Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-23
Or. G. A. SMITH
TALKS AT FIRST
CONGREGATIONAL
EXPLAINS OLD TESTAMENT
PASSAGES
breaches SERMON DEVOID OF
SENSATlONALlsM
Gives Historical Meanings Of Text
from First Chapter, Second Book
of Samuel-DavId's Lamen-
tations Verslfed

smith preach yesterday morning at
the First Congregational church went
into the edifice with the idea he was
to hear a heretical higher critic tear
down accepted doctrines, that person
was very much disappointed. DR..
Smith, professor in the University of
Glasgow, and one Of Scotland's famous
men, Bible student of worldwide
reputation, who Is touring this country
giving lectures on the Old Testament
and Holy Land geography, preached a
sermon devoid of sensationalism and
full of Christian precepts.
In appearance DR.. Smith bellies the
destructive higher critic, for he is a
man of medium size, with kindly blue
eyes that seem to look directly at every
member of his congregation, and a
slight, very slight, burr now and then
in his epeech which reminds one that
he is a Scot.
Paid High Tribute
In introducing the preacher, DIR. Will
liam Horace Day, pastor of the church.
paid him a high tribute saying Dr.
Smith had unlocked the mysteries of
the Old Testament so that even "he
who runs may read" and understand
and then introduced him as pastor
preacher or the eVanBel ana eApOSlIOr
of the land called holy.
DIR. Smith took his text from the first
chapter, second book of Samuel, one
of the much -mooted Old Testament
passages. and which, he said, was too
seldom heard in modern pulpits. DR.
Smith explained in the language of a
Bible student and savant the historical
meanings of tho text and said it was
great pity the modern revised YER
clio fo1a I'm
much of the poetical beauty of the
Psalms.
Beginning with the nineteenth verse;
DR. Smith read another version OF the
elegy of Davids lamentations over
Saul, which he had placed back into
poetical form, and which is as fol-
lows, from the seventeeth to the twen-
ty-second verses:
Placed in Poetical Form
The beauty. Israel, is slain thy heights.
How fallen the heroes!
Neither tell 1t in Gath, nor proclaim in Aske-
Ions markets
In Askelon's markets.
Lest the Philistines' daughters rejoice;
The daughters Of the uncrcumcised triumph.
Hills Of Gilboa neither dew neither rain be
upon you,
Yo fields of disaster!
In these, flung to rust, is the bucSer of
brave ones,
From the blood OF the slaughtered
From the fat Of the mighty
The bow Of Jonathan ne'er turned back;
Never clean came home the sword Of ShauL
shaul and Jonathan. the loved and the dear
ones,
In their lives and their death undivided!
They rose swifter than eagles,
Than lions more strong
We dougbtars IF TaraeI Uyeen for Sbaui
who clothed you in scarlet with jewels,
Who brought up adornng of gold
On your rament.
Thou fallen are the heroes
In the press of battle,
Jonathan on thy heights thou art slain!
Anguish is mine for thee,
Jonathan my brother,
Dearest thou vert to me;
Thy love TO me was wonderful,
Passing the love Of woman.
How fallen are the heroes
And perished wars weapons!
Suffering Inevitable.
DIR. Smith spoke of the original He
brew of these verses and the meaning
of the phrases. "In the history of
every people there are always deeds in
poetry" said the preacher, that are
an inspiration to those who succeed
them. To be a good man and a good
soldier Of Jesus Christ not only means
to suffer, but to take our suffering,
which is inevitable and without which
it would be impossible to be follower
of Jesus Christ.
"Besides the so wondrously expressed
music and passion, the morality of the
great poet brings to our hearts the
thoughts of chivalry and of disciple
ship. Gods name is not mentioned in
it, but the magnanimity and forgive
ness of the poem are perfect
Matthew Henry in his notes on old
history has said that it was not put
in the Book of Psalms and is not of
divine origin, but was put in a collec-
ton of mere ballads, proving that it
was only a human composition. as he
termed it in his old English style. AS
it was only human it was not to be
used in divine service and therefore
was not infallible.
Version Narrow and Wrong
'I think that very narrow and
wrong version. l don't think any of
the higher critics ever would do as
this old Puritan commentator has done
because of a narrow theory of inspira-
ton. He says the Psalms of David
were inspired and these are wrong, be-
cause they do not mention the name of
God Name of God, forsooth-'Not every
one that saith unto me Lord, Lord shall
enter the Kingdom of heaven. But he
that doeth the will of my Father in
heaven and BY their fruits We shall
know them These are Christs stand
ards of inspiration. Wherever the vis-
ion CLEANS, the heart sees pure things, |
forgiveness of the enemies or showing
love and patience, there the spirit of
God is at work.
''The Bible is the only great work in
the world which tells of God in some
manner other than in the creation of
men, that his love is not only that of a
father, but travels by our side. Our
sins cost God more sorrow and pain
than anger
David Loved Enemies
Matthew Henry said this elegy of
David's was a purely human compost |
ton. I can hear David say I did it |
unto the Lord and the Lord himself
was not jealous that his name was not
mentioned.
'In the Sermon on the Mount our
Lord might have been telling the story |
of David's life when he said, Love
vour enemies for never was man so |
persecuted yet we find him loving his
enemy.
"Ah, brethren. it is great and a
divine gift of God to enable us to see
always the best. Let us differ on poll |
ties, on opinions of doctrine, or ecclesi-