The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-10-03
BY WILLIAM 7. ELLIS.


To review a former study is like
visiting a familiar city with the
larger vision OF the traveller whose
horizon has widened The vaster
reaches Of the themes studied are
perceived I'm a review. and what re
lation each bears 10 all There Is
no subject that so well repays re
peated study az the Bible, like Solo
mons storehouse. Il produces treas
ures new and old or necessity,
the uniform series OF Sunday school
lessons, which are studied around
the world, cover whole ranges OF
history and moral teaching by few
selected incidents and passages.
The past quarters work IS a sur
yey OF the history OF Israel and
Judah. with brief glimpses into the
prophecies which made tho periods
immortal contribution 10 literature.
The book-taught man must al
ways SIT at the feet OF him who has
made a frst-hand study OF life. The
wisest men are they who know what
Is In man from personal observa
ton and experience. Yet even they,
10 maintain perspective and pro
portion, must study the character OF
man as Il is written in history
There IS distinct educational value,
apart from all religious considera-
tons, In the fact that eighteen mil
lion persons have for three months
past been studying chapters in the
history OF the ancient nation OF
Judah.
Moving the Arm That Moves the
World.
These studies in human nature,
despite all that is dreary and disap'
nolnting- ln-thasar hsEA-Feiated-t
the one phase OF universal and eter.
nal truth, which is mans hope. the
mercy OF the Lord The pitifulness
and long-surerinR Of Jehovah to
ward Judah are wonderfully ap-
pealing and revealing Like a a
father pitieth his children. so the
| Lord pitch them that fear him.
Gods love for man suTpasses man
power 20 grasp. Incidents without
number In Judah's history make
this plain. When Sennacherib came
down like a wolf on the fold" the
hosts of heaven were promptly en-
listed for the Jews. INTERNALLY God
lights with His own.
And He ia easily entreated Heze.
kiah plight and prayer drive home
the teaching, which is as new as
IL freshly discovered by every hu.
man life that puts II 10 the test,
that God Is our refuge and
strength. a very present help in
trouble" This great and infinite
jehovah who stands as the back
ground OF all history. is yet so per
sonal that He may be affected by
The deeds and pleadings OF faithful
hearts
This truth was the light OF Ju
dah's dark times The old seer
Isaiah beheld the highest revelation
of Jehovah In The Suffering Saw
Jour" The ultimate expression OF
Gods character is Jesus Christ. His
| characteristic voice Is one of era
cious invitation. "Ho. everyone that
thirsteth. come 10 the waters. and
he that hath no money, come ye.
buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine
and milk without money and with
out price" They do not know God
at all who do not know that He is
! laxn,-eager- te lavish OF His best
upon all who will receive Him.
A Nations Ups and Downs.
So like seesaw goes Judah's his
tory, that taking II section by sec
ton. Il is difficult 20 understand
whether II Is really moving up or
down Herein comes the benefit OF
such a review as this: the nations
life is viewed as a whole and We
see that its progress is downward
despite occasional good kings and
great prophets. Judah grew worse
and worse. until II became intol-
cradle TO the King OF kings. SO,
with regret that was greater than
could be felt by even the most
ardent Jewish patriot. God wiped
Il off His slate Even His patience
has limits.
To take the measure Of Judah's
history. we must consider It's total
results and not its isolated expert
ences. So II is with life. not one
deed, but its general tendencies de-
| termine its destiny. A LIES trend
Is more important than It's traits.
God views a life as whole. Wise
self.examination asks. whittier does
my life tend9 What is it's infiu-
ence as a whole?" Similarly. one
may ask Of his own country and
time. as OF old Judah, Whittier its
general tendencies? II Il bound
Godward or earthward2 Are its
ruling sentiments noble or sordid7
liz II getting better or rs II getting
worse"
The best use that Sunday school
members can make OF this ancient
history OF the Jews is 10 apply Il as
plumb-line 10 the present practice.
A Peculiar Nation.
Nobody can study closely the
world OF today, and especially the
older nations. without being con
vinced that the place and mission
OF America--and by America
mean North America, for there Is
no essential difference in tho ideals
of Canada and Of the United States
is as absolutely distinctive az was
that OF ancient Judah. The new
life OF the old orient is being shaped
principally by the history and ideal
ism OF this new west. which has
been proyidentially placed in its
magnificent geographical Isolation,
I'm order TO work out unique des.
tiny. A veritable teacher and
prophet among the nations are we.
What may vaguely be called the
American spirit Is the most power