Democratic messenger., 1911-11-25

y u His message for
RASI0R RUSSElll Sunday was from
Psa III xiii, 80:
"why art thou cast down. oh my soul,
and why art thou disquieted in me-
Hope thou in God. for shalt yet praise
Him. All Thy waves and Thy billows
are gone over me" We quote as fol
lows
The Psalmist's knowledge Of the sea
was probably limited TO the vicinity OF
jana then Joppal, where tradition
says King Solomon once had n little
harbor. now filled in and cultivated
with orange groves.
King David's knowledge OF sea bill
lows was probably confined TO the
huge waves which sometimes break
over the massive stones on the sea
front Of Jaffa. the result OF strong
north winds. Nowhere have | ever
seen the majestic power of the sea
more strongly contrasted with human
weakness than at Jaifa Port. The
water is deep and the billows follow
one another with seemingly irresistible
force.
In the Psalm of which our text Is a
part. the Prophet likcned his trials and
difficulties and his own helplessness 10
those OF swimmer battling with the
stormy sea at Jaffa; wave after wave
of trouble having rolled over him. yet
his faith in God continued. He was
suffering for righteousness sake-bc-
cause of his faithfulncss to God. He
knew that Divine providence permit
ted his troubles for some wise pur
pose. He called upon his soul. yea
every power within him. to exercise
faith. trust. confidence, and to rejoice
IN his tribulations. knowing that they
were not marks of diSfavor but 10 the
contrary-proofs OF his loyalty: and
that thus God was fitting and prepar.
ing him for His future service.
Songs In the Night
"Why art thou cast down. Oh. my
soul? Why art thou disquicted within
me: Hope thou in God. for ! shall yet
praise Him"-for these very expert
enccs and the helpful blessing which
they will bring To me. THE Lord will
command His lovingkindness In the
day tlme"-in the glorious day Of En-
manuel, when Satan Will be bound, sin
will be uprooted and the sun of Right
eousness will beam forth with healing
rays OF restitution Acts ill., 1921:
Matthew xiii. ~.
But what about the night time of the
reign. and while Satan is still the
Prince of this worldi How should Da-
vid and all whom he typically repre-
sented conduct themselves In this pres
ent time, while waiting for the glo-
rious ddyy should they bemoan their
lot and be unhappy ana repine; Nay.
says the Prophet: In the night His
song shall be with me. aud my prayer
shall be unto the God Of my life"
Only Gods children can rejoice In
the trials and difficulties OF the might
OF darkness which covers the earth.
and the gross darkness which involves
the heathen. Only these can sing with
the spirit and with the UNDERSTANDING
because only these may understand
clearly respecting the coming glorious.
world wide blessings which God has
promised.
The unregeneratc. even though good
and moral. upright and noble. cannot
appreciate the deep things of God.
They do indeed find temporary pleas.
ures OF various kinds. and even have
less tribulatiOn than the Lord pours
into the cup of His faithful ones. but
after all their pleasures are shallow
and fieeting. Their chief pleasure is Ia
seeking JOY and not in realization.
1.-THE World knoweth Us Not"
The world understands practically
nothing about these things-thiS spirit
Of new mind or will in accord with
righteousness. II understands nothing
about the amounting Of the Holy Spirit.
under the Influence Of which old things
pass away and new hopes and aims
and objects In life take their places.
But each one who has passed through
these experiences understands them:
each one begotten agaiHsis aware of
the change In his mind. his will
knows that he has consecrated his life
TO righteousness and to the Lords
service. and realize. that an anoint
ing has come Ia him.
According to the Bib.e none have or
dInntlon ~ God TO act as H's mouth.
pieces except they have received this
anolnting. Such may he known by the
Ii - Of the Snirit. which all the
spirit. .begoiien oiles VIII soon I've rl,le
70 detect. and which win fnors or lees