The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1915-07-01
World Iumuh and Christian Calm
"a Sermon by Rev. Albert Torbet.)

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nations, I will be exalted in the
earth"
The scene of the wild world-tumult
described in this Psalm was probably
when Eennacherib's Assyrian host had
devastated Palestine on their way to
invade Egypt and had laid siege to
Jerusalem, but God discounted them;
and $4,000 of them lay dead in the
morning of the day they expected to
enter the city as victors.
Today a large part of the human
family are in wild commotion and tu-
mutt of war; and in all the remainder
of the world there is political strife:
in the commercial and manufacturing
world there is anxiety and fierce COM
petition; and vel in the religious
world there is unrest, apprehension,
disputation.
Nobody knows what is coming to
the warning nations which like Mil
ton'sdevils are fighting in the air, on
the ground, and under the seas: but
We recall that in the ages past mighty
empires like mountains have been
swallowed up in the abyss.
European monarchs, mobiles, and Of
ficials have staggered about in their
pomp and pride and naval and mill
tary splendor; and this ugliness and
sham in the state is rivaled by the ar
arrogant assumption of power by the
church d~ignitaries who mis- represent
the sinless and unselfsh Son of God:
and all these enthroned wrongs are
shaking like the ground in earth
quakes; for they know that their
doom ought to be sounded by an en-
ligtened and free people.
But God knows that in order to en-
ancipate the world the peoples must
first be subdued unto himself, and that
before they can ascend the high noun
tain of clear vision and pure life they
must be made to descend into the
deep valley of humility and reverence
which hes at it's base.
The morning and the evening make
! up the day promised by the devil, but
that dark evening will never see a
bright sunrise: while Gods way is as
We read in Genesis that the evening
and the morning make the day which
| will be followed nv another dav of
fuller hopes.
Begin the individual life or begin
the nation with a gala day Of selfish
sinfulness, and it will be a short day
which ends in gloom and which will
never have a bright tomorrow.
Be true to God and his holy ways
even though it seems to be a lonesome
and dangerous way, and the shadows
will break into a cloudless day Of su-
preme satisfaction.
The text suggests the tumult of the
world and sufficient reasons why Gods
people may be tranquil and confident.
These connections of today like the
commotions of former days are caused
by the selfish ambition of unchristian
men whose passions are not controlled
in accordance with the teachings of
Christ.
When thesin of selfshness ceases
there will be nothing to cause strife
or tumult, and since Jesus came into
the world to destroy sin, shall we des-
pair of His work ever being accom-
'plished?
If mankind ever becomes enlighten-
ed enough, even if sin is not destroy
ed, they can see that selfinterest alone
should cause strife and tumult to
cease as conduct fit only for madmen.
Verses At of this Psalm is a picture
which has been described as a velley
over which the winds sweep, but are
unfelt; along which theriver flows,
but is untroubled; and in which stands
the city where God reigns and all is
security and peace.
(Read them.)
The first thing in this Psalm, and
the last thing in it, and in the middle
OF it is the statement that God is our
refuge, and this is ground for the as
surance that his people are secure
whatever befalls the world at large.
That God is in the midst Of her and
that Jehovah Of hosts is with her is
surely sufficient reason for the church
to pursue her courseof teaching and
ministering to the human needs with
quiet confidence.
The city OF the people dwelling in
the secret place Of the Most High
shall abide securely in the shady re-
fuge Of the Almighty.
"God shall help her, and that right
early" is in Hebrew literally "at the
dawning of morning..
This timely help and defence we see
illustrated in the story Of the over