The Columbus journal., 1908-06-10

Il
that the prophet was dying there
swept over him a sense of loss to the
nation which almost made him trem
bic. Thus moved, he had gone.
What a scene and experience that
had been. With the memory of the
death of his own father fresh in his
mind he had gone to the death cham
Der Of the prophet expecting to find
again that gloom. that despair, that
hopeleSsness which he had somehow
come to think was always part of the
death scene. but instead he had found
cheer instead of gloom, expectancy
and hopefulness instead of despair ami
hopelessness. Physical weakness there
was. and 1t was plain to see that the
sands of life were running out fast,
but there was a moral strength there
which told only too plainly that that
heeting life was conscious of being
linked with the eternal and that
though earth was passing the things
which the life had stood for would 20
on after he had passed away.
King Joash had run over in his mind
the comforting things he would try
to say. but as he had entered the
room where the old prophet lay and
had felt those quiet, earnest. search
Ing eyes fixed upon his face. he had
forgotten everything except that here
was man who rose above physical
weakness. and in that instant there
came to his mind a faint realization
that 1t was the character behind a
man after. all. and not physical
strength or worldly position, which
counted.
Intuitively he felt that the true
man stood revealed in the presence
OF death. and in that first moment
IN the prophets chamber there swept
over him the contrast between his own
father. fearful and helpless, and in ter.
ror of death, and this man of God
who. just on the borderland of eter.
nifty. gave no sign that he feared for
himself. but rather that he was not
only master Of himself but of others.
There was that quiet serenity and con-
fidence which betokened a mysterious
source of power. and instead of the
King commissioning with a dying sub
ject and speaking words of comfort.
he rather felt like child in the pres-
ence of its teacher receiving instruc-
ton.
To relieve the tenseness of that mo-
ment. he burst out with the cry:
%. my father. my father the char
lot of Israel and the horsemen
thereof
And throwing himself by the side |
Of the couch he gave way to weeping.
He wept. but not for the prophet,
as he had expected. but for himself.
There came to his heart a sense CT !
personal weakness and need which he |
had never felt before. but which the |
weak, stripped of superficial |
self-confidence. always feel in the
presence of goodness and moral \
strength. He remembered afterwards !;
thinking that if the coming into the
presence of the prophet of God could
affect him so. what would it be to
come into the very presence of God.
But that it was not time for idle
tears was evident. for in commanding
voice the prophet babe him rise, and,
to the corner of the chamber,
said, sternly:
Take the bow and arrows"
Submissive as child obeying its
parent. the king reached forth and
ook the bow and arrows in his hands,
and turned and looked at the prophet
with wondering eyes.
Put thine hand upon the bow"
He did so. and the prophet raising
himself upon his elbow. laid his griz-
lied old hand upon that of the young
r man, and then with a sudden earn
,st intensity he exclaimed:
open the window eastward and
shoot"
In a mechanical sort of way the
ing shot, little sensing the signifi-
'ance of the act until the prophet
ried. eagerly:
The arrow of the Lords deliver.
nee, and the arrow of deliverance
rom Syria; for thou shalt smite the
'yrians in Aphek till thou hast con-
umed them
The prophet eyed him with a
look and seemed disappoint-
d that the king did not manifest an !
spirit, for almost impa- E
iently he exclaimed: 4
Take the arrows and smite upon v
he ground" j
Never did King Joash forget the c
lords of reproach and grief which the
rophet spoke when he had smitten {
lree times and stayed. and years
fter when the third victory over the n
ing of Syria had been won he real t
led the significance of the prophets n
ords: Thou shouldest have smit- d
IN five or six times: then hadst thou Il
nitten Syria till thou hadst con- fl
lined it; whereas now thou shalt b
mite Syria but thrice" v
High License in San Francisco. c.