Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-01-27
LESSONS FROM EHUD.
Dr.. Talmage on the Subject of Is
rael's Deliverer.
His Divine Commission to Destroy
an OpDressGr-Denunc OF
WOrshipcrs of hfammon,
Who ScoR at Sin.

they were appropriate for the time
when the event occurred many CEN
turtles ago; text. Judges. 3:15, 'But
when the children of Israel cried unto
the Lord, the Lord raised them up de-
iverer. Ehud. the son of Gera, Ben
Jamie, man left-handed; and by him
the children of Israel sent a present IN
to Eglon, the king of Moab"
Ehud was a 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 dextrous had
they all became in the use of the left
hand that the Bible says they could
sling stones at a hairbreadth and not
miss. Well. there was a king by the
name of Eglon. who was an oppressor
OF Israel. He imposed upon them a
most outrageous tax. Ehud, the man
of whom first spoke, had a 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 a place
surrounded by flowers and trees and
springing fountains and warbiing
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. Egion falls
and Ehud comes forth to blow trun-
pct 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. o Lord,
let all Thine enemies perishi 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-
ton, 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 in0 his right hand which
compelled him to use his left. Oh, he
power of left-handed men! Genius is
often self-observant, careful of itself,
not given to much toll. burning incense
to its own aggrandizem ent, while many
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 Christs
Though left-handed. as Ehud, they can
strike down a sin as great and imperial
as Eglon.
] have seen men of wealth gathering
about them all their treasures. lifting
at the cause of a world lying in wicked
ness, roughly ordering lazarus off
their doorstep, sending their dogs, not
to lick his sores, But to hound him off
their premises; catching all the pure
rain of Gods blessing into the stag
nant, roPy, froginha bited pool of their
own ight-handed men,
worse than jacksonville many a man
with large heart and little purse has
out of his limited means made poverty
leap for joy and started an influence
that overspans the grave and will swing
round and round the throne of God
world without end. Amen.
All. me! 1t is high time hat you left
handed men. who have been longing
for this gift aud that eloquence and the
other mans wealth. should take your
left hand out of your pockets. Who
made all these railroads? Who set up
all these cities? Who started all these
churches and schools and asylums?
Who has done the Juggling and running
and pulling? Men of no wonderful en-
dowments, thousands of them aclSnowl-
edging themselves to be ieft-handed,
and yet they were earnest, and yet
they were determined. and yet they
were triumphant.
But I do not suppose that Ehud. the
first time he took a sling in his left
hand, could throw a stone at hair
breadth and not miss. l suppose it was
practice that gave him the wonderful
dexterity. Go forth to your spheres of
duty and be not discouraged if, in your
first attempts. you miss the mark.
Ehud missed it. Take another stone.
put it carefully into the sling, swing
1t around your head, take better aim.
and the next time you will strike the
center. The first time a mason rings
his trowel upon the brick he does not
expect to put up perfect wall The
first time carpenter sends the plane
over a board or drives a bit through
q beam he does not expect 10 make per-
feet execution. The first time boy
attempts a rhyme he does not expect to
chime a "Lalla Rookh" or Lady of
the Lake." Do not be surprised if in
your first efforts at doing good you are
not very largely successful. Under
stand that usefulness is an art.
science, trade. There was an ocuiist
performing very difficult operation on
the human eye. A young doctor stood
by and said: How easily you do that:
f. don't seem to cause you any trouble