The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-12
International
SunddySchooILeSson
BY WILLIAM t. ELLIS.


For May II. is 'Hezekiah Leads His
l. People Back to God.'-LI Chron.
30:1-27.
Our self-centered western world re-
ceived a distinct shock when Lloyd
George, at Genoa, definitely declared
the possibility or likelihood of another
European war at an early date, IN
volving all nations. The prospect is
too horrendous to contemplate; most
of us have been shutting our eyes TO
realities. ever since the Paris CONFER
ence. We have assured ourselves that
the late war was the last war; and
that, somehow, without any relation
to our individual character or be-
hav1or, peace has come to abide ana
that all the major ills of humanity
are somehow to be cured.
We have been, and for the most
part still are, blind to the dangerous
state of the world. What is moving
in all minds of the masses has been
of as little concern to educated per
sons as what is doingAin the councils
of unregenerate statesmen. 1t seems
never to have occurred to most of us
that there is a real unity in the ills
of our time; and that all that ails us,
from sinister politics at the top to
Grass immortality at the bottom, is
susceptible to the one remedy. Ma
tional and international leadership
have been singularly blind to the only
possible cure for the critical illness of
our present world
Call in the Old Doctor.
There is nothing new wrong with
mankind. In spite of all our modern
complications of life, humanity is still
unchanged in the great essentials. We
still sin the old sins and answer to the
old impulses. What has gone wrong
with the twentieth century after
Christ does not differ substantially
from what went wrong with the jew
ish people in the seventh century be-
fore Christ. King Hezekiah of the
long ago prescribed the only cure that
will work today.
Our Lesson story is, to us, only an
incident, unimportant in itself, in the
life of a maynard little nation along
the eastern shores of the Medtter-
ranean, more than twenty-five hun
dred years ago. Intrinsically, it is
not worth the attention of the many
millions who will STUDY it,. Yet it is
of surprising importance as symbol
and type of the causes and cure OF
present-day difficulties. In our hour
of perpIexity and peril. we do well to
call in old Doctor Hezekiah. wise king
of Judah, and devout disciple OF
Jehovah.
The thing that was wrong with the
Jews is one and the same as the thing
that is wrong with Genoa and with
business and with society apA with the
variegated yet unified life of this
whole world. Political imperialism,
industrial obscurantisn and social
f.apperism all have their roots in the
great cause. That cause is unsocial
human selfishneSs and a disregard for
the supreme law of the living God.
Because nations and individuals have
repudiated the sovereign rights of Je-
hovah, with the inevitable -implica-
lions of justice and benevolence, the
Christening hand of retribution is
upon humanity today. once more we
are learning that to go away from God
is to go into trouble. May we at the
same time learn that to return unto
Him is the way of peace and recovery.
NationaIism and Moral leadership.
Correspondents at Genoa are cabl-
ing that the present world struggle IS
between the conflicting ideas OF ma
tionalism and decentralization. 1t is
significant that, as our Lesson inn
plies, the Lord has always used ma
tions for the working out of his pur-
poses on the earth. National leader
ship carries with it moral responsible
ity. The Hebrew prophets, such as
Isaiah. who was King Hezekiah 5
counsellor. were flaming patriots. A
sense of the nations needs was usual
~ incitingN factor in religious
awakenipgs. Tf muse over this old
story from Jew sh history. and over
the present plight of people every
where, is to wonder whether our men
in high public places have not fallen
short in spiritual vision and leader
ship.
When Hezekiah came to the throne
of Judah. he found the nation in a
bad way. The temple worship had
been neglected, the temple itself was
in a sorry state of disorder and filth,
and religion generally had suffered a
slump. The priests had become ig-
norant and Indifferent. Heather
practices had again bloomed into full
flower. despite previous reforms. Pso-
pie. like plants. deteriorare when left
to themselves. When freest from So
cial and legal restraints men and -vo-
men revert to their worst possibilities.
personal liberty holds dangerous
possibilities.
King Hezekiah did what our own
world needs most to do->41e sought
revival of religion. With Assyria on