Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-06
PSALMS OF DELIVERANCE.
Psalms. IS and 126.
Golden Text: "They that SOW in
tears shall reap in joy
By Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

Every great epoch In history has been
ushered In by birth Of song. The poet
whose soul has been thrilled by vision
Of the far-on divine event toward which
God leads the world is inspired to break
forth into a song that molds the spirit of
the new age. The triumphant songs of
Noses and Miriam gave to the new nation
the fundamental facts concerning their
dependence upon God that made the
emancipated slaves a united nation
David. the founder. and Solomon. the
builder Of the temple that united the
faith and tho nation into spiritual
unity. were both singers. Just as Crom-
well led his psalm-singing puritan SOL
dterB to victory to the strains Of Luther's
battle hymn. SO the American military
leaders are awaiting the birth of a song
who's theme and melody will thrill the
soldiers OF our army and under its mar
tial strains enable them to lead the
national forces TO victory when they enter
the titantic struggle with our allies for
freedom and democracy. Every American
war has brought forth a new song of
freedom that helped the men to win.
During the darkness and despair of
the captivity the harp was silently hang
ing on the willow trees of Babylon. The
pefsscuted and exiled Jews could not sing
the songs Of Zion in a foreign land be-
cause their hearts were heavy. They
could not praise Jehovah away from
Jerusalem, but when God turned their
faces toward the homeland they broke
forth in song. The soul-thrilling songs
Of David. that have touched the heart
strings in all ages. were heard along the
pilgrimage and had much to do with its
success. The psalms of deliverance.
which have been assigned for this weeks
study, were probably written after the
return Of the exiles to the Holy Land
Both refer to some marked deliverance
Of the Jewish people and their sentiments
point to their return from captivity when
they would be depressed by beholding
the ruined city. the fallen temple and the
desecrated land. Amid the evidence OF
the presence OF enemies and the wanton
destruction some unknown singer thrill
ed them with the psalms of deliverance
that I'LL men today with confidence that
God will not forsake them
The first three verses of the SJth
Psalm looked backward and formed
the basis of the prayer contained in
the next four verses. The inspiration
to seek Gods favor was due to the past
the Jewish nation. While the favor of
God and the restoration of the first
verse refer to a definite event. which
in all probability was their liberty
from exile. its application is appropri-
ate to Gods grace at all times. Bleed
ing Belgium. PROSTATE Poland and the
struggling Russian republic can find
cheer and comfort in the psalmist's
day that He was then. The Lord. who
aided the poverty stricken pilgrims
with their limited resources to attempt.
while surrounded by sullen foes who
had forcibly been driven out to make
room for the returning exiles. the APP
pafently helpless task of rebuilding
the city and the temple of God. will
aid the war-stricken nations when they
restoration in those sections of their
country that have been made desolate
by the present war.
The emancipation of the nation from
the exile, which was caused by their
sin. points also to the possibility of
personal salvation for the sinner. All
have sinned and missed the mark or
tAe high calling OF God In Christ Jesus.
but, in His love and mercy. He has
provided a way of salvation for the
penitent sinner. as He did for the peni-
tent nation. He has provided for all
those who have failed and come short
Of His glory O Savior whose blood can
cover their sins and will wash them
white II they will repent of their sins.
believe the gospel and confess their
faith in the Christ. Men are not liv-
ing under Gods wrath. although the
world today Is passing through trials
that suggest the bitter experiences of
the Jewish nation. because God loves
men and is seeking today to save them
depressed by the conditions that they
faced. They feared that they were
called upon to endure prosecutions and
privations because they were not living
in harmony with God, who retaineth
not His anger forever, because He de-
lighteth in mercy"
. Many . poor sufferer fears today that
he II being punished for some un-
known sin. forgetting that whom the
Lord loveth He chasteneth." The Lord
Jesus. the only perfect person who
ever lived among men. was "a Man Of
Sorrows and acquainted with grief"
;:xiais de- net prove that men are sim