THE KING’S BUSINESS
4SI
H e Importance of Self Control (Temperance Lesson)
MAY 20, 1917. LESSON VIII. Isa. 28:1-13. (Memorize v. 7). G olden T e x t :
Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things”_ 1 Cor. 9:25. -
DAILY BIBLE READINGS Mon., May 14—Isaiah 28:1-13. (The Lesson).
Tues., May 15—Luke 12:35-48. Wed., May 16—Romans 14:13-23. Thur., May 17—1 Cor. 3:10-17. Fri., May 18—1 Cor. 8 . Sat., May 19—Prov. 1 :7-19. Sun., May 20—Romans 13:8-14.
EXPOSITION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
vs. 1-4. “Woe to the crown of pride, to (pride of) the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower (and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty), which are (is) on the head of the fat valleys (valley) of them that are over come with wine! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which (omit, which) as a tempest of hail (add ,) and ( omit, and) a destroying storm, as a flood (tempest) of mighty waters overflowing, shall ( add, He) cast down to the earth with the hand. The crown of pride, (om it , and add, of) the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet (foot): and the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer (and the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be as the first ripe fig before the sum mer); which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up." By the “crown of pride” is meant the city of Samaria (see R. V.; cf. 1 Kings 16:24). Is here compared to a chaplet of flowers on a drunkard’s brow. This chaplet of flowers, says Isaiah, “shall be trodden under foot” because of their sin and pride. The people of the northern kingdom as a nation are spoken of as “the drunkards of < Ephraim.” Drunkenness seems to have been so widespread as to have become a national sin (cf. ch. 5:11, 12; Hos. 7:5;
Amos 2:6, 8 , 12 ; 4:1; 6 : 6 ). The effect of their drink upon them was that they were “overcome” (literally, “smitten down”) by it.. Let us not forget that it was the native Wines of a wine growing dis trict” that did this for Ephraim, and not distilled spirits, nor adulterated poisons. Their “chaplet of pride” and “glorious beaflty” was after all but a “fading flower.” So it is with every chapflt of earthly pride, and all the glorious beauty” of this present world (1 Peter 1:24). The prophet’s answer to Israel’s confidence in their crown of pride was that Jehovah had “a mighty and strong one.” This “mighty and strong one” was the king of Assyria (2 Kings 18:10-12). The Assyrians themselves were a bloody, deceitful and rapacious people (Nah. 3:1), bat they were an instrument in Jehovah’s hand for fulfilling His Word and bringing judgment upon His back sliding people (cf. Ps. 76:10). The coming of the Assyrian is described by a threefold figure, “a tempest of hail,” “a destroying storm,” “a tempest^ of mighty waters over flowing.” The thought contained in these figures is that of widespread and over whelming destruction (cf. ch. 8:7, 8 ). Back of all this work of destruction and desola tion, was the wrath of God at sin, (cf. ch. 2:4-9). This destruction, etc. all came upon them “because they obeyed not the voipe of Jehovah their God” (2 Kings 18:11, 12). Jesus uses a similar figure
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