The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-01-20
OMRI AND
AHAB
Sunday School Lessen for jan. 22, 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper

GOLDEN observation-disclosures Ex-
tlteth a nation; but sin Is a reproach TO
my people."-Prov. A:3f.
TIME-Omri reigned IL years from B. c.
So Cor S93) to 925 Cor SS2). Abah, his son,
rom B. c. 925-904 (S6D.
| PLACE-They were kings OF Israel,
vAh their capital at Samaria-
In the thirty and first year of Ase
King of Judah began Omri to reign
over Israel. Omri was the general OF
lsrael's army in the unsettled and
.roublous times that followed Baa-
Jha's reign Before his call to be king
We know nothing about him. He was
the sixth king of Israel, and founded
he fourth dynasty, which lasted sixty
years, with four kings. When first
/ brought to notice he was fighting for
his country against the Philistines al
Sibbethon. Another general named
Timri was put forward as king, and
here was war for several years be
tween these two warriors. Finally
Omri had full possession of the king
dom.
His first work was to choose bet
Ter site for his capital, for Tirzah had
doubtless been injured in the siege,
and its location was not the best foi
defense. He bought the hill Samaria
for his capital This choice proved
ais sagacity as general and states
man. The superior strategic position
IF Samaria, a conical hill standing 400
'eet above the base of the broad val
ley, is evidenced by the long siege
which it endured. and the stout resist
,nce which 1t offered to the armies of
Sargon.
Omri wrought evil. We are not told
he particulars of Omri's sin, but Mi
eah says: For the statutes OF Omri
are kept" I'VE cannot doubt that
these statutes of Omri were measures
adopted for more completely isolating
the people OF Israel from the services
Of the house of the Lord at Jerusalem,
and of perpetuating-per of in
oreasing-their idolatrous practices"
Men thought him rich and prosperous,
but God looks on the heart and not
on outward appearances.
The retribution for Omri's course
did not come all at once for the ma
ton, but the seeds of ruin were com
Ing up like upas trees. Ahab, the son
Of Omri, followed his father Omri in
his military traditions and prowess;
but still more In the idolatrous ten
denotes, the debased morality, the al
lance with heather nations, the neg
lect of true religion, the downward
course toward ruin, which character
lied Omri's reign. Instead of being
a positive, creative force for good. he
sailed with the downward tide, as
boat without engine or rover dowr
the rapids of Niagara toward the falls.
TT takes live fish to swim up stream"
"A boys will is the winds will"
Ahab was man not destitute OF
ability, not devoid of patriotism, not
wanting in courage, at times not un
kingly, but perfectly Indifferent to the
obligations under which he lay as
ruler of a nation which God had taken
into covenant with himself" He was
egotistical, covetous, selfish, cruel, the
worst of Israers evil kings. He took
to wife Jezebel. the daughter of Eth
baal.
The shadow OF Queen Jezebel falls
dark for many years over the history
OF Israel and Judah She was one OF
those masterful, indomitable, implac
able women who, when fate places
them in exalted power, leave terri
BILE mark on the annals of nations
What the Empress Irene was in the
history of Constantinople, or the She
wolf of France in that of England
or Catherine de Medici In that OF
France, that Jezebel was in the his
tory of Palestine.
Jezebel stands out on the page OF
sacred history as the first supporter
OF religious persecution. Such fanat
icism is a frequent concomitant Of
guilt. She is the authentic authoress
of priestly inquisitions. If no king
so completely sold himself to work
wickedness" as Ahab, it was because
"Jezebel his wife stirred him up"
He went and served Baal, and wor
shipped him. The downward course
of religion is marked IL not measured
by the fact that while Solomon al.
lowed his heather wives to worship
their gods, but did not join in the wor
ship, Ahab rejected Jehovah by join:
ing his wife in worshiping the idol.
1t is of the utmost importance to
avoid false friendships and compan
ionship with the bad. Every power
for good in true friendship is power
for evil in the false. Our environ
ment, the persons with whom we come
In contact, especially If we admire
them. are among the most potent fac.
tors for good or evil in our lives. A
great deal of evil comes from false
friendship. The danger is doubly
great because 1t comes under the
guise of friendliness-a wolf in sleeps
clothing. Give me-" says one, 70
roaring devil rather than a sleeping
one; for sleeping devil makes me
slumber, but roaring ones provoke me
to run to my Master"
Many are ruined by bad com
panionshipi How large part OF
drunkenness comes from the custom
of social drinking! How many are