prophets and kings-第52章
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ry； the Lord graciously revealed Himself。 He spread before Israel the things that were for the welfare of the nation。 〃I have written to him the great things of My law；〃 He declared through Hosea； 〃but they were counted as a strange thing。〃 〃I taught Ephraim also to go； taking them by their arms； but they knew not that I healed them。〃 Hosea 8：12； 11：3。 Tenderly had the Lord dealt with them； instructing them by His prophets line upon line； precept upon precept。
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Had Israel heeded the messages of the prophets； they would have been spared the humiliation that followed。 It was because they had persisted in turning aside from His law that God was compelled to let them go into captivity。 〃My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge；〃 was His message to them through Hosea。 〃Because thou hast rejected knowledge； I will also reject thee： 。 。 。 seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God。〃 Hosea 4：6。
In every age； transgression of God's law has been followed by the same result。 In the days of Noah； when every principle of rightdoing was violated； and iniquity became so deep and widespread that God could no longer bear with it； the decree went forth； 〃I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth。〃 Genesis 6：7。 In Abraham's day the people of Sodom openly defied God and His law； and there followed the same wickedness； the same corruption； the same unbridled indulgence； that had marked the antediluvian world。 The inhabitants of Sodom passed the limits of divine forbearance； and there was kindled against them the fire of God's vengeance。
The time preceding the captivity of the ten tribes of Israel was one of similar disobedience and of similar wickedness。 God's law was counted as a thing of nought； and this opened the floodgates of iniquity upon Israel。 〃The Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land；〃 Hosea declared； 〃because there is no truth； nor mercy； nor knowledge of God in the land。 By swearing； and lying； and killing； and stealing； and committing adultery； they break out； and blood toucheth blood。〃 Hosea 4：1； 2。
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The prophecies of judgment delivered by Amos and Hosea were accompanied by predictions of future glory。 To the ten tribes； long rebellious and impenitent； was given no promise of complete restoration to their former power in Palestine。 Until the end of time； they were to be 〃wanderers among the nations。〃 But through Hosea was given a prophecy that set before them the privilege of having a part in the final restoration that is to be made to the people of God at the close of earth's history； when Christ shall appear as King of kings and Lord of lords。 〃Many days；〃 the prophet declared； the ten tribes were to abide 〃without a king； and without a prince； and without a sacrifice； and without an image； and without an ephod； and without teraphim。〃 〃Afterward；〃 the prophet continued； 〃shall the children of Israel return； and seek the Lord their God； and David their king； and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days。〃 Hosea 3：4； 5。
In symbolic language Hosea set before the ten tribes God's plan of restoring to every penitent soul who would unite with His church on earth； the blessings granted Israel in the days of their loyalty to Him in the Promised Land。 Referring to Israel as one to whom He longed to show mercy； the Lord declared； 〃I will allure her； and bring her into the wilderness； and speak comfortably unto her。 And I will give her her vineyards from thence； and the valley of Achor for a door of hope： and she shall sing there； as in the days of her youth； and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt。 And it shall be at that day； saith the Lord； that thou shalt call Me Ishi ＇〃My
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husband；〃 margin＇； and shalt call Me no more Baali ＇〃My lord；〃 margin＇。 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth； and they shall no more be remembered by their name。〃 Hosea 2：14…17。
In the last days of this earth's history； God's covenant with His commandment…keeping people is to be renewed。 〃In that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field； and with the fowls of heaven； and with the creeping things of the ground： and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth； and will make them to lie down safely。 And I will betroth thee unto Me forever； yea； I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness； and in judgment； and in loving…kindness； and in mercies。 I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness： and thou shalt know the Lord。
〃And it shall come to pass in that day； I will hear； saith the Lord； I will hear the heavens； and they shall hear the earth； and the earth shall hear the corn； and the wine； and the oil； and they shall hear Jezreel。 And I will sow her unto Me in the earth； and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy； and I will say to them which were not My people； Thou art My people； and they shall say； Thou art my God。〃 Verses 18…23。
〃In that day〃 〃the remnant of Israel； and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob； 。 。 。 shall stay upon the Lord； the Holy One of Israel； in truth。〃 Isaiah 10：20。 From 〃every nation； and kindred； and tongue； and people〃 there will be some who will gladly respond to the message； 〃Fear God； and give glory to Him； for the hour of His judgment
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is come。〃 They will turn from every idol that binds them to earth； and will 〃worship Him that made heaven； and earth； and the sea； and the fountains of waters。〃 They will free themselves from every entanglement and will stand before the world as monuments of God's mercy。 Obedient to the divine requirements； they will be recognized by angels and by men as those that have kept 〃the commandments of God； and the faith of Jesus。〃 Revelation 14：6；7；12。
〃Behold； the days come； saith the Lord； that the plowman shall overtake the reaper； and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed； and the mountains shall drop sweet wine； and all the hills shall melt。 And I will bring again the captivity of My people of Israel； and they shall build the waste cities； and inhabit them； and they shall plant vineyards； and drink the wine thereof； they shall also make gardens； and eat the fruit of them。 And I will plant them upon their land； and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them； saith the Lord thy God。〃 Amos 9：13…15。
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A Preacher of Righteousness
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〃Shall the prey be taken from the mighty； or the lawful captive delivered？〃 〃Thus saith the Lord； Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away； and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered。〃 〃They shall be greatly ashamed； that trust in graven images； that say to the molten images； Ye are our gods。〃 Isaiah 49：24； 25； 42：17。
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Chapter 25
The Call of Isaiah
The long reign of Uzziah ＇also known as Azariah＇ in the land of Judah and Benjamin was characterized by a prosperity greater than that of any other ruler since the death of Solomon； nearly two centuries before。 For many years the king ruled with discretion。 Under the blessing of Heaven his armies regained some of the territory that had been lost in former years。 Cities were rebuilt and fortified； and the position of the nation among the surrounding peoples was greatly strengthened。 Commerce revived； and the riches of the nations flowed into Jerusalem。 Uzziah's name 〃spread far abroad； for he was marvellously helped； till he was strong。〃 2 Chronicles 26：15。
This outward prosperity； however； was not accompanied by a corresponding revival of spiritual power。 The temple services were continued as in former years； and multitudes assembled to worship the living God； but pride and formality
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gradually took the place of humility and sincerity。 Of Uzziah himself it is written： 〃When he was strong； his heart was lifted up to his destruction： for he transgressed against the Lord his God。〃 Verse 16。
The si
