The Tupelo journal., 1904-07-29
mer. We know that she operates IN
obedience to Q mighty law.

-1t 49, o'o
him. God is revealed as a God of law
and order in His universe. Man recog-
nizes this relationship and this har-
mony, and why should it be deemed
strange and unnatural that God in His
relations to man should have laws,
which il obeyed issue in beauty and
harmony, but which, II d~isregarded,
bring discord and violence? The
Psalmist, sensitive to the Divine reve-
lation, passes from Nature and her
laws, to mar and his laws. He could
sit out on the Judean hillside amid all
the beauties of that marvellous land
scape and enjoy it only as he sang the
complete song of man and his rela-
tons to God, and you II | must do
the same thing. We must not be con-
tent with the revelation of God in Ma
ture, but we must seek the fuller reve-
lation of God which is to be found in
His Word. See what David thought of
Gods Word; how he loved to view 1t
from all sides. 1t was law, perfect
aw, converting and restoring the soul.
1t was testimony, sure testimony,
bringing wisdom to the simple-heart-
ed. 1t was statutes, right statutes,
making the life to rejoice under their
beneficent rules. 1t was command
ment, pure commandment, making the
eyes quick to see the good and to put
aside the evil. 1t was holy, Cody
fear, cleansing in its power, and endur-
ing forever. 1t was judgments, true and
righteous, bringing deliverance to the
obedient heart and punishment to the
unrepentant and ungodly. To him this
Word was better than the riches of the
world, and more satisfying than all
the sweets and dainties of the world.
1t was the danger signal, the guide
post, which would keep the feet
from slipping into the bypaths Of sin,
and it was the bearer of rich gifts to
those who remembered it to keep it.
How much David saw in Gods Word!
How he loved to look of upon the face
of Nature and discover some new revela-
ton Of God there, and then how eagerly
he would scan his bit of scrool contain
ing Gods Word and there find some new
thought, some new secret, of God in His
relations to him and mankind. But how
little we enjoy Gods Word! And where
as David had only bits and scraps of it,
We have the complete revelation OF His
will and purpose for man. And we ought
to enjoy it. We ought to have the ex-
p%erience of the whole Psalm. AS we go
off for our vacation rest, let us learn of
God not only in Nature but in His Word;
let us seek that harmony with God which
prevails between God and Nature, and
gives to her such irresistible charm. 1t
may be our privilege to find Gods Word
meaning to us all that it meant to David.
A md without Gods Word, there is no
n recognition of the personal rela-
tiOnship which exists between God and
men. How vague is the thought of God
to multitudes of people. Why is it so?
Why is it that people like to get lost in
the crowd and talk in a vague sort of
way Of the fatherhood of God and the
brotherhood of man.. Why is it that
men like to think their own thoughts of
God, and not Gods thoughts for them
and about them? Is it not because there
is not the sense of the personal relation
ship which should and must exist be-
tween God and man? Is it not because
man does not know and does not care to
know God? fear 1t is. Study your own
heart and seek to discover the reason
you do o want to know God better. Is
it not for the reason we ave stated
above? The contemplation of Nature
gives convincing proof of the existence
of a God. The contemplation of His
Word brings revelation of that God
which we have discovered in Nature.
And that revelation brings sense of OBJ
legation to God. Hear the Psalmist as he
closes. He has beheld Nature and ex-
claimed how lovely; how the glory of
God is manifested. He has beheld Gods
perfect, pure law and has exclaimed:
1t is better than gold and sweeter than
honey. But what an X ray it has been
to his soul! How it has revealed the
true condition! How it has brought to
light the hidden sins! r.,
n HE greatest discovery which man
/ ever makes is the discovery of him
self; that is the discovery of his true
condition and need before God. Man
never Toes this of and within himself.
1t takes the Word of God to reveal it to
him. David never knew what manner
of man he was until he had looked into
the mirror of Gods Word and there he
saw reflected and revealed his true like
ness. And as he realized what he had
thought he was and then what God had
revealed him to be he exclaimed: who
can understand his errors?" And the
answer throughout the ages has been:
No man! No man can know himself ex-
cept as God reveals that self to him
through His Word. And with the rev.
elation comes the consciousness of hope
less and helpless state of sin, and the
prayer: Cleanse thou me from secret
faults" David as he uttered this prayer
saw the blood of the sacrificial lamb as
it pointed to the coming of the Perfect
One who was to become the Lamb of
God to take away the sin of the world.
And to you and to me comes the r~eyela-
ton of the saving and keeping Christ.
Aud the note Of true harmony is then
struck. LET the words Of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart be ac-
ceptable in Thy sight, o Lord. my
Strength and my Redeemer." We rec
ognize the harmony which exists