IV. GOD'S MERCY.
in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one King (Jesus) shall be King to them all . . . neither shall they defile t h em- selves any more with tlieir idols. And David (Jesus the Son of David, called David as the successors of Caesar were called "Caesar") shall be King over them. (See also Jer. 31; Isa. 40:66; Rom. 9:11; Acts 15:15-17; for even the crucifying of their King could not annul these promises, in fact His blood sealed them.) rushed to its doom. It would be well if the nations today would take warning f r om Is- rael's experience. Trace the history of Is- rael hack to the time t h at the people plead with Samuel for a King, when renouncing the theocratic kingdom they sought to con- form to the model of the worldly kingdoms around them, and you have the germ of the sin t h at ended in God's giving them over to the., enemies. Happy the people whose God is the Lord, but woe to the people who, blessed of God,- become proud, boastful and arrogant and who give themselves up to luxury and lasciv- iousness, to greed of gain and who fall at the feet of false gods and worship at Satan's shrine. (through His prophet) the King of Israel so that he thwarted the plans of Syria. The Syrian, to capture Elisha, surrounded Do- than with an army. Elisha's servant cried, "Alas, my master, what shall we do?" Elisha prayed. The heavenly host appeared hemming in the enemy with horses and chariots of fire. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31). DAVID (2 Kgs.-8:11). Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel, On her son's death she seized the crown, and . slew all the royal seed. All save Jehoash, an infant, rescued by his aunt, Jehoshebah. God's pledge to David (Psa. 89:35, 36) was thus secured, as loter in Jesus, the Greater Son of David (Matt. 2:13). Jehoash lived to restore the worship of Jehovah and to turn the people back to Him. So Jesus rescued, but more significant, raised, from death, shall restore all things and fulfill "the sure mercies of David"' (Act 3:19-21; 15:14-16; Rom. 11:26). RESTORING GOD'S HOUSE (2 Kgs. 11:21—12:16); Jehoash's revival supplies a good e x am- became queen of Judah. IV. III. A PRINCE OF T HE HOUSE OF
"God has not cast, away His people" (Rom. 11:2). They are yet to go back to their land and serve Him forever. "Thus saith the Lord God, I will take the chil- dren of Israel from among the heathen, )whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation
Pith and Pivot—T.C.H.
We stand in the presence of a dying n a- tion. Historically, Israel had reached its goal. It needed no prophets to foretell the fall of this people. Disaster was the log- ical sequence of its dissolute life. It was the inevitable result of deoarture from God. The downfall of Samaria was due to the same causes t h at have operated in the downfall of every nation from the begin- ning of history: Luxury, oppression, lewd- ness, drunkenness and idolatry.. Let those five things, like the Angers of a hand, grip a nation and it will be throttled to its death. God had given repeated warnings, but thé ears of the people were closed to His mes- sages. Intent upon having their own way, indifferent to the voice of God, the nation
Lesson for June 25, 1911
TWE L VE LESSONS IN REVIEW.
I. T HE CURE OF NAAMAN (1 Kgs. 5).
Naaman, the Syrian general, was a leper; incurable; the type of „the sin-stricken. A kidnapped maid of Israel was in his houser hold. She believed Jehovah was the God of the Gentiles also, and like a little mission- ary, as she was, commended him to the prophet of God. Salvation is of the Jews. Naaman took a great gift with him, for, like others, he did not understand t h at solvation is free. He, like others, again, had his own notions of the way of salva- tion. But had to get cured by grace, by faith, by baptism. He being healed gave t h a n ks and glory to God; confessed the Lord, and vowed to serve Him only.
II. GOD GUARDS HIS P EO P LE (2 Kgs!. 6:8-23). Syria's king warred against Isrftel. God who sees in secret (Dan. 2:28) warned
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker