The Detroit times., 1915-12-09
The international Sunday School
Lessen for December II 10 "God
Tearns Over 6aekslidIno israel."
Hos. 1t:1-1t.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS

Last night at a banquet | watch
ed nearly three hudred strong men
listening spei.bound TO one lay
mans story or HIS personal religious
experience. He was only a business
man. Innocent OF theological
training. and | suspect also OF
college course. he used none or the
tricks OF the professional speaker.
yet ne thrilled his hearers as few
skilled orators could do. That com
pany OF alert and discriminating
men listened intently. as out OF
full life the layman related the spir-
itual significance OF his personal ex-
perience. II was reality speaking
to reality. life to life.
Something akin TO that was the
power OF the ancient layman who
BECAME an immortal voice: Hosea.
the only prophet who was native
OF the northern kingdom OF Israel:
and whose words are today's Sunday
School Lesson. We have no trace OF
Hosea's having ever attended
school OF the prophest. lie was
merely a sensitive-souled layman
who lived tremendously, and did not
miss the spiritual Significance OF ex-
perieuce that would have blighted
a lesser man.
His very name links Hosea with
the greatest OF prophets: for at It's
root tn. word Hosea. Is the same
as Joshua" and Jesus and II
means a saviour. Both Hosea and
Jesus are described by Isaiah In the
picture OF the suffering servant.
by the knowledge OF himself shall
my righteous servant justify many
Jereboam sai on the tottering
throne of Israel at this time, and
Uzziah ruled in Judah. and doubt
less neither OF them reckoned seri.
ously with the personal tragedy OF
this one man. Yet Hosea's hfe story
Is a deathless message 20 each new
generation OF humanity.
The Storm That Drives Home.
The higher use OF any life is as
an Interpretation OF the mind OF
God. Find out what God means by
what He in doing with you. Hosea
exemplifies the value Of discovering
the spiritual Significance OF per
sonai experience. VIVA. says Brown
ing
81 count life Just stun
To try the souls strength on"
Personal providences mean some
thing as they enter every life. Let
us not miss the message. Il am
In the mills OF God" saic a man
who was passing through dark days.
Il don't know what lie is trying 10
make out OF my life. but ! want to
End out. l should be sorry to have
20 undergo these experiences with
out catching their meaning and
message. Every providence has
purpose. Hosea's domestic dis
aster made him prophet.
The story is told OF a shepherd IN
the northwest whom n traveller saw
driving his flock out into the teeth
Of heavy wind; they faced the
storm all the way To the pasture.
why don't you fnd more shell
tered feeding ground?" asked the
traveller.
Don't you See" said the shep-
herd. III blizzard comes the.s.orm
will drive the sheep homer
So 1t is with the storms OF per
sonal experience. They are meant
10 drive the spirit home to tod.
How else can We interpret the
world woe OF today? Is not the
growth OF the sacrifcial spirit.
which the world world Is learning
In the red school house OF war, but
an education In the university OF
God? Humanity today Is entering
into knowledge OF Christ by
Gethsemane experience. NThe storm
OF wal. Is driving the suffering sheep
home to the Shepherd and His fold
We are unable to think OF the world
as undergoing the present crucial
experience without the prospect oil
learning from 1t the supreme les
sion of God as a Refuge and a
Father