The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-17
l Kings 90: 1871.
A TEMPERANCE LESSON.
Golden Text.

Golden Text
For temperance lesson the Inter-
national Committee has selected the
story Of an event in the life of Ahah,
It happened some time after Elijah's
Eight to Horeb and return. 3en-ha-
dad, king OF Syria, came UP against
Israel and laid Siege to the capital
city, Samaria- He had with him thirty
two vassai kings and a great host, and
he felt that he had nothing to do but
sit down before The city and wait for
things 20 come his way Meanwhile
he and bis companions could have a
jolly time.
In true Oriental fashion Ben-hadad
sent messengers 10 Ahah Offering TO
raise the siege In return for money
and hostages. Ahab consented 20 read
lily that the kings greed was excited
and he sent back further demand
that the city be turned over 10 his
holders Tor plumber. This Ahab
after consulting with his counsellors.
refused, whereupon Ben-hadad grew
hot and told the messengers to go
back and tell Israel's king that what
he would leave OF Samaria when he
was through with IL would not amount
20 handful Of dust for each soldier
in the Syrian army.
LET not him that girdeth ON his
arnor boast as he that putteth IT on"
replied Ahab. quoting a wise old pro-
verb.
The Lesson Text In Everyday
Dress
When Ben-hadad received Ahab's
message he was drinking with his
companions in his tent Turning TO
an officer he gave orders for the army
10 advance against the city and then
went back 10 his cus. Meanwhile a
tErr haA
him that Jehovah would deliver Ben
hadad's great army into his hand. Not,
indeed, for Ahab's glory but that he
might know that Jehovah was the true
tod. by whom shall this great vic
tory be won?" asked Ahab. by the
young men in attendance upon the
princes Of the provinces" answered
the prophet who shall begin the
battle" Gam. Revised Version.)
Thou said the prophet.
The forces were mustered and there
were but 232 OF the young men and
1000 soldiers. 1t looked suicidal for
q mere handful to go out against the
great host OF Ben-hadad, but they
went. 1t happened that Ben-hadad
was drinking himself drunk" In his
tent--he and his thirty-two vassal
princes. For the sake OF his appetite
he had put himself out OF comm ission
and was unable to command his army.
And the Tassal princes were apparent
iy in the same condition. The young
men went out first. When the drunk
en- king heard OF their advance he
only shouted. Take them alivel" and
went on with his drinking. His poor
befuddled brain could not take in the
situation. A moment later and the
Syrian army was in full flight and the
King himself barely escaped with his
life.
The Heart Of tiR Lesson.
God takes q handful OF brave fell
lows who are in the right and wins
who are I'm the wrong. This in SEN
tcnca is the story OF the victory won
mt Samaria. This in a sentence is the
story OF all the great victories that
God wrought for Israel The teaching
~ that Ii is not by human might but
by the power of God that victories are
TO be won over evil: that II God Is
on our side ii makes no difference who
IN on the other side, and that God is
always ON the side Of the right.
The right side 10 the strong side
and the wrong side IS the weak side
everywhere In life. For the right side
is upheld by the power of God and the
wrong side is held down by sin as a
milestone about the neck. Here is a
little handful of soldiers led by few
brave young men who are strong in
the consciousness that they are fight
ing for their homes and their country
and that their God IL with them. Yon-
der Is q vast multitude of plunderers
bent on having q jolly time and car
rying home all they can lay their
hands on. led by dissipated king who
= IL hardly able 10 save his own neck.
The result is inevitable. There is
right against wrong. There Ia man.
hood against self induiEence. There In
a high motive against low appetite.
There Is strength against weakness.
There Is pure conscience against
observation-disclosures. There lis Ged
against Satan.
No nation can hold its own In the
war Of life with the milestone of self
Indulgence tied about its neck. No
man can hold his own in the war OF
life with the milestone OF selc-indnl-
gence tied about hts neck. He Is the
most helpless Of all mortals. lie is
weak In body. In mind. in spirit. lie
is on the wrong side and he knows 1t.
and the consciousness of his position