Biola Broadcaster - 1967-04

Tucker quoted these words from Psalm 137, “If I forget thee, 0 Je­ rusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy,” (w. 5-6). Hearing this, the Jewish man’s head fell into his hands and he said, “0 God, I have never been so re­ buked in my life and that from a Gentile.” Even in his alleged con­ tempt for his land, it was evident that the desire had been implanted in his heart and that of every Jew to return to his own land. It was my privilege to study two years with the world-famous Pales­ tinian archaeologist at Johns Hop­ kins University, Dr. William Fox- well Albright. In a statement before a group of men at the Jewish Theo­ logical Sem inary , he forcefully pointed out, “It has never happened in the history of the world that a nation should become a nation in servitude, away from their own land and in that bondage for 430 years, and then go back to the land from which their ancestors first departed to take up where they had left off, and to have their national life all re­ instituted and reinaugurated. With Israel, however, it has happened.” Surely no reasonable, thinking indi­ vidual can escape the reality of this clear-cut evidence. He further de­ clared, “I was one of those non-pro- phetic individuals, who did not be­ lieve that these things could ever happen. Yet seeing them fulfilled in our own lifetime gives us definite assurance and confidence that the remainder of the prophecies of the Old Testament which have not yet been fulfilled will transpire with equal literalness.” We have shown from such pass­ ages as Isaiah 49 and Jeremiah 23 that the Jews are coming back. All areas of the world are represented. Some have estimated that there are Jews in Israel now from over 100 different countries of the world. 5

and an Arab state. What a timely prediction! He spoke better than he knew. No matter from whence the representatives to the Cong ress came or what the color of their skin, they all expressed their profound love for Israel. The fires began burning with fervency and earnest­ ness. It was my dear friend, Dr. William L. Pettingill, one of the edi­ tors of the Scofield Bible, who used to say, “Jews are like homing pigeons. A Jew has a mechanism in his heart. When the hour arrives, he will go back.” I have heard Jewish people, recently arrived in Pales­ tine, who have testified, “I don’t know why I came here; I was in Po­ land, and although my relatives are there, there was something which drove me irresistibly back to the land.” Dr. Leon Tucker, an outstanding Bible teacher, was once traveling in a Pullman where he heard two men, whom he recognized as Jews, dis­ cussing very openly the matter of the return of the Jews to the Holy Land because of the Balfour Dec­ laration. One of the men very proud­ ly boasted, “I don’t care what they do with that country or land. I spell my Palestine ‘U-S-A’. My capital city is not Jerusalem but WASHING­ TON.” He further avowed his com­ plete interest in this nation rather than the new Jewish homeland. Dr. Tucker excused himself and entered the conversation. “Do I understand that you are a Jew and disinterested in your people’s land?” The man was somewhat on the defensive; however, he affirmed his position. Then the man of God asked, “I want you to do me a couple of simple fa­ vors. First of all, reach out your right hand toward me.” Dr. Tucker said, “I’m not a palmist, but rather a Psalmist.” Then he continued, “Stick out your tongue.” Although the fellow thought he was trying to make light of him, he followed his simple instructions. After that, Dr.

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