The National tribune., 1885-07-30
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties, Taught by a Study OF the Inter
national Sunday School Lesson, Appointed 70
81 XII 19. 1-1S

Il
lone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.l
We have reached the year 9O6 B. c. Ahab is
still King of Israel, and Jezebel his wife, is
yet alive. Three years and half of drouth
have been suffered. No rains have fallen. The
ground is DUST The earth has lost its green
ness The poor have suffered horribly. Now
the rich begin to feel the famine. Fodder is
wanting even for the royal stables. The Kings
steward, Obadiah, had been sent to go through
out the land in search of any places that could
be found for pasture and water. Just at this
nick of time God directs Elijah to have an in
terview with Ahab and to promise the recur-
renee of rain on certain conditions. Elijah
leaves Zarephath and Obadiah sets out from
Samaria. Somewhere, these two meet. They
recognize each other. Obadiah is very reveren-
tial. Elijah bids him inform Ahab of his pres
ence. 1t is evident Ahab was anxious to find
out the whereabouts of Elijah, either to solicit
him to stop the famine, or, possibly, to slay
him as being the supposed cause Obadiah fears
to inform the King. Partly, he feared, possibly,
for the life of Elijah. But the alleged and
prevailing cause of apprehension on Obadiah's
part was that God would take Elijah's part and
bear him away from the enraged Ahab; that,
when Ahab went forth, expecting to meet Eli
jah, not finding him, he would believe Obadiah
was deceiving him, or making mere sport of
him; that then Ahab would take the life of
Obadiah. Elijah assures the steward he will
surely meet Ahab. The King and the Prophet
are then brought face to face. At once the
King charges Elijah as the cause of Israers
famine. Elijah boldly retorts, laying all the
blame on Ahab's administration.
Now we have the facts, and are ready to
draw our practical applications.
1. The ministry should be brave men. God
orders Elijah to 60 to Ahab. He ventures into
the presence of the King, who for years has
been seeking him, probably with evil intent.
Meeting Ahab he boldly contradicts him, and
undauntedly accuses him of sins which &C.
count for all the troubles of Israel. At Cherith
and Zarephath, Elijah was only biding his
time. He did not hide because coward. He
was not afraid to preach the truth. Evidently
Shakspere lin Hanlet) did not have Elijah in
mind when he wrote as follows:
1--WE are Oft to blame in this
'Tis too much proved-that with deyotion's visage,
And pious action, we do sugar DER
The devil himself"
Says Mrs. Charles:
ITO know how to say what other people only
dare to say what others only dare to think makes
men martyrs Or reformers Or BOTH"
1t requires courage to stamp your foot and
say, as Galileo did: I" 1t does move. after all" !"
2. Fear God. 1t is declared of Obadiah, he
feared the Lord. (Vs 3, 12) There is a differ
ence between being afraid of God and fearing
God. A cringing dev0tee is a pitiable object.
But, there is no disputing the fact the Bible
appeals to our fears. God is our Father. As
children not only are we to love him, but also
to obey him. We should never grow so familiar
and presumptuous as not to heed Gods wishes.
He is omnipotent, and We can but fear to vio-
late his commandments. The more devout and
loving a Christian, the more he will hesitate to
offend God.
H. 81 r. III e.
measures Obadiah did well to rescue 100 of
Gods servants by furnishing safe hiding place
and sending them provisions. They who do
such favors have reason to expect Gods ap-
proval and reward. Obadiah had q right to
feel he deserved divine protection for his brave
and charitable deed.
4. Hiding and helping others to hide from
unjust pursuit are not to be criticised as un-
manly and unchristian. So, too, precaution
for ones life, as illustrated in the case of Oba-
diah, is becoming the good and even the brave.
5. Rulers should care for their subjects with,
at least, as great tenderness as they do for
their horses aud mules. We do not read that
Ahab did anything to relieve the poor during
the famine, but we find him securing the land
for pasture for his beasts.
6. Keep promises; be true; be not deceptive.
Elijah would not send Obadiah to announce
his coming, and then leave while Obadiah was
going to invite the King to an interview.
(Vs. s, 15.)
z. God troubles the evil. Providence is
against them. Famines are at Gods command.
The clouds move as he bids. He is to be feared
on account of his power. 1t is evident many
cattle even of the royal stables died. As Oba-
diah expected reward in the form of protection
on account of his good, so the wicked have
reason to fear punishment.
g. Ministers are not at fault for the evil con-
sequences of sin. 1t was not Elijah ". 1S)
who troubled Israel; it was God. The prophet
kept aloof from Ahabs kingdom. We suffer
on account of forsaking the commandents Of
God. Ahab's kingdom was troubled because
the people, led by their King, followed Baa-
linn. ". 49,
8. Obey God. He issues commands. (V. 49,
If his word come to you, ". 1,) go-go when he
commands-to whom, where, with whatever
orders he directs. Wait orders, even if three
and half years pass Be patient.
10. Good people may be servants of the evil.
Employees are not responsible for the moral
character of those whom they serve. Jo-
seph was in Phara0h's Court, Daniel in Neb-
uchadnezzars. Mordecai in Ahasurus's. If en-
plOyed by the evil set good example; never
compromise your religion; keep from their
bad practices.
IL. Away with excuses for neglecting relig-
ious duty! 1t was weakness of Obadiah, so
quickly to see danger in the way when Gods
prOpnet commanded.
IL. While avoiding such expressions, like,
GAS the Lord liveth," Tvs. 10, 49, uttered in a
careless, irreverential tone, it is permissible to
take the civil oath. ". I0) The last Article of
Religion of the Episcopal Church reads thus:
As.we confess that vain and rash swearing is for
hidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Religion doth not prohibit, but that man may
swear when the magistrate requireth, in a cause of
faith and charity so it be done according to the
Prophets teaching, in justice. judgment and truth
13. The evil cannot injure the good, save as
God permits. God can interpose, and often
does. So, he hid Elijah at Cherith and at Ia
rephath, while Ahab in vain searches for him.
And Obadiah thought God would again inter-
cept Ahab and bear Elijah away before Ahab
could reach the spot where he was.
Ia. Women should be devout The account
says Jezebel slew the Prophets. (Vs. a, 49,
As rule, few women are found to be against
religion. Jezebes are rare, so much SO the
word Jezebel is synonym for woman mon
strous in sin, outrageous in cruelty. Yet, we
remember, it was the religious element in Jeze-
bel which made her SO fierce-it was her 10y
atty to Baal. Woman is the great factor in
every religious movement. Would every Chris
tian woman was as faithful to Christ as Jezebel
was to Baal
15 Rejoice we live in land where no auto
crat rules; where no Ahab can, of his own will,
without trial or jury, condemn an Obadiah to
death; where the President cannot harm, to
the amount of even q cent, his humblest SUBJ
jsct, unless it be by due process of law.
Be glad, too, our Nation is so Christian.
Avoid all sins which may bring upon our land
anv nf1 icfiOD frDn he hand nf affa cd Daitv