The Secret of Israel's Greatness

“Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments; keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations.” — Deut. iv. 5, 6.

I TAKE the idea to be that the greatness of the people of Israel was a moral greatness: “This is your wisdom in the sight of the nations.” God has given to each nation a different kind of wisdom. He has given to China the spirit of order, to India the spirit of devotion, to Persia the spirit of religious struggle, to Egypt the spirit of reverence, to Greece the spirit of beauty, to Rome the spirit of empire. But Israel’s one lamp is the love of righteousness. I do not think she has any love so strong as that. She has not arranged her household like China; her twelve tribes are scattered to the winds. She has no mystic moments like India; she seeks the things of common day. She has no religious doubts like Persia; her faith is a child’s faith. She has no sense of eternity like Egypt; enough for her is

the earthly promised land. She has no secular arts like Greece; she keeps her poetry and her music for the ear of God alone. She has no dream of personal conquest like Rome; if she seeks an empire, it is for Messiah. But, in one thing she is alone among the nations — her cry for earthly goodness. It is earthly goodness. She is not anxious how she will appear before the great white throne; she never speaks of that; she leaves that to Egypt. For her the question is. How shall I equip myself below? — shall I honour my father? shall I help my brother? shall I serve my neighbour? shall I comfort my friend? shall I be just in the exchange? shall I be fair in the market-place? shall I be true in the witness-box? shall I be pure at the family altar? These are homely questions, yea, they are problems of the home; but they are hers — hers alone, hers distinctly, hers by nature and birthright; this is her wisdom among the nations.

I thank Thee, O Lord, that amid the notes of the nations Thou hast prepared a place for “Home, sweet home.” I thank Thee that in the great orchestra which sings Thy manifold beauty there is a place for the minor chords — the chords that vibrate to the dusty day. India has soared for Thee, Persia has fought for Thee, Egypt has dreamed for Thee, Greece has dressed for Thee; but is there to be none to walk for Thee? Among all the voices of the nations, is there to be none that shall say, “Lo, I come, I delight to do Thy will “? I thank Thee that there is one. I bless Thee that amid the sweet singers of this world there is one that sings in the street — sings the common song of duty. I praise Thee that among the birds of morning there is one which carols on the ground — warbles where men walk, trills where men toil, sings where men struggle with the hour. Thou hast given to Greece her music for the grove, and to Rome her music for the battle, and to Egypt her music for the funeral march of time. But I am glad that Thou hast added one strain more — a strain for the humble. I am glad that to one land Thou hast given the simple song, ‘’ Be just, be good, be true!” I am glad Thou hast a music for the market-place, a chord for the common-place, a warbling for the worker, a pgean for the prosaic, a hymn for household burdens, a song for domestic service, a light for manual labour, a stream for the sultry way. Such has been the mission of Thy people Israel.