The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-09-02

AAAAH p Ni HArliar ut ilat-HiAs lU DIS
message, but always beneath the sur
face there lurked a contempt. nay. all
most hatred, for the prophet And
when the prophet had taken his de-
parture he would always willfully fol
low his own desires.
All this was q source Of deep sor-
fow to the prophet but he who would
walk with God and do his service must
learn to patiently labor and then wait,
and Isaiah learned early in his rela-
tions to King Ahaz that after he had
spoken Gods message he must leave
the matter rest there. He knew that
Gods plans would be carried out and
that even the kings willfulness and
wiekedness could not thwart the glo-
ri0us promises which God had spoken
concerning his chosen people
And now the nation had come face
to face with a grieyous peril The ma
tfon Of Israel had eonfederated her
self with Rein. king of Syria, and
had come up with a mighty army
against Jerusalem, SO that there was
neither going out nor coming in Of the
people of the city. Terror filed the
place, king and people were panic
stricken, knowing not whittier to turn.
Feverlshly the plans Of defense were
carried out. For day and nights nov
the king had not had any rest for
the water supply was in danger, and
the entire force Of the city under the
direction Of the king was being thrown
around the works al the end of the
conduit Of the upper pool in the high
way Of the fuller's field.
And It was there that Isaiah found
the king one day, and sought audience
ligion that prevailed, and yet still un-
conscious Of a vital relationship with
God and commission from him in
stemming the tide Of evil
And because he did not as vet feel
the sanctity Of the Divine commission
resting upon him, and did not know
what II was to feel that It was Gods
battle, and not his, he felt unutterably
discouraged at times and almost ready
to give up.
IN such a frame Of mind one day he
withdrew to that garden spot outside
I of Jerusalem on the side of Mt.
0livet, where centuries later the Lord
and Christ, concerning whom he was
to have 80 many beautiful visions,
was wont to 90 for rest. The olive
trees and the grape vines were there
in their luxuriant and fruitful beauty,
and as the young man threw himself
down beneath the branches Of one Of
the trees he gave sigh Of relief,
and the half-formed resolves vaguely
took shape in his mind that after all
he would let the evils take care OF
themselves. Why should he worry
about them? Why should he carry
burdens that we're destroying his
peace OF mind? Why should he not
let the nation go its own way while he
sought in his own way to keep Gods
law? And with the thought came a
sort Of complacent, self-satisfed feel
ing which is peculiarly dangerous to
those who know Gods law and strive
to keep It. Such feeling places one in
that "holier-than-thou7 class which
cuts off vital contact with the world
about and destroys that tie Of sympa-
thy and love which is absolutely es-
sential to effect work for God. And
such we say was the state Of mind Of
Isaiah at that particular moment on
that particular day as he sat there
under the olive tree in the garden.
But thanks be to God there was toe
serious a vein in the young man Isaiah
to have his career forever blasted by
such narrow and superficial view OF
himself and the world ABOUT him
Goodness was more than mere per
sonal possession. Il was outfowing AZ
well as iniowing. just as it must be
with God he thought. And he hall
despised himself because he had beer
SO weak as TO think that he was SC
good and the world so bad that he
would just withdraw into 3 little world
OF his own. there to live in eomplaeenl
enjoyment Of the virtues be had &C
Quired.
lmpatiently he arose and paced tC
and fro in deep anguish Of spirit
The evening shadows began to fan
but still he paced back and forth
Then darkness settled down and he
seemed shut into the little space tha
just surrounded him save for n,
cleaning stars overhead. which as h,
lifted his gaze towards them seemed
striving TO fash some message to hii
soul.
Gods handiwork!" he exclaimed
reyerently. How great is God. Sure
". David hath truly said that tn,
heavens declare the glory Of God.
And again he relapsed into silence.
How long he sat there in the rap
lures Of that heavenly vision whicl
God gave him that night and which
the prophet has faithfully recorded fo
our edihcation and blessing he nevei
would have known had it not beer
that as he again became conscious o
his surroundings and looked towards
the east he saw the sun slowly com
ina ahova tho lfno ~ tho horf~on