udent should become acquainted with the leading events
in the history of this period of each of these nations.

Lessons of the Period. It is most difficult to put down the permanent
lessons or teachings of this period. To the teachings of the prophets
given above the following are well worth preserving as lessons for our
day as well as theirs. (1) All reformation must begin at the house of
God and in connection with his worship-witness the reform work of Asa,
Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah and Josiah. (2) Religion must set the
standards for the conduct of national affairs. (3) Sin is infidelity
to love, or spiritual adultery. It not only breaks law but cruelly
wounds love. (4) Sin blinds men to their best interests, turns them
against their best friends and issues in their ruin. (5) The political
sentiment or the politician that neglects or attacks God, or the
national recognition of him is perilous to the nation. (6) The loss of
the sense or vision of God leads to "degraded ideals, deadened
consciences and defeated purposes." (7) True love: (a) is not blind to
the sins of the one loved; (b) does not try to cover up the faults but
tries to turn one from them; (c) does not desert one when calamity
comes because of persistence in sin. See the attitude of Jeremiah to
Judah before and after the captivity.

For Study and Discussion. (1) Study each of the teachings of the
prophets given above: (a) Try to find scripture basis for it; (b)
Discuss it as a universal principle. (2) Study each of the scriptures
referred to in the discussion above on false prophets: (a) From
references collect other passages on the subject; (b) Make a list of
their prophecies and tell how to determine whether a prophet is false.
(3) From the scriptures given above on wealth and luxury and from
others to be pointed out: (a) List the evidences of wealth; (b)
Compare the conditions then and now. (4) Following the instructions
for study in the paragraph above on contemporaneous nations prepare a
list of facts concerning each, especially of matters that affected
Judah. (5) Name the kings of this period. Tell (a) how each came into
office, (b) how long he reigned, (c) how his career ended, (d) what
prophet preached to each and the nature of the prophecy. (6)
Hezekiah's sickness, 2 King 20:1-11; 2 Chron. 32;24-26; (7) His song
of thanksgiving, Is. 38:10-20. Carefully analyze it. (8) Sennacherib's
invasion, 2 K. 18:14-19 end; Is. 14:24-27; 36:1-37:10; 2 Chro