King's Business - 1924-11

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T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S

November 1924

Look for a moment at the steps of.Israel’s downfall: Luxury. Under God’s blessing they were rich and pros­ perous. Oppression. The iron heel upon the neck of the poor. Lewdness. A low standard of morality. Giving up to the passions of the heart. Drunkenness. Intoxication— strong drink — infidelity- rebellion of heart. Idolatry. This is the root sin— the worship of other gods. With this picture as a background, we can see the match­ less love of God in Christ. To save such sinners, such rebels, Christ died. It is written, “Whosoever will, may come.” But it is also written, “Whosoever was not found written in the hook of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (4) ISRAEL RE-PEOPLED BY ASSYRIA, vs. 24-26. “ And the king of Assyria brought men . . . and placed them in the cities of Samaria.” v. 24. Consider here the putrage of a cruel king. Israel was removed to a foreign land and foreigners from several other lands subject to Assyria were brought to the land of Israel. Here you have an autocracy at thé height of its power, where men are slaves and at the mercy of the rulers. Neither people was consulted, but Israel was the guilty nation (v. 23). “ "Until the Lord removed Israel oat of his sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets.” Israel had become heathen at heart, and the other nations were heathen by birth. Israel lost her country, and the heathen lost theirs and were made to suffer by reason of Israel’s sin. But back of Israel’s sin was the sin of the priests, the judgment of God following. “ The Lord sent lions among them which slew some of them” (v. 25). God has many ways of speaking to people, and here is an illustration— a rebuke to false worship through lions. The people believed God was displeased with them (and He was), and they concluded that if they had a priest of Israel the difficulty would be settled. What superficial thinking! How could a blind man lead the blind? There are many poor, deceived people who depend upon blind leaders, and the pit is full of fhem. (5) REVERSION OF THE PEOPLE TO IDOLATRY, vs. 27-4Î. “ Howbeit every nation made gods of their own,” v. 29. The Israelites who remained in the land abandoned Jeho­ vah and fell into fellowship with the Assyrians. Fear of lions was not sufficient to separate the people from the power of lying priests. “ They feared the Lord and served their own gods” (v. 33). God’s covenant with Israel was a definite one (v. 35). “ Ye shall not fear other gods, nor how yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them.” However, they did not hearken, but “ did after their for­ mer manner.” We are far away from the land of Israel and from the day of their suffering, but we are not free from the dangers of false worship. Jehovah has not changed, nor have His demands. Take a good look at your heart and see whether there he any idols in the way of unhindered loyalty and worship of Him. Read James 4:4: “ Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friend­ ship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will he a friend of the world, is the enemy of God.” TOPICS FOR STUDY (1) For whose benefit is this history of Israel’s failure written? (2) Did God make a difference between Israel and the heathen? (3) Where did Israel learn their evil ways?

When the king of Assyria came up against him, he surren­ dered (v. 3). What a contrast between him and King Heze- kiah, of Judah (2 Chron. 32:7, 8 ). «Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there be more with us than with him. “W ith him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah.” The fruit of sin is sinning. Sin has a climax. Christians are commanded to keep themselves from idols (1 John 5: 21 ) . “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” To be His witnesses (Acts 1 :8). “ But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the utter­ most parts of the earth.” To live a separate life (Titus 2:12, 13). “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world. . “ Looking tor that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and onr Saviour Jesus Christ.” To walk in love (Eph. 5:2). “And walk In love, as Christ also hath loved us. and hath given himself for ns an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” (2) ISRAEL’S REJECTION OF GOD’S CALL TO REPENT­ ANCE, vs. 13, 17. “Notwithstanding, they would not hear.” v. 14. God sought to stop Israel in her mad career. He sent prophets and seers with the message, “ Turn ye! Keep my commandments.” And the voice of God meant as little to them as it does to us. Hear His Word to Israel (Psa. 81: 8 ,9 ) : “ Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee; O Israel, If thou w ilt hearken unto me; “There shall be no strange god in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.” Yet Israel hearkened not (2 Chron. 36:16). “ But they mocked the messengers of God, 'and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.” Just as Herod received John’s testimony (Matt. 14:10, 11); just as Saul of Tarsus received the testimony of the Christian Jews (Acts 26:11); just as the Jews received the testimony of Stephen (Acts 7:54-59). Paul gave a good testimony concerning the heart of the Jews (Acts 28:27). Three things are hard to understand: The depth of wickedness of the heart of man; the grace of God toward sinful man; the coldness of heart of forgiven man. ( 8 ) GOD’S REMOVAL OF ISRAEL FROM THE LAND, v. 18. “ Therefore God was very angry with Israel and removed them out of His sight.” God’s anger was kindled (v. 8 ). No pleading could now save them (Jer. 15:1). “ Then said the Lord unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not he toward this people; cast them out of my sight and let them go forth.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31) for He is a consuming fire (Heh. 12:29). God cast them put. He will be faithful to His Word. Where are the ten tribes? A remnant was gathered in the return, but where are they? Every Jew everywhere should be a standing, living testimony to the truth of God’s Word and a warning to the professing church (Rom. 11: 2 0 , 2 2 ) . Men must either abide in Christ or abide under the wrath of God (John 3:36). The most solemn words in the Bible are those from the lips of our Lord (Matt. 25:4): “ Depart from me, ye cursed!”

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