The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, April 01, 1922, Page 8, Image 8
The Commoner VOL. 22, NO. 4 ft tf i r I I 111 I Mr. Bryan's Bible Talks TUB VALUE OP THE SUNDAY .SCHOOL By WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN REVIEW LESSON FOR MARCH 2G Wo now como to a review of the Bible les sons sinco tho first of the year on which my weekly Talks have been based. But boforo say ing a word about the general character of tho lossons wo havo boen studying, and the general rules for .guidance that they hold for us, I should like to speak briefly of tho value of tho Sunday School, for young and old alike for fathers and mothers as well as sons and daugh ters. The Sunday School itf not a now institution; tho first Sunday School was established by Robert Raikos in Gloucester, England, in 1871. From this recent boginning it has spread throughout the world conclusive proof that the Sunday School came in response to a real need. It is not Intended to bo a substitute for tho study of tho Biblo at home; on tho contrary, it is safe to say that tho preparation of tho Sunday School lesson leads to more study of tho Biblo at home than there would bo if there were no Sunday Schools. 'Tho Sunday Softool supple ments the work of the home. STUDY DEVELOPS THE CHRISTIAN , At Sunday School the children havo the ad vantage. of teachers who aro selected out of tho body of tho church and these teachers prepare themselves for tho work. Then, too, the Sun day School has brought forth the International Lessons, which are selected by persons of largo experience and extended Bible study. The les sons aro suited to tho noeds of tlrpse who at tend Sunday School and aro so arranged as to cover the Biblo ovory few years. Our religious and secular papors furnish comments on the lessons, which are read by all interested in re ligious matters, whether they attend Sunday School or not. Thus tho Sunday School's in fluence extends to those who do not themselves attend. The Sunday School has largely increased tho number, of Christians ongaged in religious' work and work develops tho Christian as nothing else does. However conscious the teacher may be of liis imperfections as a teacher, ho never doubts the benollcial effect of teaching upon himself. It stimulates spiritual growth and develops those who afterward become the active officials in tho church. I cannot too strongly emphasize the value of .toaching to the teacher, as well as the duty that tho teacher owes to give to others the bene fit of his oducation and Christian expprience. Christians ought to offer themselves as teachers instead of having to be urged. There ought to be a waiting list in every Sunday. School, giv ing tho names of people ready and willing 'to take up tho work. If this interest were mani fested tho classes could bo smaller and there fore the contact between the teacher and the student more intimate. In a multitude of ways tho Sunday School strengthens tho church it is the nursery of tho church. " SONGS THAT MOLD THOUGHT And we must not overlook the songs of tho Sunday School. Every Christian virtue has been embodied jn Sunday School songs; the noblest sentiments are thus carried into the heart by familiar melodies. Echoed along the streets, they become an invaluable part of tho child's possessions. Tho Sunday School song, much more easily than the church song, fits into the ,-vocabulary of the child and helps to mold its thoughts and-purposes. The Sunday School gives us quite an accurate measure of the spiritual life of the church. When it is strong and vigorous, tho church is at work a dead Sunday School means a dying church' The Sunday School is not perfect, but it under goes constant improvement; resort is sometimes had to prizes to insure attendance and to stimu late the study of the Word. In some schools tho day system is copied and children pass from class to class with graduating exercises to excite interest. "Caro should be taken, however, to cultivate tho idea that attendance upon Sunday School ought to be a permanent thing. It is well for parents to take their children when possible instead of sending them. Men's classes and classes or old people should be encouraged. The Bible is unlike any other book; no matter how often it is read, it is ever new and one can scarce-' ly re-read a familiar passage without finding in it some lesson not discovered before. If any one has been benefited during the past quarter by reading these Bible Talks, let it be remem bered that the Sunday School is responsible for them. The lessons havo interpreted the pas sages which are being studied the world around. COURAGEOUS MEN OP PRAYER And now a word as to the Bible characters about whom we have been reading since the first of tho year. They have been prophets Elijah and Elisha, Jonah and Amos. The prophet occupies an exalted place in tho Old Testament; his office was higher than that of tho king and few of the kings ever left such an impression as that made by the men of God who wore called forth from time to time to admonish and advise. Their power was spiritual; they talked with God and communicated to the children of Israel tho will of Jehovah. They commended when the rulers acted wisely and the people regarded righteousness; they thundered forth denuncia tion when the king did evil in the eight of the Lord or his people wandered away into idola try. They were men of prayer. They laid their petitions before God, asked guidance of Him and were conscious of their weakness when they relied upon their own- strength. They were courageous; we have no better ex amples of the bravery that faith in God inspires than are furnished by the prophets. They wore not born into prophecy; they were called. Their authority did not pass from father to son; it came direct from Jehovah and termi nated when their work was done. MISTAKES CAN BE CORRECTED They were not all cast in the same mold; each had his personality and each seemed specially designed for the work that fell to his lot. Just such a man as Elijah was needed to deal with Ahab, Israel's wicked king; just such a man as Elisha was needed for the work he had to do; and who better than -Amos, the herdsman, could have castigated the idle rich of his time? Jonah did not resemble tho prophet of. fire; he could hardly have taken the place of Elisha' or of Amos, but the lessons drawn from his life are neither few nor insignificant. For 2,000 years he has been a warning to those who are tempted to evade the call of duty. He is a wit ness to the fact that mistakes can be corrected and that a man who goes wrong one time may splendidly atone for his misdeed and mistakes and recover confidence. Jonah is the pioneer missionary and no one since his day has surpassed Mm in power to move a wickeil people to repentance. He brought a city to its knees; his words pierced the heart of king and people alike. His weak nesses and errors cannot outweigh the splendid service that he rendered any more than Elijah's ono period of despondency, when he fled from the wrath of Jezebel, can blot out the wonder ful triumph of his faith. HOW THE PROPHETS CAN HELP US As we look back over the lives of the prophets and tho lessons they teach us we can feel that our reverence for God has been increased- that our faith in His wisdom, power and love has grown stronger; that our high resolves have beon made more firm and our hopes enlivened . We shall be more anxious to fall heir to' a mantle worthy to be worn and more determined to leave a mantle worth to be coveted We shall be able to see more cleariy the in visible hosts that only await tho command of the Heavenly Father to assure victory to evorv righteous cause. vuiy Wo shall be more quick to heed any call rw summons us to work in the Lord's vinevard S more willing to imitate the Heavenly Father in showing mercy to those who turn from their Bins to righteousness. Qlr And surely we shall not forget the sinn w follow in the wake of ease and indolence oj bo guilty of that forgetfuln'ess of God which l i, sure forerunner, of swift destruction a Where but in the Bible can we find so mil of light to guide our steps as we journev tvi the cradle to the grave? y Irom A MAN WHO BELIED ON GOD By WILLIAM JENNINGS "BRYAN BIBLE TEXT LESSON FOR APRIL 2 (II Chronicles 14:1-2) So Abljah slept with his lathers, and thev hrin,i him in the city of .David;, and Asa his son rffiS in his stead. In his days the land was miet to " years; , ien And Asa did that which was good and rle-iit i tho eyes of tho Lord his God: lgllt ,n For he took away the altars of the Btranse emu and tho high places, and brake down tho Jmaei and cut down tho groves.- btB And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God nt their fathers,, and to do tho law and the command- Also ho took away .out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. . - And he built fcnced-citics in Judah; for the land had rest, and ho had no war In those years- be cause the Lord had given him rest. Therefore ho said unto Judah, Let us build theso cities, and make about them walls and towers gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us- bc causo wo have sought the Lord our God, we havo sought him, and he has given us rest on every side So tlysy built and prospered. And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand; all these were mighty men f valour. ,And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mare shah. ' Then Asa went out against him. and they sof. the battle in array in the. valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with manv, or with them that havo no power; help us, O Lord our God: for we rest on thee, and In thy name we go out against this multitude. O Lord, thou art God; let no man prevail against thee. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians lied. After Solomon Rehoboam. And what a contrast between father and only son! Apparently inheriting little or none of his father's wondrous wisdom, Rehoboam's first important act as king caused the revolt of ten of the tribes of Israel and the permanent di vision of the kingdom of David, leaving him sovereign over only the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Rehoboam reigned 17 years, his son Abijah 3 years, and during those 20 years idolatry was rife throughout Judah. Then there came a day when Abijah slept with his fathers, arid Asa his son reigned in his stead. , "And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of tire Lord his God." He destroyed idolatry. "He took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images." And he "com manded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the command ment." AN UNUSUAL MAN Asa was an unusual man. He was not only better than his father, but he seems to have had no aid from the woman side of the house. His grandmother was a daughter of Absalom, and an evil woman? "As a rule young men are advised to imitate the virtues of their fathers, and the rule that a man takes his virtues from his mother is still more common. The moral standards of women are usually higher than the moral standards oi men that is why those who profited by vice were unanimously opposed to woman suffrage. They feared her conscience and her home in stincts. There are, of course, numerous illustrations of weak husbands being Jed into error oy wicked wives, but much more frequent ly noble women have rescued, restored ami strengthened men. Lady Macbeth is an out standing figure in fiction because she was more resolute in evil doing than her husband. In tno Bible, Jezebel stands for a relatively small class of women. She was a stronger personality tnan Ahab, and threw her strength on the side of tna worship of idols. . nM There is another character that represents noi bold wickedness but weakness of .faith, as com pared with her husband. Job's wife did noi have tho patience .that her husband dispiayeu. She gave up hope and advised him to curso God and die.?' She did not have Jan's pniioso Phy.- "Shall we receive good at tho ,handsthD: God, and shall wo not receive evil? ov uw t - M 4 ..KitftAiM:'', jHjJWV ' - '