NOTE.—This lesson is a summing up of the long wicked career of Judah and Israel, and the inevitable consequences which fell upon Israel as a nation. Judah was spared to a later date, not because the people were any better, but “for David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake,” as God’s chosen servant and chosen city. See 1 Kings 11: 13, 32. Israel had also been long spared, not because of any merit of their own, but because of the “covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” 2 Kings 13: 23. So in our own time, if some nations are spared and prospered in the providence of God, it is not necessarily because of the innate goodness of the people (however much they may incline to think so), but because of some purpose which the Lord has in view.
9 “And the children of Israel did secretly things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. 10 And they set them up pillars and Asherim upon every high hill, and under every green tree; 11 and there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the nations whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger; 12 and they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. 13 Yet the Lord testified unto Israel, and unto Judah, by the hand of every prophet, and of every seer, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by the hand of My servants the prophets. 14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like to the neck of their fathers, who believed not in the Lord their God. 15 And they rejected His statutes, and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He testified unto them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them. 16 And they forsook all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.”
Golden Text: “If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off forever.”1 Chron. 28: 9.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What is said of the hypocrisy of Israel? How did they carry on this work? V. 9. Note 1. (2) How extensive was their image-worship? V. 10. Note 2. (3) What shows that their idol-worship was in imitation of the prescribed worship of God? V. 11. Note 3. (4) What has the Lord said about serving idols? V. 12. (5) Where is this commandment recorded? (6) By whom did the Lord testify against Judah and Israel? What was this testimony? V. 13. Note 4. (7) How was this admonition regarded by the people? V. 14. (8) What was their attitude toward the statutes of the Lord? What effect did this rejection have upon their conduct? V. 15. Note 5. (9) To what extent did they reject the law of God? V. 16. Note 6. (10) What extreme presumption did they manifest? V. 17. (11) How was the Lord affected by their persistent disobedience? What did He do to Israel? Who only were left of the covenant people? V. 18. Note 7.
NOTES.
1. “Secretly.”—Not hidden from view, but under cover of a pretense of serving God. This is evident from the fact that they chose the most conspicuous places in which to carry on their worship.
2. “Groves.”—These were clusters of carved pillars, or images set on pillars, somewhat after the manner of the “totem poles” now used by some heathen tribes. They were not groves of trees, for they were set up under trees; but probably took the name from being placed in groves of trees where worshipers could have the benefit of the shade.
3. “Burned incense.”—In imitation of the prescribed ceremony in the temple. All false worship originated in imitation of the true. Satan’s shrewdest devices for deceiving the people are his imitations of the good ways of the Lord. “There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt. 24: 24.
4. “By all the prophets, and by all the seers.”—This shows that Israel’s final casting off was the result of generations of transgression. And the same testimony is against transgressors of to-day, “for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.” Rom. 15: 4. If Israel was without excuse, much more we of the present. Yet the spirit of our time is fairly expressed by Solomon: “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Eccl. 8: 11.
5. “They rejected His statutes, . . . and His testimonies.”—This is why they “became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them.” And the same cause produced the same effect before Israel had an existence, as also since that time. Sin came into the world through Adam’s disobedience, and “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3: 4); so “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom. 8: 7); and God gave His Son that the world might be reconciled to Him, and brought again into harmony with His statutes and testimonies (see 2 Cor. 5: 17-21). The necessity of a Saviour, and of the help of His Spirit, is emphasized by the fact that “it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Gal. 3: 10.
6. “They left all the commandments.”—The logical result of coveting the pleasures of the world, and compromising in the least degree. Baal-worship was made especially seductive to the carnal mind by catering in excessive degree to the “lusts of the flesh.” Thus those whose minds were not stayed on God (Isa. 26: 3), whose meditation was not in “the law of the Lord” (Ps. 1: 1, 2), would fall an easy prey to the fascinating orgies of Baal-worship. And so it is with all worldly allurements. So David prayed, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken Thou me in Thy way.” And James tells us that “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Chapter 2: 10.
7. “Removed them out of His sight.”—Such was the ultimate fate of Israel as a nation, because of rejecting the commandments of God; and such will be the result to every individual who does so, whether he professes to be a worshiper of God or not. But the lesson of Israel’s apostasy is especially to the church of God, as Israel was a typical church.
FLY SHUTTLE CARPET LOOM
The best, handiest, easiest running, cheapest, and most durable
FLY SHUTTLE CARPET LOOM
In the world,—100 yards a day. Catalogue free. EUREKA LOOM CO. 5018 Main St., Battle Creek, Mich.
When you write, please mention the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
School Books in a hurry
And at New York prices, singly or by the dozen, may be obtained second-hand or new, by any boy or girl in the remotest hamlet, or any teacher or official anywhere, and
Delivery prepaid
Brand new, complete alphabetical catalogue, free, of school books of all publishers, if you mention this ad.
HINDS & NOBLE
4 Cooper Institute New York City
When you write, please mention the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Healthful Delicious Nut Foods
EASILY and cheaply made in any household by the use of our complete equipment for grinding and emulsifying nuts. The production of our mills is unsurpassed. Full directions and a booklet containing many valuable nut food recipes, free with each mill.
NUTS
Shelled and unshelled, of all kinds at reasonable prices
For further information, catalog, price-list, etc., write to
JOSEPH LAMBERT
Battle Creek Michigan
When you write, please mention the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
BAPTISM: Its Significance, Its Nature, and the Necessity for It.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
By E. J. Waggoner. Bible Students’ Library, No. 79. Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal. 16 pp.; 2 cents.
News and Notes
Aftermath of the War
More than one thousand of the troops in Porto Rico are on the sick list. There is absolutely no recuperation properties in the climate......The native Porto Ricans show a disposition to persecute the Spanish inhabitants for wrongs which they have suffered at the hands of the Spaniards, and several riots have occurred. On August 20, natives burned the town of Cota, and the Spanish residents fled for their lives. They are appealing to the Americans for protection......General Miles has embarked for home, and the Spanish governor-general intends to leave for Spain in a few days. The departure of the Spanish troops and the military occupation of the Americans will be under subordinate officers......The work of embarking the Spanish prisoners at Santiago is still going on. Many are dying in the camp outside the city from fever and diseases usually prevalent in military camps......The Spanish cabinet has appointed the officers who will act for it in arranging and carrying out the evacuation of Cuba and Porto Rico......On account of the continued attacks of the Cuban insurgents upon the Spanish in Cuba, the Spanish minister of war has authorized General Blanco to resume an offensive attitude toward the insurgents......The sale of liquor in Santiago is strictly prohibited, and the general health of the city is improving. Towns in the surrendered territory are being garrisoned by American troops......General Gomez is now within a few miles of Santiago and has just learned of the declaration of peace. He will at once confer with General Lawton regarding the disbanding of the insurgent forces......The cable at Manila, which was cut by Admiral Dewey after the destruction of the Spanish fleet, has been repaired, and the city is now in connection with the rest of the world......General Merritt has assumed his duties as military governor of Manila, and the situation growing out of the half-hostile attitude of the insurgents is improving. Aguinaldo has ordered his men to lay aside their arms and plant rice for future war necessities. Merchantmen are leaving Hongkong daily for Manila, and a great rush of trade is expected......The United States transport Arizona, with Brigadier-General King, Major-General Merriam, and 1,300 troops on board, sailed for Honolulu on August 21. It is expected that the final destination of these soldiers will be Manila, as well as the 314 officers and men who sailed a few days earlier on the transport Alliance......On August 12 the flag of Hawaii was lowered from the government buildings of Honolulu, and the flag of the United States of America was raised in its place. The ceremony was followed by the formal taking over of the islands by the representative appointed by the American Government, and the swearing in of officials......The native Philippinos report that the religious orders among them are instigating opposition against American supremacy. The natives have promised to disarm and disband promptly if assured that the islands will be made an American or British colony......Great distress exists in Havana among the poor, and bands of emaciated men and women throng the streets begging for food, while the conditions in the interior are said to be much worse. Vessels loaded with provision are arriving and discharging their cargoes, but as yet little if any of this has reached interior towns......The first vessel carrying Spanish soldiers from Santiago to Spain arrived at its destination on August 24, and reports forty deaths during the voyage.
International
A despatch from Rome states that the Vatican will immediately open negotiations with the United States for the appointment of a new hierarchy in the Spanish colonies which come into the United States......On August 22 the joint high commission, appointed by Canada and the United States to settle all difficulties between the two countries, held its first session......Jamaica is preparing a plebiscite to the British Parliament, requesting permission to endeavor to arrange for annexation to the United States......Serious rioting has occurred over the French concessions in the suburbs of Shanghai, in which fifteen of the natives were killed and twenty-nine wounded......The rebellion in Southern China still continues, and corpses of slaughtered rebels daily float down by the city of Wu Chau. One hundred were killed in an attack on the city of Tai-Wong-Kong, and rebel prisoners are executed daily......The German steamer Hamburg and the English schooner Catherine collided in the Channel during a fog on August 21. Nearly all the Catherine's crew were drowned......Prospero Morales, the real leader of the Guatemalan rebellion, was captured recently in a cave where he had been hiding, and died soon after from the effects of hunger and exposure......The queen of Denmark, one of the most remarkable politicians of her day, has completely lost her reason, and has fallen into a state of senile dotage......Russia has ordered four more powerful war vessels, two of which will be built in Germany and two in the United States......Holland has just established compulsory military service for all Dutch citizens. The only persons exempt are priests, ministers, and divinity students......England now has a force of 25,000 men in the Soudan, and is preparing to at once deal a final blow to the forces of Mahdism......The British Government has begun the work of condemning all the private real estate in the village of Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, preparatory to utilizing the entire town site as a naval station and fortress, which will be the Gibraltar of the Pacific......Count Cassini, Russian ambassador to the United States, has been transferred to the Russian embassy at London, on account of his knowledge of Chinese affairs and the assistance which he can give Russia in the present Eastern crisis......The expedition of Theodore Lerner, which started in May last to search for Herr Andree, has returned to Hammerfest. No trace was found of the lost aeronaut......The Russian Government is planning to plant in China colonies of men who have had military training, in order to form an available fighting contingent when the necessity arises......Sir Henry Strong, chief justice of Canada, has been appointed sole arbitrator of the claims of the United States against Chile......The government of Morocco is manifesting considerable fear over the intentions of Germany and Italy with relation to that country and the demands which are being made upon her......Mt. Vesuvius is still in a state of eruption, and four streams of lava are flowing down the mountain-side at the rate of 400 yards an hour.
Casualties and Calamities
Rev. J. B. Fletcher, a Congregationalist minister, was shot down in the pulpit, at Mailey, Ga., recently, where he was engaged in organizing a church......A terrible thunderstorm swept over the Danish peninsula on August 23. Fifty-two buildings were destroyed by lightning and six persons were killed......Four persons were killed in a railroad collision near Sharon, Mass., on the night of August 21......By a cave-in at a tunnel on the Panhandle Railroad at Carnegie, Pa., on August 23, seven men lost their lives......The French cruiser Laperouse has been wrecked on the island of Madagascar. Her crew escaped without loss......Six children were drowned by a cloud-burst at Sawmill Run, Pa., on August 19......Six persons lost their lives by the burning of two hotels at Hot Springs, Arkansas, on August 20......Five boys, all members of one family, living near Minneapolis, were burned to death while sleeping in a haymow, the barn having been struck by lightning......The collapse of a portion of a new building at Philadelphia, on August 18, resulted in the death of four men. Six others were injured by the flying débris......Thirty-one Russian prisoners died on a convict ship recently while being transported to Tomsk, Siberia. The cause was suffocation and overcrowding......A furious storm visited New York State on August 24, damaging property to the amount of $300,000......The crops in a number of districts in Russia are reported to be a total failure, and famine is expected in those provinces. The same districts had no crops last year......A report comes from Vienna to the effect that 300 miners were drowned by the flooding of the Kasimir coal mines at Nience, Silesia, on August 21.
National
The number of pensioners now on the pension list aggregates 1,040,356. Over 63,000 original claims were granted during the past year......A special board appointed by the Navy Department has taken up the work of disposing of the large fleet of auxiliary war vessels accumulated during the war. This fleet includes 38 cruisers, 15 colliers, 7 supply ships, 11 steamers, 25 tugs, and a number of other vessels......Bids have been opened by the government for building sixteen torpedo-boat destroyers, and twelve torpedo-boats. The cost for the entire twenty-eight vessels will be $16,900,000......The War Department has decided to muster out of the service the following regiments: Second New York, Fifth Maryland, First Maine, First Illinois, Fifty-second Iowa, and the first regiment of immunes at Galveston......Seventy vessels of the West Indies squadron have been ordered to rendezvous at Fortress Monroe. This will be the largest fleet of American war ships ever assembled in an American port......The ports of the United States have been declared open to the vessels of Spain......A battery of United States artillery has sailed for Alaska and will be stationed well up the Yukon River......The Ordnance Bureau of the Navy Department has opened bids for $360,000 worth of steel shells for the large guns of the fleet. This supply is to be ready in time for service if the peace negotiations should fail......The Navy Department is perfecting plans for building a number of the largest-size battleships and cruisers of high speed, and will ask Congress to make appropriation for building the same.
Religious Intelligence
The archbishop of Quito, in Ecuador, has issued an order of excommunication to all who would buy, receive, or possess any heretical Bibles. In accordance with this order, Bibles in numbers were burned on a prominent street corner in that city......Ogden, Utah, now has a “divine healer,” who professes to cure all kinds of diseases, and hundreds are flocking to his rooms for treatment......The papal secretary of state is seeking, through Mgr. Martinelli and archbishop Ireland, a modification of the conditions of peace so that the Catholic interests in Spanish territory ceded to the United States will not suffer too much......Emperor William has invited representatives of all evangelical churches abroad, including those in the United States, to attend the ceremony of dedicating the Church of the Redeemer at Jerusalem, on October 31......Recent advices from Rome state that the pope is in a critical condition. Thinking tires him and prayers confuse him; and the affairs of the church are in the hands of Rampolla, the secretary of state. On account of this condition of affairs, Catholics are discussing the advisability of electing a vice pope.
Domestic
The political parties of California have held their conventions and nominated their candidates for governor. James G. Maguire is the choice of the Democratic and Populist conventions, and Henry T. Gage is the Republican nominee.
READ THE FOLLOWING.
By Editor
HEDRICK, Iowa, July 22, 1898.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, California—Dear Friends: I write to let you know I received my Bible all right. It pleased me far beyond my expectations. I thank you for sending it so promptly. We think it is the nicest Bible for the price we have ever seen. I think if those in need of Bibles would send for the SIGNS premium Bible they would receive better satisfaction than in most book stores where Bibles are sold.
I like the SIGNS, and will do what I can to extend its circulation. Yours in Christ, Helen Eller.
The above is the testimony of one who has invested in our “Combination Offer” as noted on another page. Read the offer and send for the Bible and the SIGNS for either yourself or a friend. We will be glad to fill your order promptly. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THE MISSIONARY MAGAZINE
Organ of the Seventh-day Adventist Foreign Mission Board, a journal alive with missionary information, especially with that which pertains to the work and movements of the missionaries of the denomination.
Published monthly at 25 cents per year, 50 cents to foreign countries.
Send subscriptions to the publishers, 1730 North Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia, Pa., or to your tract societies.
Advertisements at usual rates solicited.
TEACHING TRUTH
By Mary Wood Allen
By Mary Wood Allen, M. D.
National Lecturer W. C. T. U.
A little brochure brimful of helpful suggestions to parents who wish to teach their children the truth in regard to the mystery of life.
Price, 25c.
PACIFIC PRESS PUB. CO.
Oakland, Cal.
Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal
The Great Threefold Message is an illustrated sixteen-page tract. Its price is $1.00 per 100, and it is now in its 25th thousand.
It considers the subject of “God’s remedy for the ills of Christendom.” All the world knows that Christendom is indeed ill; and many would gladly know the remedy. The subject is so treated in this tract that this class will read, and to read is to know that remedy for themselves.
Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal
39 Bond St., New York City.
18 West Fifth St., Kansas City, Mo.
Fall Subscription Books
It is a literary year. Millions of books will be sold this Fall. Many of them will be sold by our agents. Why? Because our terms are liberal, and our general agency system is so complete that exclusive territory is insured. Send two 2-cent stamps for
DESCRIPTIVE CATALOG OF SUBSCRIPTION BOOKS
Pacific Press Publishing Co. 30 Bond St., New York City 18 West 5th St., Kansas City, Mo. Oakland, Cal.
OUR GENERAL AGENTS.
General Eastern Agency—Pacific Press Pub. Co., 39 Bond St., N. Y. City, N. Y.
General Central Agency—Pacific Press Pub. Co., 14-18 W. 5th St., Kansas City, Mo.
Argentine—Señor N. Z. Town, Casilla del Correa, 481; Buenos Ayres, Argentine Republic, S. A.
Arkansas Tract Society—Fayetteville, Ark.
Atlantic Tract Society—39 Bond St., New York City, N. Y.
Australia—Echo Publishing House, North Fitzroy, Victoria.
Australian Tract Society—251 St. George’s Road, North Fitzroy, Australia.
California Tract Society—1059 Castro St., Oakland, Cal.
Texas Tract Society—626 and 628 Elm St., Dallas, Tex.
Upper Columbia Tract Society—College Place, Wash.
Utah Tract Society—Box 1058, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Vancouver Island—R. Robb, 231 Pandora St., Victoria, B. C.
Vermont Tract Society—190 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington, Vt.
Virginia Tract Society—2504 E. Clay St., Richmond, Va.
West Virginia Tract Society—Newburg, W. Va.
Wisconsin Tract Society—Milton Junction, Wis.
THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD.
By M. C. Wilcox
By M. C. Wilcox. This tract of 40 pages sets forth in brief some of the more important events of the Great Day of God Almighty. It discusses the character of that day, shows when it begins, the coming of the Lord, the events in connection with that coming, the Millennium, the Saints in Judgment, when the Day of the Lord Ends, and the Eternal Home of the Redeemed. Bible Students' Library No. 65. Price, 5 cents.
