Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-27

Ahab. Wicked though he was. God had
tried to win him. He had shown mercy
to him by sending a prophet with the
news that He would give Benhadad his
enemy into his hand Ahab had fool
ishly let him. slip by. He had come
again against Ahab, and Ahab had
sought the help of Jehosaphat. The lat
ter, however, would not go down to
battle until he had sought Gods will.
-Four hundred prophets had told Ahab
to go and prophesied the greatest sue
cess. But Jehosaphat asked to have
prophet of the Lord speak and tell him
what Gods will was before he would
so.
Later in his life the Moabites and the
Ammonites. those perennial enemies OF
Gods people, rose up against him, Je-
hosaphat had great army well trained,
his cities were well garrisoned. he had
stores in abundance from which to
draw supplies If needed, for he had
prospered so that he had had to build
cities for storage purposes. He had ev-
erything that commander would want
to Mt him for a fight. But Jehosaphat
In one OF the most remarkable prayers
on record, remarkable for its child-like
simplicity and dependence upon God.
sought to know Gods will in the mat
ter before he would go a step. The an
swer 20 that prayer was also remark
able. The prophet told him to be quiet
1.-THE battle is not yours, but Jehovah's."
He had sought God, and God had as
su4fed all the responsibility.
This was the secret Of this remarkable
life-Jehosaphat sought jehovah his
heart scared after the ways of the
Lord: he desired more than all else to
know Gods will; he sought first the
Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
With what result?
JEHosAPHAT GAINS JEHOVAH
The result was that which will inev-
itably follow such seeking. He found
God. Therefore" the record is, the
Lord established his kingdom; He made
his enemies to be at peace with him.
God gave him riches and honor in
abundance. The people not only paid
their taxes, but made presents to him.
The Arabians gave him presents OF
sheep and cattle. from that which con-
stituted their treasure; the Phrlistines
brought him silver, preferring to gain
his favor than to incur his wrath His
wealth increased so that he had to
build castles and store cities to take
care OF 1t.
His people were happy and peaceful.
In order to make permanent the reliz-
ious reformation, He sent throughout
thNa whole country deputation OF
pr4ces. priests and Levites to teach
the people the word of God as they had
IL then. They must be fed with the
maintained. There is nothing more
needed today than that the Bible should
be taught TO our people. The only
hope for our nation to maintain its po-
-sition OF prominence and leadership IN
the world lies in righteousness ,tnat
will come TO II by a study of Gods
word. What we are today is the result
OF that study In the past wnen the
school house and the church occupied
the same building. and the Bible was
taught seven days in the week, the
greatest weakness of our public sen FOOLS
is the elimination from it's curriculum
of that Book which not only is the
best literature in the English language
but which has also the power or
strengthening the moral fiber of the
embryo citizen>o this republic. May
the day soon come when it shall be as
much a part of the curriculum OF every
school as is mathematics now.
Jehosaphat's mission to the nation
was in the line of his life; II was part
of the blessing God gave him, when
hovah.
these temporal things after which the
wording seeks were added to him. file
had riches and honor in abundance; he
had happy and peaceful people, he had
large army fortified cities; a navy,
and the honor, fear. and respect of his
neighbors. But he had what was FAR
better. He had God. He sought Je-
hovah, and he found Him. He desired
to know His will, and he learned TO
/ e. aFf a a
ways of God. and he found God. For
Jehovah was with Jehosaphat. His
presence provided all he needed, and
protected him in times of danger. Read
how God delivered him. This Is the
highest prosperity; this is possible TO
every man, woman and child VINO seeks
Jehovah with all his heart. Riches and
honor, the respect of neighbors, the
physical strength Of force are good In
their places, but they may be a posi-,
tive curse. Gods presence Is always a
hleuafnC ana A aufficfeuf