The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-07-23
SABBATH MEDITATION.


course for them to pursue.-Loadon Press.
SABBATH MEDITATION.
Practical Duties, Taught by Study of the Inter.
national Sunday School Lesson for July ss.-
Ki., IL: Lie.
lone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.
In the year $40. B. c., Elijah makes mis- ap-
pearance as a Prophet in Israel No one knows
his origin, and, So some have imagined he was
not human, but an angel in the body or form
of man. But st. James shows this is untrue,
declaring of Elijah, :" He was man subject to
like passions as we are" (5:17.) At Elijah's
debut Ahab had been King of Israel eight years;
Asa, King of Judah, had been dead seven years,
and was succeeded by Jehoshaphat. Abab's
capital was Samaria. With his wife, Jezebel, he
is luxuriating in his ivory palace. Idolatry
had been established. Elegant temples had been
constructed and dedicated to Baal. God was
ignored and insulted. He determined to punish
Israel by a terrible famine. Rain ceases. Fear
full want is experienced save at the palace and
the more wealthy homes. OF day, man,
strange in looks, with mantle, girdle and
staff, having long, flowing beard, is seen ap-
preaching the palace. Boldly he gains access,
and, with authority, he declares to Ahab the
calamtOus effects of the national sin of idolatry
-foretells the famine. Ahab and Jezebel rage
in fury. Elijah knowing his life is in peril,
seeks hiding-place in the wady Cherith, q
mountain ravine, emptying into the Jordan
from the east. He remained there, fed by
ravens, till the brook dried up. Then he went
away across the northern part of the Kingdom
of Israel to Zarephath, which was between
Tyre and Sidon, in Phenieia ruled over by the
father of Jezebel. There he was furnished
food, jointly with widow and her son, for a
long time by the miraculous increase of meal
and oil.
Now, let US see what practical thoughts We
can gather from our study:
i. Ministers should be brave. They should
not cover before Kings. 1t was task for the
man of God to carry such message to such q
man, and that specially when his wife was Jeze-
bel. We are not responsible for living or dying !;
we are for duty.
2. Remember, sin cannot be committed with
out certain fetribution. Sins find out men.
Kings cannot favor idolatry, or any sin against
God. and keep their thrones intact. Wide ex-
tended famines may often bear relation to
national wickedneSs. God commands the clouds
and the birds and all material agencies, and
can hardly use them more properly than in
indicating justice, unfolding law, rewarding
Integrity pursuing WlckeuueSS- we cannon
sin without God knowing it, and God will not
know it and keep still.
3. 1t is right to protect our lives in times of
danger by concealing our persons. God told
Elijah to go and hide himself Even disguise
for the purpose of throwing evil persons off
their track when pursuing you, if you be inno-
cent, are justifable. God has furnished the
lower animals with power to mislead pursuers.
A. We should be very careful in the use of
cuPh concessions q Z" As the ord Cod
hveth." (See VS.. 1, 12) Both Elijah and the
widow use the words. We see, however, they
employ them sOlemnly. reverentially; not care
lessly. One needs to watch himself or, by de-
greeS, from mere heedlessness he will FUN into
vulgarity and blasphemy.
5. Obey God. Elijah was commanded to leave
Samaria and go to Cherith, and he did so.
Again, God babe him leave Cherith and go to
Zarephath, and at once he is on the road.
Obey, even if you cannot see the reason of the
order. Obey, even if you see many obstacles
and objections. You will find ravens at Che
rith. and bread and oil at the widows house.
6. Be hospitable. (Ro, 12: 10; Titus, 1: 8;
L Pet, A: 81 Love to entertain Do not be
grudging in your reception of company. Ac-
cording to your ability, or according to the
needs of guest, be liberal.
z. Do not fear to give. You will not lose in
the end. Even ravens may reach point
where they forget their own nervousness.
Invest with God by kind deeds. Practice self
denial for others and you will not be losers.
1t is safe to lend to God. What you do to the
least of Christ's followers you do to or for God,
and God has a good memory and an ample
treasury, and is always true and equal to his
promises.
s. Let God have the first fruits of your offer
ings. Elijah directed the widow to give some
cake to him first. When we have money, we
ought not to pay everybody else before we do
God; give to every other purpose before we do
to the church satisfy ourselves first, and if
anything be left, cast some of it into Gods
treasury. Our moneys would all go further, if,
in every case, we presented the first fruits to
some sacred purpose.
9. Rely on Gods threats and promises Rain
and famine come, if he say SO. Ravens will
feed you, if God tell you to trust them. Meal
and oil hold out for years, if God promise you
such support.
TO- See the office of faith Elijah trusted his
character on Gods threat of drought; he fully
believed the ravens would circle around him
and spread table for him in the wilderness;
he had such confidence in Gods promise that
he told the widow she might live many months
ON food too little to satisfy for single meal for
one person. Says Shakspere, in Measure for
Measure:
"Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win.
By fearing to attempt
1t is shame to Christianity that J. J. Jen-
kins can say
Faith hath a less lively illustration in the
churches than in the drug stores where patent
medicines are sold"
IL. Depend on God. We can never reach ex-
tremes beyond his power to aid. YoI are in
great danger as to life; ne can direct to a ravine
or to Zarephath. Without the ordinary pro-
cess by which grain grows, he can increase your
meal By his blessing, a small earthern jar Of
OIL with its narrow-necked spout, is as good as
a tank. The very animals are subject to his
command. Ravens forget their voraciousness
and carry food to Prophet Five leaves and
two fishes supply food in overplus for more than
5000 persons. Seven loaves and few little
fishes spread table so bountifully that 4, 600
persons are unable to exhaust it. Thinking
of the ravens and Elijah, we recall tho story Of
Remus and Romulus saved from death by the
she wolf. Then we read that when the milk
failed, woodpecker bird sacred to Mars)
brought food, and other birds lowered over the
babes to drive away the insects. Tho animal
(bruteJ kingdom are subject TO men and best
serve their end as they bless humanity. In
Gods plan, everything of earth is subordinate
to human comfort.
A disease of so delicate nature as
structure of the urethra should only be en-
trusted tn those of large experience and skill.