Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/335

 days later  was  killed  by  his  own  sons. Then Tobias  returned, and all  his  property  was  restored  to  him. But the  persecution against the  Israelites  was  still  raging,  so  Tobias  resumed  his former works  of  charity,  relieving  the  distressed,  and  burying the dead.

Coming home  one  day  very  much  fatigued,  he  lay  down near the  wall  and  fell  asleep. While he  was  sleeping  the  droppings from  a swallow’s  nest  fell  on  his  eyes  and  made  him  blind. This was  a great  affliction,  but  it  did  not  prevent  Tobias  from fearing and  blessing  God  and  thanking  Him  for  all  his  mercies, even for  this  new  trial. Now Anna,  his  wife,  was  his  only  support. She went  out  every  day  to  work,  and  by  her  hard  earnings  kept her husband  from  want. On one  occasion,  Anna  received  a young  kid  for  the  labour  of  her  hands,  and  she  brought  it  home. Now Tobias,  hearing  it  bleat,  was  afraid  and  said:  “Take  heed, lest perhaps  it  be  stolen ;  restore  it  to  its  owner.”  He  questioned Anna as  to  how  she  got  the  kid. Now Anna  was  a good  and virtuous woman,  but  this  suspicion  of  her  husband  roused  her  to anger. She replied  very  sharply  and  made  use  of  words  that were aggravating to  her  husband. Tobias, however,  only  sighed and began  to  pray.

The Patience  and  Justice  of  God. God  was  very  patient  with  His ungrateful people. He continued  to  send  prophets  who,  in  stirring language, pointed  out  to  the  people  their  ingratitude  and  faithlessness towards  God,  and  graphically  described  the  judgments  which  would overtake them. For two  hundred  years  and  more  God  visited  them with famines  and  other  tribulations  in  the  hope  of  bringing  them  back to  Him,  but  all  in  vain! Ninive did  penance,  but  Israel  remained  impenitent! At last  Almighty  God’s  patience  was  exhausted,  His  judgment fell,  and  the  faithless  kingdom  of  Israel  came  to  an  end! “Justice exalteth a nation: but  sin  maketh  nations  miserable”  (Prov.  14,  34).

Gods Mercy  and  Wisdom.  Even  in  His  punishments  God  showed mercy. As a nation  Israel  was  overthrown,  but  the  punishment  served