The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-21

y Every bedy's doing iti'
Before we rail too severely at old
Israel departing from its high, strict
standards of Theocraey, let us pause
for an instant to ask about ourselves
in this present time. Is our nation
turning from or toward simple faith
and gedliness? Are we more keen on
the quest after the newest fashions
and simple righteousness? Are our
faces or eur backs toward Gods lead
ership? Nations are in the valley of
decision today: the case. of Israel
points a present moral. Europe has
gone mad with the lust of empire; ma
! tons little and big are flinging aside
their noblest ideals in pursuit of more
territory. more prestige, more trade.
Nor is our western world guiltless of
the days folly.
A Nations Second Chance.
| Old Israel lire some newer nations,
preferred a king to a prophet: power
before principles. They would rather
trust to organization and efficiency"
and TO Wainwright than to the ideals
set forth by a seer of God. 1t was
irksome to try to be good. Here comes
great truth from this Lesson: God
accepted the Israelites en- their own
level, since they would not come up
| to the higher plane He designed for
them. He gave them second chance.
| 1t recalls the conversation beside the
! lake, after Jesus had risen, when the
Master twice asked the much profess
ling Peter if he really loved Him di-
vinely-"agapaed,"i is the Greek word
but the uncomprehending disciple
| insisted that he loved Him humanity
.'phileoed" Him. Then the third time
Jesus asked, as if accepting His own
| terms, Peter. do you really love Me
/ as one man loves another?' So GOD
takes less than He desires from us.
less than our possibilities. He was
eager, since Israel was bent on De
looming kingdom straightway, TO
make it the best possible Kingdom,
we are willing to let Him have.
| To that end, a wonder was wrought,
such a wonder as has been repeated
many times since; Saul was essential
to the success of the king project, so
God gave him another heart. After
| his meeting with Samuel, Saul under
went a great spiritual experience. He
got religion He entered into new
sense of God such as is essential to all
| truly great leadership. That is why
we pray every Sunday in our churches
| for our rulers; except they are led,
| they cannot lead.
Recently / received a letter from a
friend in q western city, expressing
concern that in these times of shifting
/
politics, there is no man who stands
unequivocally on a distinctively Chris
tan platform. with zeal for New
Testament righteousness as his plea.
| Why should not a public man come
| out openly with a statement that our
times need most of all return to God,
and a fresh obedience to the divine
will? A personal experience of re-
| ligion, such as came to Saul, is the
highest equipment for public service.
Seek we first the kingdom of God and
| HIS righteousness, and all these things
shall be added unto you"
The Modest King-EIect.
A profound sense Of personal I'M
worthiHess comes to the really true
man in the presence of every high ex-
perience. What worthy lover has not
wondered why his betrothed should be
willing to accept him? Queen Vic
teria's prayer. according to the
familiar story when She heard that
she was to succeed to the throne, was
God help me to be good The
Drlnkwater Lincoln play shows the
lanky Illinois lawyer falling upon hi;
knees in prayer, when the nomination
to the presidency was offered him. 1t
was a natural and creditabIe thing for
Saul, knowing of his own amounting at
the hands of Samuel, to flee from the
decision when the nation assem- bled at
Mjzpah to cast lots for it's first king
Sc when the choice had fallen, 10, Saul
was found hidden among the baggage!
Then was FIRST heard the shout, echoed
countless times since. Long live the
There was a dissenting minority
who did not endorse the election of
the huge and bashful son of Kish
The latter showed qualities of states
manship by retiring into seelusion
until the people should come to agree
ment. Then one of the tribes became
threatened by an enemy, and the It'd
ings ran turnout Israel. When Saul
heard the news he proved his king
ship by his can-ship; never was he
more regal than in that hour.
For he had that essential quality
OF greatness, a capacity for indigna-
ton. Like the yermiferm appendix,
this Characteristic becomes atrophied
in some politicians. But of Israers
first king we read, when he had heard
of the shameful proposal of the Am
mcnites to the men of Jabesh. 1.-The
Spirit of God came nightly upon Saul
when he heard those words, and his
anger was kindled greatly
Would that the Spirit might descend
upon the Church today in the same
way, and make tee-tolerant Christians
red-hot with anger against injustice
and oppression and evil of every sort.
A victory like unto Sauls is sure
whenever good men get fighting mad!