The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-03-02
LESSONS FROM EHUD.
DR.. Talmage on the Subject Of Is
rael's Deliverer.
His Divine Comm ssl01 to Destroy
an OppressGr-Denunc of
WOrshipcrs of MammOn,
Who ScO1 at Sin.

washington, Copyright, 1891
From scene in ancient story DR..
Talmage in this discouse draws les
sons as appropriate for this time as
they were appropriate for the time
when the event occurred many CEN
turies ago; text, Judges, 3:l5, "But
when the children of Israel cried unto
the Lord, the Lord raised them up a de-
liyerer. Ehud, the son of Gera, Ben
jamite, man left-handed; and by him
the children of Israel sent present un-
to Eg!on, the king of Moab"
Ehud was ruler in Israel. He was
left-handed, and what was peculiar
about the tribe of Benjamin, to which
he belonged, there were in it 700 left
handed men, and yet so deAtrous had
they all became in the use of the lef,
hand that the Bible says they could
sling stones at hairbreadth and not
miss. Well, there was king by tie
name of Eglon, who was an oppressor
of Israel. He imposed upon them
most outrageous tax. Ehud, the man
of whom first spoke, had Divine COM
mission to destroy that oppressor. He
came pretending that he was going to
pay the tax, and asked to see King Egg
Ion. He was told he was in the summer
house, the place to which the king re-
tired when it was too hot to sit in the
palace. This summer house was place
surrounded by flowers and trees and
springing fountains and warbling
birds. Ehud entered the summer house
and said to King Eglon that he had
secret errand with him. Immediately
all the attendants were waved out of
the royal presence. King Eglon rises
up to receive the messenger. Ehud, the
left-handed man, puts his left hand to
his right side. pulls out dagger and
thrusts Eglon through until the haft
went in after the blade. Eglon falls
and Ehud comes forth to blow trum-
pet of liberty amid the mountains of
Ephraim, and great host is marshaled,
and proud Moab submits to the con-
queror. and Israel is free. So, 0 Lord,
let all Thine enemies perish! So, O
Lord, let all Thy friends triumph!
learn first from this subject the
power of left-handed men. There are
some men who, by physical organiza-
tioI. have as much strength in their
left hand as in their right hand, but
there is something in the writing of
this text which implies that Ehud had
some defect in his right hand which
compelled him to use his left Oh, he
power of left-handed men! Genius is
| often self-0bservant, careful of itself,
not given to much toll. burning incense
to its own aggrandizement, while many
q man, with no natural endowments
actually defective in physical and men,
tai organization, has an earnestness for
the right, patient industry, an all-con.
suming perseverance, which achieve
marvels for the kingdom Of Christ
Though left-handed, as Ehud, they car
strike down sin as great and imperial
as Eglon.
] have seen men of wealth gathering
about them all their treasures, snuffing
at the cause of world lying in wicked
ness, roughly ordering Lazarus of
their doorstep, sending their dogs, no,
to lick his sores, but to hound him of
their premises; catching all the pur'
rain of Gods blessing into the stag
nant, ropy, frog-inhabited pool of thcil
own selfishness-right- men
worse than useless-whi!e many mai
with large heart and little purse ha
out of his limited means made povert,
leap for joy and started an infiuenc
that overspans the grave and will swing
round and round the throne OF CO.
!, world without end. Amen.
An, me! It is high time hat you lef
handed men, who have been longin,
for this gift and that eloquence and th
! other mans wealth, should take you
: left hand out of your pockets. VII
made all these railroads? Who set u
all these cities? Who started all thes
churches and schools and asylums
! Who has done the tugging and runnin
. and pulling? Men of no wonderful eI
Gowments, thousands of them acknow
edging themselves to be left-hande'
aud yet they were earnest, and y
tEey were determined, and yet the
were triumphant.
But do not suppose that Ehud, II
first time he took sling in his lie
hand, could throw stone at hal
" breadth and not miss. suppose, it WI
:. practice that gave him the wonderf
y dexterity. Go forth to your spheres
i d .ty and be not discouraged if, in yo'
y first attempts, you miss the mar
Ehud missed it. Take another ston
J put it carefully into the sling, swir
2 it around your head, take better ali
e and the next time you will strike /
{ center. The first time a mason rim
n his trowel upon the brick he does T.
r expect to put up perfect wall. i
first tine a carpenter sends the pla
over board or drives bit throu
!, beam he does not expect to make p'
y feet execution. The first time b
+ attempts rhyme he does not expect
q chime q "Lalla Rookh" or Q LADY
: z the Lale." Do not be surprised if
sorr firit efforts st doing good you Z