Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-23
TONIC FOR DIscoURAGEMENT
Rev. w. H. Rider Preserlbes Biblical
Antidote for the Worried Soul

Modern phrase would put 1t thus:
You're not the only pebble on the
beach! and the government at Wash
ington still moves on!'" said DIR. w. H.
Rider last evening, referring to Elijah
Of old.
The subject of DR.. Riders sermon in
the Westlake Methodist Episcopal
church was Gods Encouragement of
Elijah" He said in part:
Every Woodworking earnest soul in
this world-no exceptions, so far as we
know-has hours of disbursement and
gloom. Gladstone said to Lord Hough-
ton, I am tired out; am leading
dogs life!' With a wise sympathy
Houghton said, "a St. Bernard dogs
life He lifted the Grand Old Man out
Of his dependency.
elijah had spell of the same kind,
only 1t was far more severe and lasted
longer. His was brave spirit. He
fought the syncretism, that Is, the
mixed worship of ancient Israel. declar-
ing that Jehovah was the only God
for his people. Other peoples might
have other gods If they pleased, but for
him and his nation there were to be no
other gods before Jehovah.
" If the Lord be God, serve Him, and
If Baal be God, serve him. This was
his cry and he brought matters to an
Issue. Hence the pageantry on Carmel
and Staying Of the priests of Baal. This
displeased Jezebel, Ahab's wife, and she
sent word to Elijah, TIL have your head
off your shoulders before many hours,
depend upon it, The brave old pro-
phet, tired out, nervously exhausted,
champion and hero, though he was,
daring Ahab and all his cohort, now de-
jected and thoroughly disheartened, fled
from this woman, Jezebel, to the south
country, Beersheba and Horeb.
Here was a case of the deepest de-
spondency. How did God treat 1t? To
answer is to give the real inspiration
of this story; to reveal the purpose OF
it's writer. Note the steps taken. God
puts him asleep. Natures sweet re-
storer, balmy sleep. Then He gives the
old seer a good square meal. What!
do you say this is at least in part, God
recipe for a discouraged soul? Pre-
cisely so. Then He gives His child an
opportunity to commune with nature'
which means communion with God. He
adds mental food to physical refresh
ment Storm, earthquake and fire play
their part-great drama.
But God is not in this demonstra-
ton. though back of 1t. He is in the
still small voice. What is the lesson?
If God Himself were putting 1t In our
poor human speech 1t would be some
thing like this: Elijah. do not depend
on physical demonstration to advance
the kingdom of truth. Your GARNER
business did not work. You saw It,
then became disheartened, and here
you are pining, complaining, 80 unlike
your better self. Truth does not de-
pend on earthquakes. blood and fire.
Truth Is in a voice. n human voice, a
divine voice; the divine in the human;
voice of truth, love and sympathy
Try that, my prophet, and the prop
lens of life will yield to solution.
"Then is added commission OF
hopeful service. Go anoint your sue
cessor, Elisha, and go anoint new
king. Prophecy lives, the church lives
the government moves on, the work
ers die and the work goes on. An, ELL
iah YOU said you were the only one
left who was Jealous for Jehovah. Take
it back. There are seven thousand
who have not bowed the knee to Baal.'