The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-08-15
Plain Tales From the Bible
Continued from page two.)

Continued from page two)
wicked, selfish Kings and the perverseness
of the people weakened the nation until they
were easy prey for the nations that were
then conquering and ruling the world. They
were forced to pay heavy tribute to these
nations and finally, when Babylonia was
the dominating world power, Nebuchdnez-
Ear appeared before Jerusalem, took the
city, spoiled the temple of its holy vessels
and carried off a number of the people as
captives to Babylon. Seven years later he
carried off the royal family and larger
number of people and eleven years after his
army appeared, burned the temple, destroy
ed Jerusalem and carried off all Judah, ex-
cept the poorest who we're left to till the
land-and even the most of these were de-
ported after another five years. So began
in sos B. c. the seventy years of Judah's
captivity-the price nation paid for the
wantonness of its people.
Never again did the Jewish people enjoy
the privileges and rights of free nation.
In 53S B. c., by permission of Cyrus,
then king at Babylon, a portion of the
people returned to Jerusalem and began the
rebuilding of the temple and walls. Fol-
lowed years of wars, trouble and distress
under Persian, Egyptian, Macedonian,
Syrian and finally Roman conquest and
rule. Which brings us to the time of
Christ's birth aud into the steady and ever
more rapid spread and growth of His SIM
pie rules of living-Christianity. Now,
what is the principal feature of the history
of this Divine force in a mortal world? Let
us see!
From the days when God walked in the
Garden of Eden with Adam, through the
centuries he has singled out some one to be
his special representative on earth. 'The
Lord had respect unto Abel and "Enoch
walked with Cod "Noah found grace
in the eyes of the Lord and Shem and
Nimrod we're of those who knew Him. At
last He set aside an entire race, through
Abram, through whom he would manifest
His ways to the world.
God in no way forgot this people. This
is the greatest fact, emphasized through all
Bible history. At all times was He in direct
touch with them, striving, then as now, to
influence their thoughts and actions so that
obedience to His better way would be their
desire and pleasure. Even when most dis
pleased by their betrayal of His love and
guidance and after bringing upon them the
Babylonian captivity he did not desert them.
Among the Jewish exiles. on the river
Chebar dwelt son of a priestly family,
Ezekiel, He was married, and lived in his
own house and had authority among his
people for the elders came to him for coun-
sci and advice. This was due, probably,
to the fact that he had been brought up in
the home land under the ministry of Jere-
miah. God chose this man to speak to the
people by parallels, riddles, emblematic
prophecy and direct foretelIing of coming
events, hoping to bring them in unity and
harmony with His great purposes. So, on
day when Ezekiel walked on the banks of
the Chebar, God came to him. A whirl-
wind came out of the north, followed by
cloud and fire of great brightness. Fright
ened, Ezekiel fell upon his face and then a
voice spoke to him and said @stand upon
thy feet, and l will speak unto thee
"Stand upon thy feet" God had mans
job for Ezekiel to undertake. Ezekiel was
to be sent ''to the children of Israel, a re-
bellious nation" that was ''impudent and
stiff-hearted.' God could not say whether
the work of Ezekiel would avail, or not, but
He told this man He wanted the people,
whatever course they followed, to know that
a prophet had been among them. So His
first words were "Stand upon thy feet" be-
cause he wanted Ezekiel to understand the
job Alright in the beginning and to 60 about
it in way that would enable him to finish
the work.
''Stand upon thy feet This is the trouble
with so many of us. We crawl too much.
AAStSoo VI Slohoihs injury Ou Jul ASCt ouo
tackling our difficulties with head erect and
all the force at our command we try to
wiggle and crawl out of or by the hard
places and things of life. 1t won't work!
Life cannot be lived in such way, at least
it cannot be so lived for long; because those
who persist in crawling are very soon crush
ed by the weight of the thing they seek to
avoid. ''Stand upon thy feet" That is
the way to win! Buck the line right in the
middle every time! You may not break
entirely through but folks and things will
know "a man. "has been among them!"
And remember this: if you finish son your
feet failure can never be written after your
name.
You may never reach the goal of your
ideals and purposes-few, if any, do win
their full hearts desires. But this you may
do: so strive and live that you will approach
that degree of contentment that has its
wonderful Joy and peace in doing and be-
ing. Then will each days end see you on
the summit of success because the day is