THE K I N G ' S ^ BU S I NE S S
July - August, 1934
279
the nations,” but the people shirked the re sponsibility that accompanied such distinc tion. To whom much is entrusted, from that one much shall be required, and Is rael had been highly favored o f God. Our own nation is in imminent danger of hav ing the rich favor of God withdrawn from her, because America, like Israel, is shirk ing the responsibility which divine favor has imposed upon her. 3. Israel was blind to the teachings of history (v. 2). All other nations had come under the judgment o f God, because of the same evils which were found in Israel. Because God’s favor was upon this nation, Israel fell into the error of thinking that God would show partiality. Israel should have known that God is righteous, and that there is no unrighteousness in Him. Other nations had already come under the judgment which now hung over Israel. And if God had not spared these, He would not—because He could not— spare Israel. There was Calneh, or Baby lonia (Isa. 10:9; Gen. 10:10); Hamath, or Syria (2 Ki. 14:25; 18:34) ; and Gath, or Philistia (1 Sam. 5 :8 ; 2 Chron. 26:6). All o f these had been at one time flour ishing nations, but because of the sins which now characterized Israel, they had met with ruin. If history’s pages were studied with some measure o f understand ing, we should know that conditions such as prevail today in our own land cannot con tinue, without resulting in national ruin. II. T he C onduct of I srael (3-6). The conduct of Israel may be summed up in the word “ self-indulgence” ; the Is raelites were ruled by the flesh. There were those who “put far away the evil day” ; that is, they would not believe that judgment was at the doors. But by their attitude, they only brought the judgment nearer. “ Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart o f the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Eccl. 8:11). Thus it was with Israel’s leaders. In their conduct and consequent punishment, what a lesson there is for the leaders o f our day! 1. There was inexcusable idleness (v. 4). Men and women were living in luxury, forgetting that their freedom and their possessions were given them for a higher purpose than the gratification of the flesh. The blessings from God were given to be used for the good o f others, and not for the pampering of the physical nature. With the prevalent idleness, there was also great extravagance in the use o f rich foods. Pros perity from the Lord does not give license for extravagant living—living which hin ders the purpose for which God gave the good gifts. Israel forgot the God from whom the blessings came; consequently, the people began to misuse the gifts. The same forgetfulness is manifested today. ■2. There was an impious use of music (v. 5). The people sang “idle songs” (R .V .) and invented instruments o f music “like David.” They would point to the example o f David and thus excuse what they did. But they forgot that David’s music whs for the glory o f God, while theirs was for the mere gratification of the flesh. Men and women are prone to point to the heroes o f the Bible and to endeavor to act “ like” them. For instance, young people talk of David’s dancing, and they say that they therefore may dance also. But none of them ever thinks o f dancing “before the Lord.” David dánced for God’s glory, and his instruments of music were used for the
Q r \ OVERWV^YEARS ACO W h e n Z a c h a r y T a y lo r * , fresh fr om th e M e x ic a n W a r , w a s P re sid e n t o f th e U n ite d States, th e A m e rica n B ib le S ociety , w a s s e n d in g ch e ck s t o its annu itan ts. " • AND TODAY th e s o c ie ty m akes p a ym e n ts p r o m p t ly a n d re g u la rly t o th e m any h o ld e r s o f its annu ity a g reem en ts. These checks a lw a ys sen t w h e n d u e in sp ite o f w a rs, p a n ics a n d d e p r e s s i o n s , relieve anxiety to d a y ju st as th e y h a v e d o n e th r o u g h all th ese years.
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and h a v e th e sa tisfa ction o f h e lp in g in th e im p o rta n t w o r k o f B ib le d is trib u tio n th r o u g h an annu ity a g re em e n t o f th e Am erican B ib le S o cie ty . M a il th e c o u p o n fo r full in form ation . PresidentTaylor having been made aLifeDirector of the American Bible Society in 1850 stated: “Believing that our prosperity and greatness as a nation, no less than our happiness as individuals, is in direct proportion to our observance of the teachings of that Book inwhich the holy religion is revealed» I cannot be indif ferent to those labours which tend to diffuse its instructions and render it more accessible to all.” » i M A I L T H I S C O U P O N T O D A Y American Bible Society, Bible House, Astor Place, New Y ork Please send me, w ithout obligation, your b ook let K.B. 36 entitled “ A G ift That Lives.”
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