The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-24

and in our land. Devotional reading:
Tim. $40. II. 14-17.
BY WILLIAM E. GILROY, ID. ID.
Editor of The Congregationalist
Why is the study of the history
of the kings of Israel SO interesting
and so important? Apparently be-
cause the records of it through the
Bible are themselves so remarkable.
If the men who have given us our
Bible had written the history of
movements of religion and politics
in the life OF any people as these
have written concerning the history
of Israel, the record would be I'M
questionably Of Importance.
A further consideration, how
ever, is found in the fact that
Israel, from the earliest days, rep
resented the idealism of faith and
progress. 1t is this that lends
especial significance to incidents
and movements in the lives of these
ancient Israelitish tribes whose
national life, in comparison with
that of the great empires, might,
on a superficial view, be thought of
as relatively unimportant.
1t is fact that people are
moved with higher interests than
the mere conquest of material
problems that gives tc their history
permanent significance and value
for illustration and instruction in
the development of other people.
1t is surprising to realize in read
| ing these Bible records of religious
and political life of a far-distant
age the extent to which we find the
essential problems and factors in
our modern life so conspicuously re-
produced. The sins and jealousies
and vain ambitions that marred the
! course of religion and politics in
this ancient time are handicaps to
progress with which we are still
struggling today.
The indifference and hayward
ness of the people to the highest
ideals of their great leaders con-
tinues to be the chief evil, even as
it was then, and from the other
side, the impulses Of honor and
righteousness that made men SO SUI
premely and unselfishly devoted to
the commonwealth are the factors
that still make for the salvation Of
the nation and for the advancement
of the people in true welfare.
From these lessons of the quarter
there stand out conspicuously these
qualities of greatness in the men
and women who devoted them
selves so completely to God and to
the people. We forget the mad
jealousies and the foolishness of
Saul in considering the fine charac-
ter of Samuel, dedicated by a cody
mother to the service of the temple
and fulfilling that dedication in the
completeness of his unselfish devo-
ton to the national life.
He could say with truth as he
surveyed his career, especially at a
time when the people were turning
from his leadership to seek a king,
that in everything he had acted
honorably and unselfishly.
David Man Of Passions
In David we come to a man OF
different type, strange combina-
ton of good and evil purposes and
of well-directed and misdirected
emotions. A man of war, like many
men of war, given over to other
strong and violent passions, there
we're in him, none the less, some
finer qualities of king and saint.
The quarters lessons end in q
way to make every man reflect
upon the true foundations of re-
ligion and the State. The capacity
of David as warrior and admins
traitor and the splendor and mag
nificence Of So.omon's rule, with its
| great project OF temple building
were not in themselves sufficient tc
preserve the integrity of a state in
which, beneath the capacious rule
there had ben much oppression ano
| III uoOlCC.
Jeroboam's foolishness stands as
a permanent example of bumptious
royalty and Of misused authority
but it should be remembered thai
Jeroboam, with all his foolishness
and incapacity, was the inheritor Of
the folly and injustice of men who
in other respects, were wiser thar
himself.
Thus these lessons on the early
kingdom Of Israel bring 20 us alike
teachings Of example and Of warn.
ing. The true conclusion of tht
matter is found very appropriately
| expressed in the golden text of thi.
lesson: Jehovah hath established
|