Article October 7, 1922 Issue

Praising God

HOPE LE BAR ROBERTS

Understood through the light which Christian Science sheds upon the pages of the Bible, many of the events and incidents therein contained are not merely historically interesting, but become to the student's awakened thought valuable examples and proofs of the unlimited power of good. In the second book of Chronicles there is related an experience which thus becomes a practical help and inspiration to the student. Word came to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, that the children of Moab and Ammon were coming up in great multitude against him. Fear filled the thought of Jehoshaphat; and after calling his people together, he cried unto God. While Jehoshaphat was yet speaking, Jahaziel arose and voiced the truth. He faced the fear; denounced it; and said to them, "The battle is not your's, but God's. ... Stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord." He bade them go forth on the morrow, which they did; but ere they departed, Jehoshaphat, whose fear had been stilled, realized the omnipotence of God, and bade his people go forth singing and praising God, "for his mercy endureth for ever." When they began to sing and praise the Lord, the children of Moab and Ammon were utterly routed; they fell upon each other, and destroyed themselves.

In the experience of the Christian Scientist, how many times the errors of mortal mind seem to rise up against him! He may, for the moment, be fearful; but upon the realization that the only power is God, his fear is stilled, the ever-presence of Love being acknowledged. Thus armed, he goes forth. Instead of fearful trepidation and anxiety for the outcome, he has raised the standard of Truth. Joyfully he remembers that God is good, in acknowledging the blessings which have come to him; and in expressing gratitude for them, he finds that the error has vanished into its native nothingness; that its only power has been to destroy itself; that it has fallen by its own weight.

Often when error tries to place itself suddenly before us, and there seems only an instant in which to declare the truth, how many times a verse, perhaps of a hymn, comes to our thought, turning it away from the error; and, through praising God, when we next look for the error it has disappeared. Several years ago the writer was driving an automobile, when what seemed an impenetrable blanket of fog was encountered. The occupants of the car expressed great fear, and recommended stopping the car on the road, as scores of other people were doing. One could not even see the lamps on the front of the car. Suddenly the words of a hymn came to the driver's thought:—

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