T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S No, it was not for this, nor for any other reason than one— they had de parted from God. “ They had done evil in the sight of God.” When, a nation or an individual can cry as did Asa, God will respond to them as He dl 602 change to meet the sentimental Ideas of foolish people? Is every sinner a rebel against God? Here are some definitely important truths which will afford every true teacher an opportunity to drive home the lesson so greatly needed. Neither the king nor his people be lieved that God would deliver them up to the enemy, and yet God had warned His people of this very thing. (Deut. 28:49-50) “The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as an eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thon shalt not understands A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young.” (Also Bzek. 12:3-8.) There are some predictions concern ing the days before us also, and we should know them and be governed by 'them. Every one of them will be as definitely fulfilled as were these predic tions concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Perilous times await our world, and God’s church and people are entitled to the warning. “ Reprove, rebuke and warn with all long suffering” is the mandate of our Lord. (2) JERUSALEM BROKEN, vs. 4-8. It was night. After the long, weary days of suffering, the enemy had made a breach In the north side of the city wall, and the horde of soldiers poured through the gap. This sudden and un expected appearance -of the enemy in their very midst wrought a panic among the emaciated people. The city was broken up or broken into, as the prophet Ezekiel had predicted, foretelling the very day (Ezek. 4:1-8). The king was terrified, and so were the men of war and they fled from the garrison. Why did they? Had Judah diminished the number of her soldiers since she had repulsed Zerah, the king of Egypt, with his million men? (2 Chron. 14:9) “And there came out against them Zerah, the Ethiopian, with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hnndred chariots s and came unto Mareshah.”
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