The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-29

ISsS ~ law, word, saying,
lkss2g - 9@ssasszS& o m mandments,
testimonies, judg-
ments and in our text, as the statutes
of God.
The Psalmist declares that these
statutes have been his song in the
house of his pilgrimage. He pictures
himself as pilgrim and sojourner, in
strange land and far from home, but
finding his solace and delight in the
law of God.
We must confess this is a different
conception from that of most men.
Gods law to them is not the sweet
ener Of life. On the contrary, life
would do well enough If God could be
left out Of it. His law is the skeleton
at the feast and to forget God is their
daily pursuit.
Some, however, advance from the
place where Gods law is their dread
to the place where they observe it as
their duty. We suspect this is the at
titude of many Christians. Well, the
Lord is very tender and of great
mercy; he will not break the bruised
reed nor quench the smoking fax. But
how disappointed he must be! What
husband would tolerate a wife who
only engaged to ''do her duty" in re-
turn for his love? We are supposed
to live ito the praise of the glory Of
his grace" as Ephesians tells US, and
not merely do our duty" We sing:
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all naturei
o Thou of God and man the Son!
Thee will I cherish, Thee will honor,
Thee, my souls glory, joy and crown.
Then we talk, rather dolefully, Of "do-
ing our duty"
The Psalmist would show us more
excellent way, in which dread and
duty give place delight ard the
statutes become songs. a few cofisIdA
erations will show the reasonableness
of this attitude.
The Beauty of the Lord.
First of all, Gods laws are the ex-
preston of his lovely nature. Things
are not right because God wills them,
but God wills them because they are
right. They express himself. The
sanity Bishop Ninde of the Methodist
church was once observed by friend
with a peculiarly lovely expression on
his face. The friend asked what
thoughts they were which were reflect
ed thus in the Bishops face. II was
thinking of God" was the reply. The
glory of this God is expressed in his
statutes and if we keep them we shall
be like him and the beauty of the Lord
our God shall be upon us.
Again, law is after all not such a
harsh thing. We should not desire a
lawless country. Every creature finds
liberty In obeying the law of its be-
ing and so shall we. A fish lives hap
PLY only so long as it stays in the wa
ter, with all it's limitations, and we
shall be happy only in the will of God
One has said, "The principles of mathe-
mates determine beauty and the laws,
of geometry are at the basis of music
but just as the artist transfigures the
stern laws into picture and sonata, SC
in knowledge, love, patience and sacri.
flee the austere precepts of duty pass
into that beauty of holiness Of which
all other beauty is only the shadow
The statutes have become songs.
Gods Rule Over All.
Once again, Gods statutes are IL
| agreement with all his laws. He
who upon Sinai uttered his will toward
men, sits upon the throne of the uni
verse and issues his mandates to al
things animate and inanimate. "Tht
Lord hath prepared his throne in thu
heavens and his kingdom ruleth owe
all. Bless the Lord, we his angels
that excel in strength, that do hi
commandments, hearkening unto tn
voice of his word. Bless we The Lord
all We hosts, We ministers Of his tina
do his pleasure" The angels no
only do his commandments but hearkel
for the whispers of his pleasure. Tn
starry armies of heaven are marshale'
under his captaincy. Things In cart
and waters under the earth receive tn
law at his mouth. Science recognize
more and more that not FROM man
sources but from one must come tn
laws ruling in the sphere of physica
things. Well, the statutes for a hu
man life came from him who rule
everywhere, and ahey must harmonic
with his rule elsewhere. So, we ar
lifted to the blessed vision Of the ma
who does the will of God as dwellin
in such pivotal place that all thing
work together for his good
Just as a mothers love makes
service a delight which to others is
dread or mere duty, so if we Low
God. his statutes viii become song,