Middletown transcript., 1899-01-28
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.

Tonic For the Week Beginning Jan.
29-Comment by Rev. $. Ell. Doyle.
ToPIc-God's army.-Ps. XXX, 10 Chris
tian Endeavor day.l
Ancient kings of Israel before going
to battle offered up bloodless offerings
and whole burnt sacrifices in the temple
unto God. This ninth psalm was prob
ably intended to be sung while the
king on such an occasion was making
these offerings The psalm consists OF
three parts. |. The prayer Of the con-
gregation probably chanted by the Lee
Vites while the smoke of the sacrifices
ascended to heaven oversees 1-5). 2. The
king himself takes up the strain and
expresses his faith in God oversees 6-8).
5. The congregation respond, praying
again, "God save the king" (verse 81.
The army of ancient Israel going forth
to battle against the heat1en nations of
the world may be symbolical Of Gods
army today going forth to battle against
the kingdoms of the world. Snoh con-
fict is constantly being waged. The
kingdoms of satan and Of this world are
constantly arrayed against the kingdom
Of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The battle RACES mora iercely every day.
The elements of evil contend against the
elements Of good. and each one of US is
enlisted on the one side or the other.
The desire for victory is the great ambi-
tion of one who goes forth to battle. In
this psalm we have pointed out what
Gods army must do today to have sue
cess and victory. Let us study these es-
sentials to success.
/. Gods army to succeed must be
willing to make sacrifices. The king
made sacrifices before going forth to
battle. God s.church, Gods people, must
be willing tqinake sacrifices today to be
successful. 1t costs something to win
battles. War is expensive to the victor
as we'll as to the vanquished. 1t will
cost Gods people today money, time,
labor, sacrifice, to war successfully
against the powers of evil, but victory
will pay for all tie cost
Q. Gods army to succeed must pray
to God. This both the people and the
king did God decides the deStinies of
men. God gives victory or defeat. How
necessary, then, that we should earnest
" and fervently beseech Him to be with
us in our struggles.
8. Gods army to sacceed must set
up its banners in tho name of the Lord.
"In the name Gf. cur God we will set
up our banners" (verse 81. To expect
even to succeed we Glust be sure that we
are advocating the cause of God. We
| must not confound the cause of self or
Of tie world with Gods cause. We
must be Oh Gods side rather than expect
| God to be Oh our side. This will give
us just and worthy cause, an essential
to success Thrice is be armed who
hath his quarrel just"
4. God g army to sicceed must trust
| in Goi. ''Some trust in chariots, some
| in h.rses, but we viii remember the
name of TIE Lord orr God tverse y.
FAITH in God is a1 absolute essential for
success il Gehtins for God. Our trust
must tie in Him rather than in man.
The battle is not to tae strong, but to
those who put their faith and trust in
God
Billie r.. adings. .-Ps. xvii, 1-6;
xxxiii, fa-@o; Prov xxi, 81; Eccl. *,
IL; Tsa xxi, Is; Amos. ii, l4-16;
Hosea i, I, J5r. tx, 23, "a; Zech. iv,
1-6, R3ln. x..i. /. Q; II Cor. iii, s.;
Gal. vi, 8, Eph. vi. 1913; Phil. iT
12, I3; II Tim. iv. z, s.