The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-11-01
international Sun1lQ lhOoI Lesson
Fourth Quarter. Lesso 4
Numbers 20: lis. Novmber 2.
1918.
BaIdk and Balaam
The Sway

the original population. Their en- |
trance was of necessity the expul-
sion of the native races. One fright
ened king bethough him Of a
strange weapon-something brand
fire-new in the art and science Of
war. 1t consisted IL colcentra-
ton of malevoient and hostile
thought. He wanted every living
soul of his nation--uen, women,
and children--to form canc- etc of
evil-wishing agains; Israel. The If
reversible psychological effect of
this would be q subtle moral de-
pression--a paralysis If the esprit
de corps Of the invaders. Ii would
be nolseless and smokeless, but
more deadly than a modern Gattl-
ing gun. Success in this strange
process turned upon the finding of
one whose fame for true prophecy
would give prestige to the scheme
and whose magnetic influence would
draw all into the proposed league
Of hate. So Balak turned to Bala-
am. He must be had at any price.
Cost must not be counted when the
very perpetuity of the dynasty was
at stake. At most the scheme could
never make as heavy draft upon
the treasury as the modifying OF
an army. Balaam's descent to hell
makes fine study in casuistry-
well worth close attention. 1t is
passing strange that one whose
very art was to read the motives of
others, and divine by this means
whether their success would be gen.
not be able to read his own heart,
or at least be controlled in his
action by what he read there. Ba-
laam temporized and lost his soul
He could not withstand the flattery
of having an imperial embassy wait
Ing his pleasure at his door. Pride
the second He was dazzled by
The CLINT of gold. All his rhetoric
goes for naught. His fine speeches
10 not ring true. His tongue af
firms one thing, but at the very
moment his heart is toying with
The opposite. History does no
Ifford q more striking commentar,
upon the familiar text about know
ing ones duty and doing 1t not
Balaam did not even get the cheaI
reward of gold or kingly apparel
which perhaps he craved more, while
The "soundless lash" of a violated
conscience beat him with many
stripes. He knew his duty, he die
1t not: 'How sad to trace each
step from splendor to disgrace"
The Teachers Lantern.
There is nothing occult or arbi-
trary. No man can really curse
another. Every man curses him
self. He brings upon himself the
pains and penalties of his own
sins. The poetry of Balaam's day
Is the history of ours. The Star
has come out of Jacob. 1t is the
Star of Bethlehem. The spiritual
Iscepter of Jesus is the phenomenon
OF the hour. The pierced hands
have lifted the gates of the CEN
turi1( off of their hinges His
spiritual dominion has become uni
versal. 1t spreads from the river
to the end of the earth. There is
true psychology in deferring answer
until after a night. Solutions of
the most difficult problems often
come with the morning. What's in
a name? There is often subtle
travesty In one. Balaam signifies
"conQueror." But he did not con-
quer. He was conquered. Litera-
ture does not afford finer analy-
sis of the causes of national de-
cline than in Lord Byron's diagno-
sis of the fall of Greece. He de-
precates any effort to trace the
steps from splendor to decay, at
firming that no foreign foe could
ever quell until the national spirit
had first fallen from itself-then
only do bonds and despot's sway
become possible. AS a study in
literature the poem of Balaam af-
fords fascinating subject. 1t is
exalted, sustained, beautiful. But
1t Is easily recognized as precent-
ing lively and superb analogue
CT the phenomenal, growth of the
Kingdom of heaven and its invinci-
bic power. Cursing it is utterly
futile. The spiritual descendants
of Abraham are as the stars and
sands. They are myriad. In the
final analysis every living being
hopes he may share in the triumph
at least he cries, LET me die
the death of the righteous. A late
magazine writer describes a mod
ern and sue kssful concert of male
diction, in the case of a former
king of Hawaii, who was unmind-
full of his subjects, but sold them
out for his own pleasure. The ma
tive resentment was fired to such
degree that the king fled for
his life. He could flee as to his
body, but not as to his vital inner
being. He was told that 10000
prayed against him three times a
day. He felt that storm of hate
beat In waves upon him. 1t blighted
his revels and finally killed him.
Young Peoples Devotional Service. |
Hebrews 13; Sis.