The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-06-04
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
lesson For the Week Beginning june o
Comment by Rev. w. j. Yates, A. NJ.
Topic, The Trial and Tri-
umph of Prayer.

SCRIPTURE READING Kings xviii, 49-lo
At few periods in history has the
worship of the true God been more IN
popular than in the reign of Ahab, king
of Israel. After the revolt Of the ten
tribes, in the time of Rehoboam, the peo-
pie of the northern part of the land had
forsaken the temple worship of Jerusa-
lem Idolatry had increased under each
succeeding reign. Ahab, by marrying the
daughter of the king of Sidon, secured
brilliant political alliance, but sank his
people lower in moral iniquity. Jerebel
brought the worship of Baal from Sidon
and Ahab erected temple in Samaria
and planted an idolatrous grove for the
debasing worship of this vile deity.
Elijah, the prophet, denounced the
sins of the king and the people. The
queen put to death the prophets OF Je-
hovah as far as she could find them and
supported hundreds of the priests of
the false god at her own expense.
Elijah threatened drought and famine
for the wickedness of the nation. For
80 years no rain fell. The utmost dis
tress prevailed. The king sought Elijah
among all neighboring nations, but
could not find him. Finally the prophet,
at the command of Jehovah, met the
king and told him TO gather the people
of Israel and priests of Baal at Carmel.
A test was TO be made Of the spirit of
the people and their religious loyalty.
Most dramatic was the fire test pro-
posed by Elijah and accepted by the
Baalites. The "sun god," as Baal was
called, would naturally be expected to
answer the prayers of his people and
send fire to consume the sacrifice offered
to him. All in vain, however, were the
cries of his devotees for his help.
Elijah calls on Jehovah to send fire
and consume the bullock offered on His
altar. The fire comes and burns all.
The people shout their pledge of allie
glance TO the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Israel. At the command Of the prophet
the priests of the false god are slain.
Then comes the supreme test of faith.
Will the true God send rain on the
parcbed earth? Will the God of heaven
who has for long months shut the win
dows of the sky from dew and rain and
shown the people that Jehovah rules the
elements, and not the sun god Baal, will
this God now send showers and revive
the dry earth?
On the hillside of Carmel sits the
man of Jehovah with face between his
knees in silent, strong prayer, while
his servant seven times climbs the hill
top watching for signs of rain from the
great sea. At last the cloud rises, the
rain comes, the drought is broken, aud
harvests are assured The king rides to
Jezrael, the capital. Swifter than his
chariot horses is the fleet footed Elijah,
who, with belted robe, speeds ahead Of
the king.
Prayer has prevailed Prayer always
prevails. Blessings are not wrung from
an unwilling God by persistent petit
ton, but earnest expectancy and faith
prepare the human soul to receive the
benefits that the Heavenly Father is de-
sirous of bestowing. Jehovah prompts
the prayer as well as answers it. 1.-THE
effectual fervent prayer of righteous
man availeth much.