River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-03-16
/ GLDTE$TAnENT IIrlES
N1IBROKHY D.
'f7lABER'!NSACtF
IM BIBLE STUDIES.
DEFEAT THROUGH DRUNKEN
NESS
Kings 2o:I2-2I-March 10

n O-DAY'S lesson recounts an IN
" vasion of the land of Israel
by King Benhadad, overload of
Syria, who had under him thirty
two kings of Syria ard large
army. Warfare in those days, of
course, was very different from what
it is to-day. The numbers in con-
1ict were fewer and their weapons
inferior. Their motive was plum
der. They would take back with
them, not only the gold and silver
and other valuables, but fruits,
grains, etc.
Our day witnesses considerable
advance along the lines of diploma
cy Wars and invasions now are
always based upon some philan-
thropic motive-to free people from
bad government, or to compel them
to pay their debts, or to open up
their country to civilization, or to
give them more responsible and
representative government, or great
er freedom of religion. Robbery
and pillage, by an invading army,
are reprobated. Whatever is taken
from the conquered people must be
obtained in a differant manner-by
the 1evying of an idemnity fund,
amounting to far more than could
be stolen by the looting processes.
All this speaks to US of higher
moral sense, even though much
relating to it be hypocrisy. The
very need for the hypocrisy implies
that, with considerable number,
there are qualms of conscience on
the subject.
THE BATTLE WAS THE LORD AND
OF COURSE HE WON
Benhadad sent his demands to
King Ahab saying, Thy silver and
thy gold are mine; thy wives and
thy children, even the goodliest of
thine" King Ahab, recognized the
greatness of the army and his own
unpreparedness for resisting them,
answered, MY Lord, 0 King, ac-
cording to thy saying, l am thine,
and all that l have" But when the
invader broadened his demand and
included with it the wealth of all the
mobiles of Israel, their wives and
their children, etc., resistance was
aroused and the message went back
that the additional demands would
not be granted. Thereupon the in
vaders set the battle array against
the walls of Israel's capital, Sam
aria.
At this iuncture God sent a Pro-
phet to Israel's King, informing
him that he would deliver the in
vaders into his hands and give him
a great victory. The astonished
Ahab asked by whom would the
battle be waged against the host.
The answer was that at the COM
mand the princes of the provinces
should fight under Ahab's direction,
supported by the militia. By this
signal victory God would demon
strate his power by protecting the
nation with whom he had made the
Law Covenant. He would revive
their faith.
The Divine order was followed,
Two hundred and thirty-two princes,
or chiefs, of the people at noon pas
sed out of the gates of the city, fol-
lowed by seven thousand militia
small number herewith to meet
small number herewith to meet q
host. Apparently this was poor
generalship; but the Lord was the
General and overruled the results.
King Benhadad and his associates
had been drinking and were amused
by the sallying forth of the battle
army from the gateway. The Syr-
ians were ordered to capture the
men alive. But this they did not
do. Soon the Syrian forces were in
disorder and completely routed.
Humanity speaking, the battle was
lost by Benhadad's over-confdence,
and particularly by his indulgence
in intoxicating liquors.
LESSONS WHICH WE MAY DRAW
The honest, the holy, the reveren-
tial of mankind, who seek peace and
righteousness may be likened to
Israel, to Gods people. Benhadad
and his thirty-two kings and their
armies would correspond to Satan
and his various hosts of upright
eousness. We may name these
hosts as we please. To some, one
portion, and to others, other por-
tions of these hosts are the more
Many of these kings |
may represent various Trusts
which, by manipulation of life's ne
cesSities, are attacking the welfare |