The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-07-18

BE still, and know that / am God"
God Is intensely interested that man
should recognize him, not only because
man would thus greatly bless himself,
but God demands this recognition be-
cause he is sensitive to the apprecia-
ton of those whom he has created in
his own likeness and image. We must
maintain this, Notwithstanding the spe-
cious plea that 1t would be ignoble In
God to demand such recognition.
This matter can only be settled by
an appeal to authority, and multitudes
believe that the Bible is such author
lily. In Exodus 34:14, we read: Thou
shalt worship no other God, for the
Lord whose name Is jealous. Is jeal4
GUS God" Joshua called the attention
OF Israel to the same characteristic in
God when he wished Israel to return to
God, to the enjoyment OF their divine
heritage.
In the text God does not ask man to
know him: he simply asks that we rec
ognize him as God. and appeals in the
9th and 9Th verses OF this chapter
for the use OF the physical senses
Come, behold the works Of the Lord,
what desolation he has wrought in
the earth; he maketh wars to cease
unto the end Of the earth, he break
eth the bow and cutteth the spear In
sunder; he burneth the chariot in the
fire." Our attention is also called to
what we have heard with our ears, and
our fathers have told US what he has
done In the time of old. We're not
Gods dealings with the Egyptians to
prove that he was God? Was not God
back OF the blessing OF Is
rael by Balaam, while Balaam's
purpose was to curse? Has God
not set UP one and put down
another? Has he not despoiled the de-
vices OF the crafty that their, hands
cannot perform their enterprise, and
has he not taken the wise in their
own craftiness. and Is not the counsel
of the froward carried headlong? And
what shall be said Of the occurrences
OF modern history? Had God any
thing to do with the earthquake in
San Francisco; the burning of the Gen
eral Schofield, and the sinking of the
Titanic? or the latter event 1t Is
said that in the last moments OF that
fated vessels remaining afioat, all
classes Of people prayed, and the band
played until the very end, Nearer, My
God, to Thee" And what was this
Nbut recognition OF God. and possibly
with many, too late?
To say that God has nothing to do
with these things on the ground of
that It would be violence to the reign
OF law. dishonoring to him as an ins
finite being. and entirely relieve man
of moral responsibility, Is really not
worthy OF serious consideration. The
consciousness OF Gods immanence In
all such things would be a deterrent
from sin on the part of some. and
would be an incentive to good on the
part Of Others
How are men to know God? Simply
by being still. BY searching. men can
not find out God. AS David would lie
In the fields at night and look up into
the starry heavens, 1t would not be
for the purpose Of finding out God.
but as he gazed he could not help
i
heavens, the work Of thy fingers, the
moon and the stars, which thou hast
created, what is man that thou art
mindful Of him, or the son Of man that
thou vtsitest him?" AS Moses would
have Israel to recognize God. he said:
Stand still, and see the salvation OF
God" AS Isaiah would have Israel
see wherein their strength lay, he said
they should sit still. So the method
OF knowing God Is to just keep the
eyes and ears open, to stop. look, lis
ten-God is here. there, everywhere.
The results OF this will be more
serious consideration OF ones obliga-
ton to God. The life Of the Christian
will be made richer, and as the dark
ness Of the hereafter is approached.
there will be preparation to meet
God, with whom, whether he will or
will not, man has much to do. To
know God. and him whom he has sent,
il everlasting life