The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-10-27
| q Elisha at Dothan

NeXt.to an actual defeat for a COM
handing officer is the humiliation of
having his strategic movements an
ticipated by,his enemy. Here is an
old Bible story of how a certain king
of Syrlalwas thus put to confusion.
He said in the secrecy of his council
of war, IL will make an ambuscade
for the unwary Israelites at such and
such a point" But his intended vic
tins evaded his well-made p.
Again he said, Il will make preda-
tory incursion.upon the enemy's ter
ritOry at suchs and such a point.
But, behold, to his confusion he
found the Israelites entrenched at
that very point, at the very hour, in
overwhelming numbers and in battle
array.
The quaint narrative says this oc-
Cured not once nor twice. 1t hap
pened continually and persistently.
So much so that the king knew it
could not be coincidence. He could
only account for it by treason among
his staff officers. So he cried in rage,
who of us is for the king Of Israeli"
Someone in Benhadad's council of
war knew how the enemy was in
formed of the Syrian's movements,
for he said, There is no traitor
among us, o king, but Elisha, the
prophet, that is in Israel, telleth the
king of Israel the words that thou
speakest in thy bed-chamber.n Ben
hadad showed characteristic obtuse-
ness of q heather when he undertook
to cope with the infinite power and
wisdom of God. AS if the Omnisci-
ence which had kept Elisha informed
of the kings secrets could not ac-
quaint him with the danger of his
own person. AS if Omnipotence could
not rescue him,
At break of day the prophe6 and
his servant go to the hilltop to pray.
They look down at Dothan, nesting
there on the bench of the hill, an en-
blem of peace and security. The keen
eye of the young man pierces beyond
the city wall and.through the gray of
the morning. His eye dilates with
wonder. His cheek blanches, with
fear. What has he seen? The city
invested, the Syrian cohorts gleam-
ing with purple and gold and the
sheen of their spears! There stand
the chariots of brass, with the pitiless
sickle-blades in their wheels. 1t
would be a forlorn hope that would
cast itself against the impene trable
living fortress. A cry escapes the
young mans lips, Alas my master,
How shall we do?'' The prophet does
not upbraid his timorous servant.
He has a kindly sympathy. He is So
licitous that he shall be confirmed
and established.
The prophet himself is fearless.
His faith is as immovable as the
mountain on which he stands, But
this triumphant courage was not
born of an instant-it is an evolution
of years. He has witnessed the faith
fulness of God in the EN- ergencies of
the sixty-three years in which he has
held the prophetic office. How con-
tidently can he say to his trembling
servant at his side, Fear not, for
they that be with us are more than
they that be with them" The pro-
phet commends his servant to God.
He asks for him that which he does
not need for himself-some visible
manifestation of Divine power to off
set the brave array of the enemy.
Lord, | pray Thee open his eyes that
he may see.n
The prophets prayer is quickly
and graciously answered. The pro-
tectiye forces of grace and providence
for the time take Visible and martial
form. 1t is brilliant and inspiring
panorama. Pictures of flaming char
lots with angel. characters move be-
fore the wondering eyes of the proph-
cts servant, seraphic guards mass
about the two who stand so solitary
and defenseless on the mountain top
Again it is shown that the unseen is
real, the invisible the mighty.
How changed the scene! These rocks,
that lately lay
Opaque and dun beneath the sky,
Are robed in glory that outshines the sun.
Embattled legions grid the prophet round
With blazoned banners and heaven tenn
pered spears.
Horses and chariots, in whose fiery sheen,
The pomp of Syria's army but appears
Like a dim candle in the MONDAY blaze:
The mount is full of angels"
The Teachers Lantern.
Benhadad and his secrets discover
ed is parable of the human soul sur
prised that God can find it out.
This incident remarkably illustra-
ties the omniscience of God. The
Syrian monarch, in the seclusion of
his harem-in his palace at Damas-
Gus, as he lay on his ivory couch.