Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1915 — GOD’S MERCIES TO DISOBEDIENT ISRAEL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GOD’S MERCIES TO DISOBEDIENT ISRAEL

Quarterly Review—Read Nehemiah '.>.-26-31- ■ f .< March 28. Period of the Judges—Divinely Appointed Leaders—Their Duties and Responsibilities—Only One Lawgiver and One Law—Two Pictures of Israel’s National Life Under the Judges Manifestations of Divine Love and Care —Lessons for Us. “Righteousness eralteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people."—Proverbs U:3iISRAEL'S history from the division of Canaan amongst the tribes until the anointing of Saul, a period of 450 years (Acts 13:10-21), is called the Period of the Judges—Joshua being the first Judge and Samuel the last. These Judges were raised to their position providentially. But as they had neither power nor authority, collected no revenue and could not entail the office upon others, It follows that whatever inf < ue they possessed was personal; ami io give it weight Implied a proper acknowledgement of them as Divinely appointed, or “raised up.” , This arrangement led the people continually to look to God for their leaders rather than to engage ip politics, in which personal ambition /would control. Similarly Spiritual Israelites are not to wire-pull and decide for themselves who shall be

their spiritual leaders, but are to look to the Lord to raise up from time to time such leaders as He may please. Thb acceptance of these as God's appointees does not necessarily mean their selection by ballot, but may be

indicated merely by heeding their

teachings in harmony With God’s Word. Divinely appointed leadership will always be marked by spiritual victories and closer heart-relationship with God; for the Lord’s Spirit leads not to bondage, ignorance or strife, but to love, joy, peace of heart, liberty of conscience.

Israel needed no legislature; for it had one Lawgiver—the Lord—and the Law given at Mt. Sinai was perpetually to guide the nation. The priests and the Levites were the Divinely appointed helpers of the people—to instruct them in the Law, to represent them In the typical sacrificing, etc. In each tribe the. Elders, according to their capacity, had charge of the civil affairs of the tribe. Soldiers they had none; for the Divine Law was to separate them from other nations, and if they were faithful the Lord was to be their Protector.

Two Pictures of National Life. If the Book of. Judges be read as a complete history of Israel during those four and one-half centuries, it would be a discouraging picture and would give an unfair view’—that they were continually suffering punishment for sin and idolatry. The record passes by the happy period of Israel’s prosperity, and especially points out their deflections from God, their punishments therefor, and their deliverances through the Judges whom God raised up for them. That this was a favorable time for Israel is implied in the Lord’s promise to restore the Judges. The Israelites had. been instructed by the Lord to exterminate the Canaanites. This they had failed to do; and later on the false religions of those condemned by God alienated the hearts of many of the Israelites from full loyalty to the Lord, seducing them into a lascivious Idolatry. Thus they repeatedly brought upon themselves the Lord’s disfavor.

Applying this to Spiritual Israel, we are not to expect that the Lord’s displeasure with His people would delay until they had gone completely into

Idolatry to self, wealth, fame, etc. Rather, the Lord’s chastisements are sent to correct while still there is in our hearts something of obedience and love toward H 1 m—before the world, the flesh and the Adversary us completely.

These records of Divine chastisements, of Israel’s subsequent repentance and of the Lord’s deliverance are proofs of the Divine Love for that consecrated people. So far as we have information, the Divine Power was not thus exercised upon other nations for their reproof, correction, etc. They were left as aliens from God and His covenant and promises.

Israel’s Wrong Course. Israel’s government differed from all other earthly governments. God was their King; and in His providences, according to His Covenant with them, He supervised their affairs. But In Samuel’s day, the Elders, perceiving that his sons were unreliable and forgetting that God was their King and the Judge merely His representative, petitioned the Prophet that he anoint them a king. It is hard for us to sympathize with such prayers for their own degradation. The Prophet Samuel seems to have Viewed the matter from this standpoint. He very properly went to the Lord in prayer; it was not for him to decide. He was merely the Lord’s mouthpiece, to speak to the Israelites whatever message he should receive from the Lord." .

The Tables of The Law.

“Idolatry."