Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-28

| ..h'iSi II is really moving up or
down. Herein comes the benefit of
such review as this; the nations
ne is viewed as a whole and we see
tnat lts progress is downward de-
spite occasional good kings and great
| prophets. Judah grew worse and
worse, until it became intolerable to
the King of kings. So, with a re-
gret that was greater than could be
| ielt by either the most ardent Jew
lsh patriot God wiped it off His
slate Even His patience has limits.
10 take the measure of Judah's
history, we must consider its total
results and not its isolated expert
ences. So 1T is with a life, not one
deed. but its general tendencies de-
termlne its destiny: A life's trend
Is more important than it's traits.
| COO views life as a whole. Wise
selI-examination asks, WHITTIER
does my life trend? What is its in
huence as a whole?" Similarly, one
may ask of his own country and
time, as of old Judah, whittier its
general tendencies? Is it bound God
ward or earthward? Are its ruling
sentiments noble or sordid? Is it
getting better or is it getting worse?"
The best use that Sunday school
members can make of this ancient
history of the Jews is to apply it as
pluinp-llne TO the present prac-
! tice.
A Peculiar Nation
Nobody can study closely the world
OF to-day and especially the older
nations, without being convinced
that the place and mission of Amer
lca-and by America l mean North
America, for there is no essential diff
terence in the ideals of Canada and
or the United States-is as absolute
" distinctive as was that of ancient
Judah The new life of the old orient
! Is pelng shaped principally by the
history and idealism of this new
west, which has been providentially
paced IN Its magnificent geographic
cal isolation, in order to work out
unique destiny. A veritable
teacher and prophet among the ma
tlonS are we. What may vaguely
be called the American spirit is the
most powerful weapon at work on
the earth to-day. No sordid, ma
terlal influence this; it is high ideal
ism and spirituality. 1t spells lib
erty and brotherhood and justice
and emancipation. Those great con-
ceptions which created this western
World are to-day the deepest need
and desire of uncounted millions of
earth's people, who are heirs of op-
preston, subordination, Ignorance
ana fatalism. Judah failed to be
true to her mission; and she not only
forfeited her own existence, but she
also failed to serve the nations to
whom she had been commissioned a
schoolmaster.
Three Kinds of Men
In Judah's short days-for three
hundred and fifty years seem but
episodal in the long sweep of his
tory-the power of the man born to
nlgh place was greater than now,
Ihe kings divine right was accept
ed Dy all--eXcept the few rivals who
would overthrow him. There was no
great reverse of outspoken public
opinion, such as is the strength of
our modern democracies. The king
was far above the people. A mod
ern nation can get along fairly WELL
even though its king be a rake or
fool. Not so in Judah's day. Thus
we ind three outstanding factors
in the life of that kingdom to be
the good kings, the bad kings and
the prophets. There were a num-
Der of colorless kings, who may be
passed by without comment.
That the nation lived so long as
II dld was due primarily to the good
klngs-Hezekiah, Asa, Jehoshaphat,
Josiah. The history of Judah was
good kings as the mountain peaks.
They made their people to turn to
Goa. Forever they stand as illus
trations of the truth that one man
mas power to lead many men to do
good. Now that people choose their
own rulers, it may reasonably be said
to be incumbent upon them to see
that these rulers are men with that
first qualification for good citizen
ship, the fear of the Lord.
The power of one small boy in the
nelghborhood for mischief is the
wonder and despair of parents. 1t
seems as If one such is able to off
set the influence of half a dozen
good boys, plus all the anxious par
ents concerned. 1t was so with the
notwithstanding kings of Judah.
They made the people to sin. The
warnings of the prophets. the strong
Full OF the nations providential his
tory, the example of their pious
predecessors, all seemed to be nulli-
ned, when kings like Rehoboam,
Joash, Ahaz, Manasseh and Jeho-
iakim came to the throne. The peo-
pie who condone or suffer wicked
ness in public official are trif1ing
with their own and their children's
welfare.
Like beacons, beckoning a bewil-
dered traveller on a dark night, were
the prophets of Judah - Isaiah,
jeremiah, Ezekial and Daniel. The
man with a word of truth is the
divine corrective in the life of So
clety. A nation is never in the
worst state so long as IL has fear
less, disinterested men, who will pro-
claim the wise word of true coun-
sci. The underlying evil of the ma
tlon was its neglect of Gods clear
word, and failure to follow the path
lie had clearly marked out. Writ
ten over all those troublous gener-
atoms we may clearly read, Right
eousness eXalteth nation, but sin is
a reproach to any people,"
| Taking Civilization to Task
1t has chanced to be my lot to
traverse practically all the ruins of
antiquity. l have trodden the fallen
! grandeur of all the ancient and i'm
perial civilization. In these ruins one
reads story of retributive power
who overrules all Of mans vaultings
and ambitious plans. One cannot
visit Nineveh for instance, and be-
hold the Children of Israel who have
still survived while the glory of
Sennacherib has perished without
awesome thoughts of the God of
Abraham and the children of the
promise.
A long look back over the mill
lenniums makes it clear that society
mas an obligation to God. He has
held accountable the nations of the
earth. God deals with peoples as
Wen as with individuals, and that
Is the lesson for to-day. We are en-
|