The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-07-27

kingdom of God and his righteousness
Matthew 6:33
Obedience is one of the old-fash-
ioned virtues which has been pushed
aside in our present mad rush of
self-eXpression. 1t needs to be re-
vived if we are to have a happy,
contented, and useful people. The
lesson for today affords an excellent
opportunity to give class members
a right perspective. Many regard
obedience as something which is ex-
acted by those who desire to have
authority over US, but as a matter
of fact it is a principle established
by God for the right and orderly
conduct of life, the observation Of
which results in blessing and pros
perity, and the ignoring of which
brings chaos, fighting, bitterness,
and disappointment. Obedience to
parents, to the law of man, and to
the law of God should be taught and
exemplified by us, even as it was by
Jehoshaphat Obedience in his life
made him
1. A Good Son wv. l, 3, ~.
He followed his father Asa and his
forefather David insofar as they had
followed God. Apart from God and
the influence of the Christian faith,
the tendency is quite the other way.
Frequently we see that a father who
came up from poverty by his own
diligence and ability will have a
wastrel son who amounts to nothing,
or even worse, one that ruins HIM
self and others. Blessed is the son
who has godly father and who has
sense enough to follow in his steps
in obedience to God.
ii. A Capable Administrator wv.
2, S, 12).
Jehoshaphat faced real problems.
The nation was prospecting, but there
were many difficult questions of for
eign relations and in domestic af-
fairs. Especially was he concerned
about their fellowship with the sister
nation of Israel. Idolatry was still
common in the land, new territory
had to be consolidated and fortified.
The man who is obedient to Gods
law and whose heart is lifted up to-
ward Him may expect that all his
faculties will be stimulated, and
that, furthermore, he will have the
guidance of God in the discharge of
his duties. This is true not only of
kings and national leaders, but of
each one of US. If we trust in God
and are obedient to His guidance,
He will bring about astonishing re-
suits in the lives of any one of US.
III. A True Worshiper wv. 3, g..
He walked in the ways of his fore
fathers in his obedience to God. A
man does not need to be a blind
worshiper of the good old days to
realize that America could profit by
walking in the ways of those of our
forefathers who daily walked with
God.
Note also that Jehoshaphat had
real personal spiritual experience of
his own. ellis heart was lifted up
in the ways of the Lord" ". g.. Spir-
itual exaltation makes man better
fitted to live in the daily round of
life where he must keep his feet on
the ground. There is a dearth of
new personal spiritual experiences in
our time. How long is it since you
and l have felt our souls strangely
warmed? God is ready and willing
to do this for us now, as He was in
the days of Jehoshaphat.
~. A Wise Educator ". 81.
Here was a real program of relig-
ious education. A wise teacher
knows that it is not enough to re-
move the bad, he must replace it
with the good. Jehoshaphat tore
down the places of heather worship,
but he substituted the teaching of
the Word of God. That kind of
program of nationwide Christian
education would be tremendously
worthwhile in this year of our Lord
1889 and within the confines of our
own beloved country.
Read verses Z and and you will
note that most of the leaders in this
teaching campaign we're laymen.
The priests were evidently for the
most part not interested. This has
all too often been so, but let not
that deter the layman from going
ahead in Gods name.
v. A Respected Ruler wv. S, 10,
~.
His own people gave him the rec
ognition of love and loyalty ". 81.
The jealous nations around him were
afraid of him, for they knew that
God was with him ". 10). This
was what would be in our day re-
garded as a rather unusual means
of national defense, but note that it
was tremendously effective. Would
that America were a nation united
in loving obedience to Gods law.
Then would our enemies be afraid
because Gods hand would be upon