Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-09-29
Calnnase
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmagc. ID. ID.


pest. The text Is Psalm lXXXi. :. II an.
swcrcd thee Ia tue secret place OF thun.
der"
| wonder where the sweet singer OF
Israel caught his inspiration formy text .!
Was he hcrding his sheep one day in the
valley or the lowlands. where the shep-
herds. a thousand years later. watched
their focks by night and heard the
angel of the nativity say. "Fcar not,
for behold bring you tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. for
unto you is born this day Ia the city OF
David Il Saviour which is Christ the
IordI" While he was sitting upon a
rock IN the fields did lie not look up and
see the storm clouds gathering over the
surrounding hills? Then away OFF In
the distance did he hear the muttering
of the thunder? And while the valleys
ing in torrents upon the mountain
heights? Then did he see beautiful
rainbow in Il great arch lift itself above
those mountain tops: And then did lie
remember the words which God spake
unto Noah Il thousand years before the
psalmist was born. Il do set my bow
In the clouds. and it shall be- for Il token
of a covenant between me aud the
EARTH and will remember my cove
nant which IL between me and you and
- al sl.,slt ntH
the waters shall no more become a
flood to destroy all ilesh:" Then when
David saw the rainbow and witnessed
the storm clouds disappear did he feel
that God was his protector and never
falling friend? Was he filled with the
divine peace which passeth all under
standing:
Or IL may he different scenes that
suggested to the sweet singer of Israel
the Image Of my text. Perhaps II was
on day when one of his sheep wont
astray. He counted the flock over and
over again. and he found that one was
surely lost So he started up the noun
tain side to hunt il. Higher and higher
he went. He plunged through this
thicket and that Then nj last he found
It, But IN the meantime the night set
tied in Then the stars OF the heavens
We're shut ont by the black clouds.
Then the thunder began to growl. Then.
with his bcating sheep following close
at his heels he saw the lightningS Hash
and sllntter II huge tree Just II short dis
frh.f, la 4. 4 ;, IN
have been the way Gods voice sounded
10 Moses when he spoke to him among
the cavcrns aud the deep rayines of old
Sinai This is truly one Of the secret
places of thunder" | personally be-
lieye that the psalmiSt did not catch
the meaning of my text when he was
tending his sheep down in the valleys,
but when he was hunting for lost
lamb in one OF the secret places Of
thunder. upon one Of the highest peaks
Of the Jutlcan mountains overlooking
the little village Of Bethlehem. where
he was born and where his family at
that time dwet.
secret Place of Thunder.
We do not know what were the
scenes that caused these words to
spring from the Hips of the ancient
poet, hut since his time the child Of
God has often been reminded of them
in times of trouble and crisis. Ii il
well To know that there are secret
places IN which Gods voice may be
heard by the discouraged soul. There
"a Urban Ia. - M faith
full Is depressed by the noises wran-
CLING around him; when his ears are
filled with the loud babble of the
worlds disputingS with the fierce cries
Of contention. with the silly utterances
OF society's frivolity. with the vain and
foolish sophistry OF learned philoso-
piers proclaiming that there is no God.
Then happy is he II he can retire into
his closet or some other secret place
aud hear the voice of God answering
his perturbed spirit Ia thunder tones.
The words suggest that Gods secret
places of thunder are far away from
the ordinary haunts OF man Thoy are
so far away that for little while Mt
least we can get away from the selfish
nesScs and mcanncSses and Sordidness
surrounding us. We can live upon "A
higher plane. We can lie. as | was
some time ago, when | climbed the
san BcrnardinO mountains TO camp In
the noted Little Bear valley of south
ern California. After we had gone up
1000 1000. 5000, 1000. 5000 feet sud
denly we came TO the summit There
we We're able 10 stand upon the rocks
and with sweep of eye take in the hot
plains dotted with cities aud villages
and ranches There we could see
where men and women were tOiling
and struggling IN the work of everyday
life. but we were above them all aud
above their turmoil We were In the
flesh. yet we We're So far up that when
the msts began 10 gather they shut out
the whole world beneath rs These
mists looked like great sea. with here
and there Il mountain peak pushing IL
self up. reminding us of the world be-
meath us as the Azores rising above the
Atlantic remind us OF the continent OF
Atlantis sunk beneath the waves. IL