Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-01-19

$50 Cor S93) to s25 Tor sS2). Abah. his son.
from Il. c. 92j-90i tS6D.
PLACE-They were kings OF Israel.
with their capital at 6amaria-
IN the thirty and first year Of Asa
king Of Judah began Omri to reign
over Israel. Omri was the general of
Israel's army in the unsettled and
troublous times that followed Baa.
sha's reign. Before his call to be king
we know nothing about him. He was
the sixth king of Israel, and founded
the fourth dynasty, which lasted sixty
years, with four kings. When first
brought to notice he was fighting for
his country against the Philistines at
Gibbethon. Another general named
Timri was put forward as king, and
there 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 a bet
ter site for his capital. for Tirzah had
doubtless been injured in the siege,
and its location was not the best for
defense. He bought the hill Samaria
for his capital. This choice proved
his sagacity as a general and states
man. The superior strategic position
Of Samaria, a conical hill standing 400
feet above the base of the broad val
ley, Is evidenced by the long siege
which it endured, and the stout resist
ance which it offered to the armies Of
Sargon.
Omri wrought evil. We are not told
the particulars Of Omri's sin, but Mi
cab says: For the statutes Of Omri
are kept" We cannot doubt that
these statutes of Omri' were measures
adopted for more completely isolating
the people of Israel from the services
and Of perpetuating-perhaps Of in
creasing-their idolatrous practices"
Men thought him rich and prosperous,
but God looks on the heart and not
on outward appearances.
The r%etribution for Onri's course
did O come all at one 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,
ICED Omri's reign. Instead of being
a positive, creative force for good, he
sailed with the downward tide, as a
boat without engine or W down
the rapids of Niagara toward the falls.
at takes live fish to swim up stream"
"A boys will is the winds will"
Ahab was a 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, c%ovetous, selfish. cruel, the
worst of Israel's 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
iIiot'lluIs
able women who, when fate places
them in exalted power. leave a 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 ont on the page OF
sacred history as the first supporter
OF religious persecution. Such fanat,
icism Is a frequent c%oncomitant OF
guilt. She is the authentic authoress
of priestly inquisitions. II no king
SO completely sold himself to work
wickedness" as Ahab. 1t 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 hat 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 &c
avoid false friendships ard compan
. ionship with the bad. Every power
, for good in true friendship Is a power
for evil in the false. Our environ
+. ment, the persons with whom we com,
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 doubl,
great hecausa Il comes under III,