
expense Of heavy taxes. He had for
gotten God. and was succeeded D.
4 son who followed In his footsteps.
Offered an opportunity to ease the
burden Of the people Il Kings IL:
I'D. Rehoboam In his folly made II
greater. and the nation was divided.
The ten northern tribes. which were
h~enceforth to be known ~ Israel.
followed Jeroboam. and the two
southern tribes under Rehoboam be
came the kindorn Of Judah.
Jeroboam started with Gods IA.
vor. and might have led his people
right. but instead he became the
king whose name stood for wicked
ness (see II Kings 1919. The story
Of that downfall il q sad picture Of
unbelief and failure.
Through varied experiences and
under different kings. Israel had
gone down, down. down in its his.
tory Of sin and departure from God.
I. Doomed by Sin III Kings IL:
SIP. %. 23).
The hour had struck when Gods
heavy hand of judgment had to fall
on them. Verse 6 relates their car
rying away into captivity to AS
syria. 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 judg
ment upon those who walked in tina
way. but they went right on.
Mote in verse 9 that these thing.
were done secretly" THE same
thing is true today Of many whc
profess to be the people Of God. The
line Of demarcation between thu
church and the world Is not clearl,
drawn. We do well to note carefully
the outcome of this course Of pro
cedure on Israel's part (vv. 6. l8)
The fact that Israel did these things
secretly did not hide them from th'
eyes of Jehovah CPS 1891. z: hep
4:13)" (John W. Bradbury.
The statement In verse q Il {
striking one. The prophets had re
'peatedly spoken Of the impending
destruction Of the nation Now tn
time had come that the Lord coult
no longer stand to look upon thei
sin. and In a sense put them tout o
his sight" That does not mean tina
they had been forgotten or that co.
was not watching over them Il
mercy and love. but that he had +
Judge them for their sins, and for
time bring them into judgmen
leading to repentance.
There Is always q reason for
nations deterioration. and with Il
rael there were many reasons. Gu.
standing among them Ii the one TO
= which they were rebuked by Isaial
In the verses OF our lesson. namely
drunkenness.
II. Deceived BY Drink Elsa. %
The picture here Is a graphic one
The leaders Of Israel (here Gale,
Ephraim) fingered long over thei
bowls Of wine, and In their drunken
istupor gloried In the fact that So
maria. their capital city. was s
situated at the head Of a valley tina
it was not only beautiful but prac
tcally safe from attack by tn
enemy.
The drunkards spoke with prid
Of their nation and Of Samaria 1t
Grown" The description was APT
for 1t was beautifully situated on
hill surrounded by a fertile terrace
: hillside. But their Boosting wa
vain, for after a bitter three years
siege. the city eventually fell to Sal
son II Of Assyria.
AL this has a familiar sound. W
think Of the nations that have gon
down to Oblivion even while the pee
pie engaged In foolish levity. and |
the awful Supplying and degradin
use Of alcohol.
Remember the fall Of France 1
the recent World Var when /,
W leaders said that the defes
could be largely attributed to tn
tremendous increase in the use {
alcoholic liquor.
What about our own Unite
States? With an annual liquor bi
Of about eight billion dollars. $;
EYoops op aln0x& ovorz aar1or l;1,-