The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-05
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
BY w. T. ELLIS

not sure who write them all. Some
seventy-three are definitely ascribed
to David; Moses wrote at least one.
and Solomon wrote some; Asaph and
the sons of Korah, are also in the in
deX; but many of the hundred and
fifty are anonymous; and we can on
ly say that in each case it was the
truest and best expression of human
heart, intensely sensible of Jehovah,
that cried out in sincerity-and 10.
the cry still lives.
The Shepherd With His Flute.
One evening, undeD' the eastern
slope of Mount Carmel, saw shep-
herd boy leading home his sheep; and
as he walked in front OF them, he
played upon a homemade flute. The
melody was simple, sweet, joyous, un-
usual-a bit of natures music in the
open air. 1 have forgotten the per-
formances of many great orche stras
that l have heard, but 1 remember
that strangely sweet music, apparently
! improvised of the shepherd boy OF
Samaria, who called up visions of the
shepherd Psalmist of three thousand
years ago.
The passion for music is primitive
with the oriental. He naturally breaks
forth into it When he is happy he
sings. when he is sad he sings: when
he dies, his friends sing dirges over
his death. Equally fundame ntal to
/ the oriental is the thought of God.
He cannot conceive of life apart from
the supreme Deity. ''In'sh Ala -
I 1t is the will of God!'-still sprinkles
the conversation of every Arab.
Help From on II gh.
Thus we have the Psalms of deliv-
erance. Westerners might have talked
| of good luck, or boosted of their own
merits; but these exiies from Babylon
thought first and only of God. Their
instructive cry, as one of their singers
/ phrases it, was:
When Jehovah brought back those that
returned to lion.
We were like unto them that dream,
| Then was our mouth filled with laughter
| And our tongue with singing.
/ Then said they among the nations,
Jehovah hath done great things for them
Jehovah hath done great things for
/ Whereof we are glad
/ These Jews clearly traced, as cause
and effect, the favor of Jehovah, with
the forgiveness of sin, and their de-
| liverance from exile.
Jehovah, thou hast been favorable unto
j Thou hast brought back the captivity of
Jacob.
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy
| Thou hast covered all their sin"
This is the essence of the lessons
teaching. 1t is the heart of hearts of
! the five books of Psalms: the favor
of Jehovah is the one supreme bless
/ ing of life.
: Our midnight is thy smile withdrawn,
/ Our noontide is thy gracious dawn"
Get grip on the fact of God, and
! life becomes no more a mystery. Our
| times are in His hand" There is no
higher philosophy than the twenty
] third Psalm.
Why National Hymns Are Reverent
/ Why is it that really national hymns
are such as may be sung in religious
| services? Because they rise to the
! plane of patriotism which recognizes
! God. They have touched the deeps
of the hearts of nations because they
/ respond to the instructive feeling that
! national welfare is a boon from on
high; that exalted thoughts of patriot
ism are associated with thoughts of
/ God. All sublime emotions are rever-
ent.
With a world passing thru deep wa
/ tiers and with nations and homes sore
ly afflicted, there is inevitably a fresh
! turning toward the God of our fathers
the God of Israel. The ardent out
pourings of these ancient Hebrews are
I thumbed with new interest to find in
them the assurance of a divine Provi-
/ dence. Words that comforted the
Jews of old are still the consolation of
Christians. In the barred heart of the
/ Psalmist today's sufferer finds a mir
ror of his own grief. The comfort of
chastened Israel is still the comfort
or deVout souls. For whatever else
may be true of our time ii is certain
that God is dealing with us as chill
dren, needing correction and educa-
ton.