El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-12-07

Rev. Hall preached from II Chronicles
XVIII :33. ''And a certain man drew a
bow at a venture and smote the king
of Israel between the joints of the
harness." These words were spoken
concerning the wicked King Abab who
did more than any ruler of Israel to
bring himself and nation into disfavor
with God. He was exceedingly
covetOus and no considerations of right
and justice were allowed to stand in
the way of the qualification of his
nation. There was Nd leg slature, other
body or person to whom the king wss
responsible or to whom the people
might appeal. Consequently the d. sire
of the king was practically the desire
of his subjects. When the king desir-
ed property belonging to subject, the
latter was put to death and his pro-
perty con6scated as in the case of
Naboth whose vineyard the king
advice of his wife the desperately
wicked Queen Iezebel. 1t was the
covetousness of the king that led him
into war for the capture of RamOth
Gilead stu sted just across the river
Jordan from his own dOminions and
which had formerly belonged 10 Israel
but was wressed from them by force of
arms. God did not app owe of the at
tempt. However, the king of Judah,
JehOshaphas, had offered to join his
forces with those of Ahab and all
seemed we'll, but before starting
Jehoshaphat desired to learn the will
of God in the matter. Four hundred
false prophets desiring to curry favor
with the king and knowing his desires
had said: go up; for God will deliver
it into the kings hand" At the re-
quest of Jehoshaphat Micaiah the true
prophet was called and in q parable
Ramoth Gilead In this case as in many
the great majority of the people and
the noise and enthusiasm were on the
side against God, Against the four hun
dred cowardly, cringing, lying prophets
there was but one true prophet having
the cou -sge to declare the will of God
and warn the king and people though
his own life might be taken for oppos-
ing the kings desire. 1t was the one
small voice against the great tumult
but God dos not work as man works
He works mostly without noise and
| through the forces of nature. So the
kings with their armies proceeded to
the field of battle. Ahab thinking to
escape from the fate which had been
prophesied disguised hi pse'f as a COM
| mon soldier while King Jehosahph at
wore DIS royal roOeS. Bat ADaO
disguise could not save him from the
| sentence thst God had passed upon
him. In the midst of the clash aud
tumult of the battle we re told a
soldier drew a bow at venture aud
| smote the king of Israel between The
join of bis harness. While that shot
was at a ventu or an accident so fay
as the soldier was concerned God was
directing it and m ade the random shot
| to serve his purpose and to carry GU
his wi |. In the eyes of God there are
! no accidents but all things are msde tc
serve in the fulfillment of his purpose
This wicked king, who had done sc
much to degrade Israel to such leve
| hat God could not even consent &c
trust q heather nation to tn ir rule
could not hide from God even in hi.
disguise and in the excitement of /,
great battle.
AT the close of the sermon two joinet
the church by letter and one probation
er ives received into full membership
At this church the congregations ar,
inc easing and encouraging reports az
received from every branch of tn
work.