Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL
IN
By SKI NEN.yOlIE

Here we are taught that where man
fails God steps in. The shepherds or
the Jewish flock descending from
David and her is to the divine prom
se, had been neglectful OF their
charge and had allowed the sheep 70
stray away after strange gods, them
selves often not only winking at these
iniqultics, but actually becoming
party 10 them. This had continued
until the common people themselves
had largely lost their comprehension
OF Jehovah. They had so long hard
ened their hearts and deilef the penal
ties of the Mosaic law Tor national
disobedience that the captivity was
necessary, not merely as matter Of
revenge. for God is far from being
revengeful but for the double purpose
OF showing them that the divine word
was sure OF fulfillment and TO wean
them away forever from the lure of
idolatry For the common people,
who had been allowed to wander
away from God by the neglect OF their
shepherds he had the greatest com
passion, but for those unfaithful
leaders he reserved unmeasured con-
demnation
So. altho he had permitted his
chosen people to be carried off into
humiliating captivity for their own
good. he had made provision for their
happy return 10 the land OF promise.
But II was 4 new generation and
chastencd people who came back
finally 20 Jerusalem. They had learned
a severe lesson. But most glorious
Of all they had learned that Jehovah
was still their God and still looked
after them as his children. But there
was a separation wedding out Of
the unworthy. Those whose folly and
iniquity had been instrumental In
bringing on the national disaster were
To have no part In the return. The
sheep were separated from the goats.
lie went out into the strange places
10 recover the sheep that were lost,
but he had n different fate for those
who had led them astray. He would
restore his sheep, the land OF their
fathers. with security frutfulness
and prosperity, but the leaven Of their
former iniquity was banished from
them
This lesson has peculiar interest
at the present time. Leaders can be
great power for good If they are
good men, but they can turn loose
the fires OF hell II they are wrongfully
disposed. And the chief indictment of
these bad leaders Of the Jews was that
they exploited the nation to their own
selfish ACKNOWLEDGMENT instead Of
pie whom they should lead. That is
the great peril today. We see II
everywhere, not only in the naughty
autocrat who breaches that one set
OF men are divUely intended to rule
over another class but In those who
possess powers in political, CONNER
cial. industrial, social and religious
affairs. Some exploit the masses for
glory or conquest, some to enrich their
~ IN oh 20 ,,
Joy of power and some to be regarded
as modern messahs to lead the people
away from the faith of the Bible and
set up a new religion of their own.
All of these, when the day of account
ing comes, will he among those whom
the Lord will feed with judgment"
while the faithful will lie down in
peace secure from their depredations.
Here is comfort for the sinner God
will go out and search after the lost
not wait for them to come back home.
He is appealing to you day after day
now by various means and offering
you this security II you will only put
your trust in him. There is no room
| for despair, for our God is mightier
than all the influences that conspire
against us. Some of us may choose
to remain away from him, but TO all
those who desire TO return to the
divine sonship which God intended
for us To have will find him reaching
out TO draw them home But not all
are driven away by their own devices.
Many are lured away by the tempter.
sometimes within their own hearts
/ and sometimes thru the persuasions OF
others. To those who have slnned he
makes the offer OF restoration, but to
those who have made it their business
to keep his sheep away from the fold
will find no quarter. Better had 1t
been for them II n milestone had been
tied around their necks and they cast
into the sea-
But all those who are lured away
from the truth are not misled by the
temptations of undisgused sin. Many
are carried away by zeal for n false
religion that so beclouds their souls
they can no longer see the truth as It
Is In Christ Jesus. Some are driven
away from Canaan by the ill-advised
efforts of those who think they are
trying TO save them. II is an easy
thing to so present God to the young,
for instance, that they will be re-
PEELED instead of attracted. How very
many times we have seen the off
spring of austere parents recklessly
Ringing away their souls in protest
against the spiritual slavery which
they endured under the parental roof
How many more have missed the path
to the cross because there was moth
Ing in the home life to suggest piety
or sincerity How many more have
been brought up in an atmosphere of
underlined doubt and cynicism that
gave them n coat-of-mail against the
entrance of truth. How many more
have learned at home only the i'm
lportance OF making good in the finan-
cial world, without a thot for the well
fare OF immortal souls. And how
many have been kept away from God
by transparent lack OF spirituality in
the pulpit or OF sincerity among the
leaders in churchly things. Let me
tell yVi, some of us will have a big
account TO settle In the last day when
we are called to account as to how
we "have made Israel to sin"
All earthly promises of security and
permanence are insecure. We are
foolish to put our trust in them. But,
as Doctor Goodchild reminds u.s.
when God takes care OF you, you
need have no concern whatever. SPou
can lie down without any anxiety at
all. He who watches over us is
stronger than any enemy that can
come against us. He knows more than