The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-28

10 review FORMER study Is IKE
visiting a familiar city with the lar
ger vision of the traveller whose hori-
zon has widened. The vaSter reaches
of the themes studied are perceived
in a review, and what. relation each
bears to all. There is no subject that
so well repays repeated study as the
Bible; like Solomon's storehouse, 1t
produces treasures new and old. OF
necessity, the uniform series of Sun
day school lessons, which are studied
around the world. cover whole ranges
of history and moral teaching by a
few selected incidents and passages
The past quarters work is a survey
of the history of Israel and judah,
with brief glimpses into the prophe-
cies which made the periods imrnor-
tai contribution to literature.
The book-taught man must always
sit at the feet of him who has made
first-hand study Of life. The wisest
men are they who know what is in
man from personal observation and
experience. Yet even they, to main
tain perspective and proportion. must
study the. character of man as it is
written in history There is distinct
educational value, apart from all re-
ligious consideration, in the fact that
eighteen million persons have for
three months past been studying chap
tiers in the history of the ancient ma
ton of Judah.
Moving the Arm That Moves the
World.
These studies in human nature,
despite all that is dreary and dlsap-
pointing in them, have pointed out the
one phase of universal and eternal
truth, which is mans hope, the mercy
of the Lord. The pitifulness and
ng-suffering of Jehovah toward
| Judah, are wonderfully appealing and
revealing. Like as a father pitieth
his children, so the Lord pitieth them
that fear him" Gods, love for man
surpasses mans power to grasp. In
cidents without number in Judah's
history make this plain. When SEN
nacherib came down like wolf on
promptly enlisted for the Jews.
| Eternally God fights with His own
| And He is easily entreated Heze-
| kiah's plight and prayer drive home
the teaching, which is as new as if
freshly discovered by every human
life that puts it to the test, that God
| is our refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble" This great
and infinite Jehovah, who stands as
the background of all history, is yet
so personal that He may be affected
by the deeds and pleadings of faith
4 full hearts.
This truth was the light of Judah's
dark times. The old seer Isaiah be-
| held the highest revelation of Jehovah
in THE Suffering Saviour" The ul-
innate expression of Gods character
is Jesus Christ. His characteristic
voice is one of gracious invitation. -'Ho
everyone that thirsteth, come to the
waters, and he that hath no money,
come we, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy
wine and milk without money and
/ without price" They do not know
God at all who do not know that He
| is love, eager to lavish of His best
upon all who will receive Him.
A Nations Ups and Downs.
So like a seesaw goes Judahs his
/ tory, that taking it section by section
it is difficult to understand whether
it is really moving up or down. Here
| in comes the benefit of such a review
as this; the nations life is viewed as
a whole, and we see that it's progress
| kings and great prophets. Judah
grew worse and worse. until it be-
came intOlerable to the King of kings
So, with a regret that was greater
than could be felt by either the mos
| ardent Jewish patriot God wiped il
off His slate. Even His patience has
limits
To take the measure of Judah's his
tory, We must consider its total re-
suits and not it's isolated experiences
So it is with a life, not one deed, but
| it's general tendencies determine its
destiny. A life's trend is more i'm
portant than its traits. God views j
life as whole. Wise self-examina-
ton asks, whittier does my life
jtrend? What is its influence as q
whole % Similarly, one may ask III
his own country and time, as of old
Judah, Whittier its general tenden-
| cies? Is it bound Godward or earth.
| ward? Are its ruling sentiments no.
BILE or sordid? Is it getting better Oh
is it getting worse ?"
members can make of this ancient
history of the Jews is to apply it as
a plumbing to the present practice
A Peculiar Nation.
Nobody can study closely the world
of today, and especially the older ma
lstions without being convinced thai
the place and mission of America
and by America 1 mean North Amer
lea, for there is. no essential difference
in the ideals of Canada and of the
United States-is as absolutely dis
t.tinctive as was that of ancient Judah
The new life of the old orient is beins
shaped principally by the history anC
idealism of this new West, which ha:
! been providentially placed in it's mag
inificent geographical isolation, in or
der to work out unique destiny. 4
Iveritable teacher and prophet among
. the nations are we. What may vague
fly be called the american spirit il
the most powerful weapon at worl
on the earth today. No sordid, ma
terial influence this; it is high ideal
ism and spirituality. 1t spells libert,
and brotherhood and justice ant
I emancipation. Those great concep
tons which created this. Western
! world are today the deepest need ant
desire of uncounted millions of earth
people. who are heirs of oppression
! subordination, ignorance and fatalism
Judah failed to be true to her mis-
/ sion; and she not only forfeited he
81 own existence, but she also failed -
, serve the nations to whom she haS
been commissioned a school master
j Three Kinds of Men.
1 In Judah's short days-for thre'
t hundred and fifty years seem but cpl
sodal in the long sweep of history
the power of the man born to higl
place was greater than now Tn
I kings divine right was accepted b!
all-except the few rivals who woult
overthrow him. There was no grea
. reverse of outspoken PUBLIC opinion