Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-07-01

ignominious death of Ahaziah as the
result of his fall during q drunken rev.
elry. and Jcram, another son OF A.hab.
had come to the throne without ANY,
apparent opposition, Elijah had indeed
been disappointed.
IL was then that he had spoken to
Elisha OF the commission God had
laid upon him to anoint Jehu king
over Israel. and only a few short
weeks after that he had been snatched
from earth to heaven. And ever since
that hour Elisha had been watching
intently the course of events IN Is
rael, conscious OF the solemn re-
sponsibility which Elijah had placed
upon him OF fulfilling the commission
to anoint Jehu king over Israel. Bat
as he had waited through the years
there had come no word or sign from
God. and his spirit was sore veked
by the delay. Then had come the
war with Syria, and the well-nigh NOR.
tai wounding of King Joram. Then
Elisha had said:
Now is the time come when Jehu
shall be anointed king over Israel, and
the Judgment of God will fall upon the
wicked house of Ahab."
In obedience to this conviction.
Elisha had FASTENED to Ramoth- Gilead
and was there when Jehu and tho
other captains of Israers army re-
turned. Day after day he had wait
ed, momentarily expecting the death
OF King Joram, and the arrival Of the
| suspicious moment when Gods word
would come to him to anoint Jehu
But Joram, TO the surprise Of every
| one, grew stronger and was finally
able to go to JeZreel to regain his
full health and vigor, and at last
as we have said Elisha had left Ra-
mothGilead for home, disappointed
and perplexed.
Then what struggle ensued in the
heart Of the prophet. Impatience and
doubt strove for the mastery. and
feverishly the prophet watched events
at Jezreel and at Ramoth Gilead The
reports from the former place were
that Joram was fast recovering from
his wounds, and the fact that Ahaziah.
king of Judah, went down to JeZresl to
visit Joram indicated a continuation
OF the alliance between the two kings
which would strengthen the hands of
| both.
King Joram at Jezreel also received
reports from Ramoth- Gilead which
were favorable; his captains to all out
ward appearances remaining loyal to
| him. In fact they had sent repeate d
messages to the king wishing him a
full recovery and a speedy return 20
Ramoth Gilead. True, there WAS smol-
dering in the breast of each captain
OF the kings hosts the fires OF dis
| loyalty, but each was fearful to show
his hand and be the first to take the
| step OF revolt. And while each
professed loyalty to the king and sent
messages to the king at Jezreel, each
was watching for the opportunity
which would give him the balance of
| power
! Thus matters stood when Elisha had
visited Ramoth- Gileads with the bur.
den of desire TO fulfill his commission.
but as he had waited there had come
no word from God and at last he had
departed from Ramoth- Gilead.
And what OF Jehu during these DAYS ?
While no hint had ever come to him
or the Divine word which had been
| spoken concerning him there had
grown up within him an Irresistible
ambition TO rule over the nation.
But" said he 10 himself. for he
dared not trust his condolences to anv
man, III this thing is to be IL must
De because God is in it, and l must
wait for him to open up the way. /
know the wickedness of the house of
Ahab and | know the Judgments which
God has spoken against them by the
mouth Of his prophet"
The presence OF the prophet I'm Ra-
moth-Gilead had filled him full of ex-
pectancy, but when news was brought
him that Elisha had finally left and
gone to his own city his hopes were
dashed to the ground, and he sum-
moned the other captains that they
might plan for the return of the king.
Tor said he, the king is making
good recovery and Ahaziah. king of
Judah, hath gone to visit him at Jez-
reel"
we are with thee In this thing. -
they all exclaimed with one accord
when they had come together. But
scarce had they begun their meeting
when there burst abruptly into their
midst young man Of most unusual
| appearance. his manner and dress be-
tokening that he belonged to the sons
OF the prophets. Every eye was fixed
upon him, as he exclaimed:
! have an errand To thee. O cap.
! tain"
Jehu felt the hot blood rush TO his
mead as he suddenly realized that his
call had come, but he managed to blurt
out:
Unto which OF us all, seeing we be
all captains OF the kings hosts"
To thee. o captain"
And he went with him, and when be
returned the consciousness that the
anenting oil from God was upCn him