prophets and kings-第51章
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the feast of unleavened bread。〃 Verses 10…13。
About two years later； Samaria was invested by the hosts of Assyria under Shalmaneser； and in the siege that followed； multitudes perished miserably of hunger and disease as well as by the sword。 The city and nation fell； and the broken remnant of the ten tribes were carried away captive and scattered in the provinces of the Assyrian realm。
The destruction that befell the northern kingdom was a direct judgment from Heaven。 The Assyrians were merely the instruments that God used to carry out His purpose。 Through Isaiah； who began to prophesy shortly before the fall of Samaria； the Lord referred to the Assyrian hosts as 〃the rod of Mine anger。〃 〃The staff in their hand；〃 He said； 〃is Mine indignation。〃 Isaiah 10：5。
Grievously had the children of Israel 〃sinned against the Lord their God； 。 。 。 and wrought wicked things。〃 〃They would not hear； but 。 。 。 rejected His statutes； and His covenant that He made with their fathers； and His
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testimonies which He testified against them。〃 It was because they had 〃left all the commandments of the Lord their God； and made them molten images； even two calves； and made a grove； and worshiped all the host of heaven； and served Baal；〃 and refused steadfastly to repent； that the Lord 〃afflicted them； and delivered them into the hand of spoilers； until He had cast them out of His sight；〃 in harmony with the plain warnings He had sent them 〃by all His servants the prophets。〃
〃So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria；〃 〃because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God； but transgressed His covenant； and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded。〃 2 Kings 17：7； 11；14…16； 20； 23； 18：12。
In the terrible judgments brought upon the ten tribes the Lord had a wise and merciful purpose。 That which He could no longer do through them in the land of their fathers He would seek to accomplish by scattering them among the heathen。 His plan for the salvation of all who should choose to avail themselves of pardon through the Saviour of the human race must yet be fulfilled； and in the afflictions brought upon Israel； He was preparing the way for His glory to be revealed to the nations of earth。 Not all who were carried captive were impenitent。 Among them were some who had remained true to God； and others who had humbled themselves before Him。 Through these； 〃the sons of the living God〃 （Hosea 1：10）； He would bring multitudes in the Assyrian realm to a knowledge of the attributes of His character and the beneficence of His law。
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Chapter 24
〃Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge〃
God's favor toward Israel had always been conditional on their obedience。 At the foot of Sinai they had entered into covenant relationship with Him as His 〃peculiar treasure。 。 。 above all people。〃 Solemnly they had promised to follow in the path of obedience。 〃All that the Lord hath spoken we will do；〃 they had said。 Exodus 19：5； 8。 And when； a few days afterward； God's law was spoken from Sinai； and additional instruction in the form of statutes and judgments was communicated through Moses； the Israelites with one voice had again promised； 〃All the words which the Lord hath said will we do。〃 At the ratification of the covenant； the people had once more united in declaring； 〃All that the Lord hath said will we do； and be obedient；〃 Exodus 24：3； 7。 God had chosen Israel as His people； and they had chosen Him as their King。
Near the close of the wilderness wandering the conditions of the covenant had been repeated。 At Baalpeor； on the
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very borders of the Promised Land； where many fell a prey to subtle temptation； those who remained faithful renewed their vows of allegiance。 Through Moses they were warned against the temptations that would assail them in the future； and they were earnestly exhorted to remain separate from the surrounding nations and to worship God alone。
〃Now therefore hearken；〃 Moses had instructed Israel； 〃unto the statutes and unto the judgments； which I teach you； for to do them； that ye may live； and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you。 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you； neither shall ye diminish aught from it； that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you。 。 。 。 Keep therefore and do them； for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations； which shall hear all these statutes； and say； Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people。〃 Deuteronomy 4：1…6。
The Israelites had been specially charged not to lose sight of the commandments of God； in obedience to which they would find strength and blessing。 〃Take heed to thyself； and keep thy soul diligently；〃 had been the word of the Lord to them through Moses； 〃lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen； and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life： but teach them thy sons； and thy sons' sons。〃 Verse 9。 The awe…inspiring scenes connected with the giving of the law at Sinai were never to be forgotten。 Plain and decided were the warnings that had been given Israel against the idolatrous customs
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prevailing among the neighboring nations。 〃Take ye 。 。 。 good heed unto yourselves；〃 was the counsel given； 〃lest ye corrupt yourselves； and make you a graven image； the similitude of any figure；〃 〃and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven； and when thou seest the sun； and the moon； and the stars； even all the host of heaven； shouldest be driven to worship them； and serve them； which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven。〃 〃Take heed unto yourselves； lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God； which He made with you； and make you a graven image； or the likeness of anything； which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee。〃 Verses 15； 16； 19； 23。
Moses traced the evils that would result from a departure from the statutes of Jehovah。 Calling heaven and earth to witness； he declared that if； after having dwelt long in the Land of Promise； the people should introduce corrupt forms of worship and bow down to graven images and should refuse to return to the worship of the true God； the anger of the Lord would be aroused； and they would be carried away captive and scattered among the heathen。 〃Ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it；〃 he warned them； 〃ye shall not prolong your days upon it； but shall utterly be destroyed。 And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations； and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen； whither the Lord shall lead you。 And there ye shall serve gods； the work of men's hands； wood and stone； which neither see； nor hear； nor eat； nor smell。〃 Verses 26…28。
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This prophecy； fulfilled in part in the time of the judges； met a more complete and literal fulfillment in the captivity of Israel in Assyria and of Judah in Babylon。
The apostasy of Israel had developed gradually。 From generation to generation； Satan had made repeated attempts to cause the chosen nation to forget 〃the commandments； the statutes； and the judgments〃 that they had promised to keep forever。 Deuteronomy 6：1。 He knew that if he could only lead Israel to forget God； and to 〃walk after other gods； and serve them； and worship them；〃 they would 〃surely perish。〃 Deuteronomy 8：19。
The enemy of God's church upon the earth had not； however； taken fully into account the compassionate nature of Him who 〃will by no means clear the guilty；〃 yet whose glory it is to be 〃merciful and gracious； long…suffering； and abundant in goodness and truth； keeping mercy for thousands； forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin。〃 Exodus 34：6； 7。 Despite the efforts of Satan to thwart God's purpose for Israel； nevertheless even in some of the darkest hours of their history； when it seemed as if the forces of evil were about to gain the victory； the Lord graciously revealed Himself。 He spread before Israel the things that were for the welfa
