The Yale expositor., 1911-03-16
DEFEAT THROUGH
DRUNKENNESS
Sunday School Lesson for Mar. IS, 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper

or Eli1ah'S mission.
PLACE-The Syrian kingdom. with its
capital at Damascus. adjoined Israel on
the north. At this period not long before
the revived Assyrian power and aggres-
sion came I'm contact with Israel, Syria
under Benhadad III was the most powerful
nation on the Mediterranean coast. AMI
was normally bitter enemy of northern
Israel 1t was always a group OF related.
but not united. petty Kingdoms or tribes.
Benhadad, the Syrian king, gathered
together the 32 kings of the smaller
tribes allied to his kingdom and made
an overpowerlng raid upon Israel, de-
stroying villages and farms and or
chards. paralyZing business, ravaging
the homes and driving the people to
the more strongly fortified towns.
They were like "a tempest Of hail, a
destroying storm, q food OF mighty
waters overlooking. an overwhelming
scourge." These epithets describe In
vivid speech the irresistible violence,
the devastating force with which the
Syrians were about to overwhelm
them. 1t is almost impossible for us
to realize the devastating power of
such half-savage hordes who lived
upon the country, who ravaged vii
lagos, who murdered women and chill
dren, who had an unrestrained power.
They were worse than the ten plaques
of Egypt
What the invaders sought was the
wealth, the harvests and all kinds of
valuables, without paying for them,
and entirely without regard to the wei
fare of the people. Into our goodly
country Intemperance, from drinking
alcoholic liquors, has come and is do
ing our country more damage, to it's
people, TO it's wealth and prosperity.
than the Syrians did to Palestine, the
Promised Land. by their invasion.
King Alcohol comes with an army of
tributaries and allies, such as the 240,.
600 saloons, the distilleries, breweries,
hotels, clubs. personal invitations to
drink, advertisements in magazines
and papers, cocaine and opium habits.
All invading us for the sake of their
own personal gain at the expense OF
the community.
When the invaders had reached the
capital with their army and horses
and chariots in an unresisted march,
Benhadad sent messengers TO Ahab
demanding that he yield up his throne,
which is implied in his imperious con
ceit of power; Thy silver and thy gold
Is mine; thy wives also and thy chill.
dren, even the goodliest, are mine. And
Ahab was so overwhelmed at the
power backing the demand that he
basely yielded and replied: My lord,
o king, according to thy saying, | am
thine, and all that | have. Such are
the demands of King Alcohol!
The cost Of liquors each year in this
country is nearly $1,400,000,000 The
drink bill in England in 1908 was over
$500 100000. Take the national liquor
bill and divide it by the number of
saloons and S5,945 becomes the aver
age cost to the people OF each saloon.
On the average the saloon pays back
for nation, state and city taxes $500.
This $500 Is eagerly taken from a
grateful country in lieu Of $5,945. Thus
King Alcohol demands our homes. our
wives, our husbands, our silver and
gold And we have yielded too easily
to its demands.
Benhadad then sent word that his
officers were coming and would search
Ahab's house for every pleasant thing
he had and would take it away. And
not only Ahab's house, but the houses
OF his officers and leaders. This caused
a revolt. The king summoned his
leading people to conference and
they decided not to yield to the de-
mands of Benhadad. The weak Ahab
declared that for himself he would
yield all he had promised, but he must
deny the increased demand.
King Alcohol became so greedy In
his demands, the results of his evil
work became so great, that the people
were aroused in indignation against
him. At first II was agreed to allow
wine and beer and moderate drinking
but to resist the ravages OF the more
fiery drinks. But this was failure
Temperance societies were formed
Local and state prohibition were in
augurated. Investigations made
Pledges taken.
In their great distress a prophet
came to King Ahab with a message
from Jehovah: Hast thou seen all this
great multitude? l will deliver IL into
thine hand this day. Why? And thou
shalt know I am the Lord. The vic
tory was wrought to bring them back
to the true God, to obedience and wor
ship; which was vastly more impor
tant to their true welfare than the
loss of all their property could have
been.
And Ahab said, BY whom? And he
said, Thus saith the Lord, by the
young men OF the princes of the prov
inces. Who shall order the battle
And he answered. thou-the king. the
head of the nation. He numbered
mustered, 232 OF the young princes
God, the true religion. is the one
source OF victory over the power o.
intemperance. Religious motives anC
inspiration, love of God and love e
man, the spirit Of service, loyalty e
the coming of the kingdom Of Cod
these are the sources of salvation