Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-03-18
Lesson xII.-First Quarter, For
March 19, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


of those who bear His name, but 1t
encourages the ungOdly In their un-
godllncss In II Chron. XVI we read
that Asa. king Of Judah, was rebuked
by the Lord through IIanani the seer
because he relied upon Benhadad,
king Of Syria
II may have been that this fellow
ship Of Asa with him afterward en-
couragcd Bcnhadnd TO III treat Ahab,
king Of Israel, as he did, first demand
ing of him his silver and his gold and
his wives and children and then
threatening to send his servants to
search the houses of the king and his
servants and take away all their de-
sirable things verses .. g. Ahab
seems to have borne the first demand
with wOndrous submission, but the
second was too much. and Ahab by
the advice Of his elders so returned
answer to Benhadad This drew from
him 81 great threat. To which Ahab re-
piled in these words Let not him
that girdcth ON his harness boast him
self rs he that putteth II off" verse III.
We cannot but be impressed with
the pains which God takes TO win peo-
pie to Him and TO deliver them from
the wrath to como, anC we are amazed
10 see Him working even on behalf Of
such a one MS Ahab, But IL was all
for His great namesake that Ahab
might know Him as Jehovah verses
4 no I'll.
ana remember always II Pet. III. o.
What He has done for Israel in the
past and will yet do for them in the
future was and will he wholly for His
names sake that He may he known
and trusted CEZck. XXXvl. %; XXXyii,
2S: xxxviii. -: xxx. 2T-20 Even
10 this day He is wont to show Him
self strong on behalf of very unworthy
representatives II only lie may be
known through them rs the living
and true God. who loves to save and
Is not willing that any should perish.
The great hindrancc 20 His saving
and blessing people and showing Him
self strong on their behalf Is their I'M
willingness and unbelief. How often
He has had To say: "And We would
not lisa xviii. -; XXX. 10; Matt
xiii 81: John V. Im. My people
would not hcarlen TO My voice, and
Israel would none Of Me" "They be-
llevcd not IN God and trusted not in
His salvation" OPs. XXI, II; lxxviii.
o..
Ahab's record is. There was none
like unto Ahab, who did sell himself
to work wickedncss In the sight of the
Lord" chapters xxi, xXv). The only good
thing written of him is his penitence,
which caused the Lord TO delay iudg
ment on him Xxi. 27-29. And yet in
this lesson the Lord gave the Syrians
into his hand twice. though his people
were but few and the Syrians n great
host. He even caused a wall TO fall
upon $1,000 of the Syrians. Such "A
manifestation of the power of God o
behalf of such rs Ahab IS most M
usual. We must think not Of Ahay
hut Of Israel as the people of Cor
though in rebellion against Him. con
corning whom He said. How shall
give thee up. Ephraim? How shall
deliver thee Israeli llIoS III 81.
30 Israel. thou hast destroyed thy
self but in me is thine help" 20
Israel. return unto the Lord thy Cod
QIos. xiii. .; xiv. H.
As 10 the SyrianS. who We're nj this
time ovcrtnrown. 1t is plain that
drunkenness was one Of the sins of
their leaders for Benhadad and his
thirty-two royal comrades were drink
ing themselves drunken verses Mi 1Gl
even while they were boasting against
the God Of Israel II was not sinful
Israel that they were talking against,
but the wonder working God OF Israel.
who counts all that is done TO His
people however unworthy they may
be. as done To Himself CZech II. 81.
After the first defeat 81 the Syrians
they said that the God Of Israel was
God Of the hills. but not of the val
legs, and for this they suffered their
second defeat. though the children of
Israel were like two little flocks of
kids while the Syrians filled the coun-
try oversees -. %. The Lord loves
10 show Himself strong on behalf OF
all who trust in Him I'll Chron. xvi, %
But proud, naughty, self sufficient
people will always be overthrown.
There is nothing that develops the SELF
IN man like wine or strong drink. and
self or tine carnal mind is that part
Of MS that Is incorriglbly bad and can
never be improved Rom. viii, y. As
To the way In which wine or strong
drink works and some instances of
Il In the Scriptures the cases of
Noah, David and Uriah. Nabal. Elah
and others might he studied with prof
It Gen. il. 20. 81; II sam. ii. II: |
Sam. XIV. 30; | Kings xvi. %. The
record stands that drunkards shall not
inherit the kingdom OF God.
And even such guilty ones have
been and may still he saved. Then
there is that staggering and drunken
ness Of unhclief always To Ice consid-
cred I'm which neither wine nor strong