Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24
ness to the people, a leader and COM

thou knowest not, and nations that knew
not thee shall run unto thee because OF
the Lord thy God. and for the Holy One OF
Israel for He hath glorified thee.
e Seek We the Lord while He may be
found. call we upon Him while He is near
=. Let the wicked man forsakeshis way
and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and
let him return unto the Lord, and He VIII
have mercy upon him; and to our God, for
He win abundantly pardon.
&. For my thoughts are not your
thoughts. neither are your ways my ways,
saith the Lord.
20. For as the heavens are higher than
the earth. so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
TO- For as the rain cometh down, and
the snow from heaven. and returneth not
thfther. but watereth the earth. and maketh
1t bring forth and bud. that 1t may give
seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
III. So shall my word be that goeth forth
out of my mouth 1t shall not return unto
me void. but 1t shall accomplish that which
/ please. and it shall prosper In the thing
whereunto l sent 1t.
"12 For We shall go out with Joy, and
be led forth with peace: the mountains
and the hills shall break forth before you
into singing, and all the trees of the field
shall clap their hands.
-"13. Instead of the thorn shall come up
the fir tree. and instead of the brer shall
come up the myrtle tree: and II shall be to
the Lord for q name, for an everlasting
sign that shall not be cut off,"
The Lesson.
In the Expositor's Bible that portion de-
voted to this chapter of Isaiah is headed "A
last call to the busy" 1t is significant in
its application to our nation. If any peo-
pie are busy getting gain and pursuing
their various ambitions We are We are
too busy to eat or drink or sleep. No, not
too busy to drink some of us, but alas. not
the wine and milk that can be bought
Weary with exertion for our own suprem-
acy as nation. thirsty and unsatisfied we
toll on, and God calls to us as He called
of old, that He can give us satisfaction.
But the way of satisfaction and blessing
is not to be found in the toilsome diligence
which we are vainly pursuing. 1t is to
be found in perfect obedience, IN
turning to Him and following His word.
1.-THE simplicity of the obedience that Is
here asked from Israel" says George Adam
Smith, the emphasis that is laid upon
mere obedience ringing in full satisfac-
ton. is impressive: hearken diligently and
eat that which is good; incline your ear
and come unto me, hear and your soul
shall live 1t suggests the number Of
plausible reasons which may be offered for
every worldly and material life. and to
which there is no answer save the call of
God. Gods own voice to obedience and
surrender. To obedience God then prom
| ises influence. In place of being a mere
| trafficker with the nations, or. at best, their
| purveyor and money-lender, the jew, If he
| obeys God, shall be the priest and prophet
| of the peoples.
When our forefathers came to this coun-
| try they felt in their hearts Gods call to
found new nation. to be, as it were, a
| priest and prophet to the nations. 1t was
| freedom to worship God that was the foun-
| dation of our fair land. How has it been
| kept up? Are we making that the principle
| thing?
| Did not our God keep His promise and
| bring blessing and goodly heritage to US?
And how have We kept ours? Does 1t not
need that this lesson should strike home to
| every heart this week?
oh" you say, "yes, that is for the poll
ticians and for men high in authority. But
| l am just an Insignificant man. woman
| or scarcely more than a child it may be, /
| can not do anything. l have no part in
| the say so of the way the country is run
The lesson is not for and L cannot feel
responsible for my national heritage
| Yes, but you should. Even plain man.
| an insignificant woman, Shy child, may
| do something to help US all to turn to-
| ward the living God and obey His word.
| If you ask God to help you and then set your
| own brains and eyes at work you will pres
emily find out just what you personally can
| do. No one else can tell you exactly only
! suggest. For instance, around the cor
| ner from your home there stands a saloon.
| You know that more than one of your
| nelghbors patroniZe it, and you perhaps
| know of those to whom its proximity has
| brought sorrow more than once. Have you
| ever lifted a finger or raised your voice
| to so much protest? I know, you are
| insignificant, but you are made in Gods
| image, and after all your voice will count.
II cannot help. You might stir the least
| little mite of that mysterious force that
| is called public opinion if you tried 1t
| might be that your voice could only in
| 1uence the grocery boy that comes to your
| back door, or the little urchin in your
| Sunday school class, or the ignorant toiler
| who does some humble work for you But
| tney IN turn have each voice
cannot tell whom they may reach nor how
| wide the circles of influence may extend.
| Then there are other things you can do.
| ltefe are petitions to be got up and signed.
Even a child may carry about petition
| and people will sign it sometimes Just to
get rid of you. Petitions have a mighty
| power. You should read about the work
| of the National Reform Bureau in Wash
| ington, and then you would understand O.
| you Will find you have large work to do
| II you VIII just get TO work at it.
Then there is Alaska, with its $1,000 Es-
| kimos. about as many Indians of various
! tribes and 10000 whites where religion is
| very scarce, and the knowledge of Jesus
not widely difused. Have you tried to do
| anything for Alaska? You might through
| your minister get in touch with some one
| missionary out there and give him little
| help. Write and ask what you could do,
| just plain, insignificant hard-workfne
person, IL you are such, without much
| money to give. He will perhaps put YOU
| In touch with some lonely soul who has
not groped through the darkness vet to
| find Jesus, and you might by correspond
ence help that soul to know your Savior
| as you know Him. O, there are many
ways in which you could be foreign mis-
| sionary besides sending your money. even
| though you have to stay at home and
| work
| And there Is that great army of Indians
| whom We have chased out of their rightful
heritage and home and reduced to poverty
and degradation that we might have this
| lovely land for our own. Have you ever
| even prayed for the Indians whom Won
| nave helped to dfsplace?
There are many others, the mountaineers
| the MeXlcans the Mormons, and our new
| ADOPTED countries. We each have some
| little personal responsibility What are we
| going to do? Shall we turn to the Lord
IN obedience and ask Him how we may
heip to make our nation a priestJv ma
| tion, or shall we let it go on its wild wick
co. worldly way and say We cannot help it?
How to Help the Leader.
Study up all you can find out about
Alaska and then having got full of your
subject condense your knowledge into a
few terse sentences that will stir interest
| in other hearts. Alaska for Juniors pub