The Washington herald., 1907-09-08
A SUNDAY TALK.

Not unto Us. o Lord not unto US, but unto Thy
name give giory, for thy mercy, and for thy
truths sake.
Wherefore should the heather say Where is now
But our God is in the heavens
Nowhere in the whole Bible is there
such ringing note Of confidence and in
splration as in the 18th Psalm. in which
David. the poet, with all the poets fervor
and eloquence. seemed to spurn the gross
ness OF earth and rise 10 heavenly heights
in his praise of the glory Of God. The
song be sang then, In sheer love Of God
and happiness, and in the hope OF inspir-
ing those who heard IL 70 greater conf
dence in the Most Figh and less regard
for purely material things. has come ring
ing down 70 US through the ages to be
JOY TO the soTTowing, a hope to the de-
spairing, comfort to the afflicted. And is
this day Of special pleading in the pulpits,
when the preachers set up as professors
to expound 10 us their theories Of ethics
or Of social economy or Of municipal gov
ernment-matters about which we can
learn much better elsewhere than in
ehureh-it seems such a grave mistake
that TO a people STEPPED in maternalism
the glorious message of David is not more
often expounded.
Did this song of praise have a meaning
only to the people of Israel? Has not its
exhortaton special fitness to US OF to-
day? Here We are glorifying ourselves
and our endeavor. We point with pride
TO our industries. TO our riches. 70 our
art. to our well-being All over the land
we raise statues 20 those among us who
have wrought well and nobly. We are the
great people, ;he magnificent nation; we
are the leaders Of the world And as in
dividuals are we not ell self-suficient? I
can write; my brother can build houses:
the next man can make miilions-it Is
what we can do of ourselves, and we are
proud Of II, and boast
And In our pride and lf-gratification
is It not about time that we should harken
to this song of long ago:
No, unto us. o Lord not unto us. but unto thy
name give gloTy. for thy mercy. and for Thy
truths sake.
In spite OF all the substitutes that scien-
lists have tried to pass off on US in spite
OF the vell-constructed theories Of the
evolutionists. the geologists, and the 9th
would have US believe that thought can
reach beyond the infinite. the fact re-
mains that we Of to-day still need. as
much as David did, a belief in a personal
God.
Where is now our GOd2" was the cry OF
the heather IN David's time. II is the
CRY or the materialists IN our own day
Where IS our God? Can we. dare we.
look about the world aud ask that ques-
ton? Is IL not answered IN every step
We take, IN every breath we draw, in
every task we essay?
The work OF our hands is good-but It is
Gods. The world is fair and bright 10
look upon, and love IS there. and gentle
ness. and kindneSs-but they are from
God. Our God is in the heavens" as
David sang years ago and as Robert
Browning repeated after him and as all
truly inspired poets have declared. Gods
In His heavens! If II is 10 be that alTs
right with the world IL must be because
we make IL right IF We fail the fault is
ours. and we must strive bravely and un-
falteringly again and yet again.
II We succeed. let us not arrogate 20
ourselves the strength, the wisdom, the
success! Held in the hollow of God
hand we live and move and have our be
ing. Into our hands IS intrusted the bat
tie flag Of life. Let us try With all our
might and all our courage 70 carry. II IN
suilied to the front. We may fail and fal-
ter and drag it in the dust, bat still We
may rise and struggle on, and ever on:
and when the fight IS won and back 70
our Generals hands we return the ban
neT, in rags perhaps, but-let US pray. stiH
undishonored-not for rs 70 pride our
selves upon the victory. Not unto us.
o Lord; not unto u.s. The glory will be
Gods, from whom all blessings come.