Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-09-17

G'N,, @"eS tue UNDERSTANDABLE. HOS. VII
We feel somewhat like questioning
the title Of this lesson. Il can be used
as q temperance lesson no doubt, but
to attribute Ben-hadad's defeat entire
ly to drunkenness is not quite true to
the facts. Jehovahs jealousy of his
name ". 18l and the enemies con-
tempt for Jehovah (vv. 23. 2Sl are the
fundamental causes of the defeat of
the Syrians though, of course, drunk
enness, as an exhibition Of selfindulg-
ence and therefore Of weakness, was
natural accompaniment of that con-
tempt for God.
!. Ahab's Predlcament, w. 1912.
The Syrian kings contemptuous treat
ment OF Ahab (vv. 10 at last became
so great that in sheer desperation the
people refused to listen to his demands
". 81. His forces far overwhelmed
the little army OF Israel (vv. 1. 10.
zIl, but one was on Ahabs side who
had not yet withdrawn his mercy from
Israel and with whom Ben-hadad could
not cope (v. 10; Rom. S:31; Phil
4;lS). Ben-hadad was the most pow
erful monarch OF his time of those ma
tions bordering upon the Mediter-
ranean. The march OF his army was
like "a tempest of hail, an overwhelm-
ing scourge" with unrestrained power.
The effect was worse than the plaques
of Egypt But Ben-hadad was a drunk
ard, habitual one (vv. 12l6).
Samaria was rich and this king want
ed II even as intemperance always
lusts after the wealth of youth and
the gold of nation wv. 3. 12). Drink
always makes fool Of its victim and
dooms to ultimate defeat all who yield
to its power (ch. 1863; II Sam. 1928;
Prov. 31:4. s. Luke 21:34; Eph.
5:1S).
Tradition tells of monk who was
offered the alternative of committing
one Of two crimes or OF getting drunk.
Choosing drunkenness as the lesser
evil he awoke from his debauch to
find he had committed both of the
crimes.
lntemperance becomes too greedy in
its demands and its results so terrible
that thoughtful people are at last
moved with Indignation. There is no
drinking In moderation. There Is no
such thing as regulating the liquor
trafic. For every $500 received by
license s5,945 is the average cost to
the taxpayer for each saloon. But
that is not all. The saloon takes also
the very joys its cup promises and
turns It's visions into torments.
~. Gods Prophet, w. 1915. 1t was
indeed dark for Ahab. He saw ". 13l
the host confronting m but he also
heard the word OF Jehovah. AS cos
trasted with Jehovah that multitude
was but as handful Of dust. God
is on the side of temperance. All oi
Gods laws favor temperance. OuI
everything gloriied leader and the
energizing power OF the holy spirit are
the ones who are the source of our
victories over all principalities and
powers OF evil. Ahab's predicament
Is answered by Gods Il will deliver
". 13) and SO today we have his sure
promise of victory (Eph. 6:1O-1O.
God has today set forth his prophets
q Cor. 1890 to proclaim his mes
sage Of salvation and power to over
come intemperance. This is not {
necessary evil" Experts and scien
lists have clearly demonstrated its be
ing unnecessary and a drag upon SO
ciety, and God has taught us how t.
overcome It. Ahab's unfortunate char
acter appears at its best in this story
but alas he and his successors sool
forgot the lesson. To his eager in
qulries God made full answer an,
there is no suggestion of his doubtin
Gods word.
~. Victorious Princes, w. 1921. T
Ahab's question by whom" is this de
liverance to be wrought, God answers
"by the young men of the princes Q
the provinces" ". 14). These choic
young fellows are mustered in, 232 {
them. as leaders of an army of ZOO
all who could be found in the capita
God delights to work through youn
men l John 2:13, 14) and the page
of history are strewn with the victor
Gus achievements Of youth. "Mol
precious than gold and silver are tt
youth of the nation" and 1t is upc
the youth the prosperity industriall
morally and spiritually of a nation
pends. 1T is holy sight to see
nation saved by its youth; 1t is
grander sight to Christian studen
combined to save the world."-L
John Il. Mott.
Two-thirds of Llncoln's army we
under twenty-one years Of age at the
enlistment; the Union was preserv
by an army OF boys.
Ahab himself is the leader ". /
and they began at once by carryi
the battle into the enemies territol
Ben-hadad and his drinking comps
ions never dreamed of being attack
AT that hour. Like Gideon and |
army these young men smote {
Syrian host in overwhelming defe
Israers enemies had incapacitat
themselves. A drunken mob is
match for even handful of organic
and sober men. These thirty-thi
kings courted their own defeat (Pr
23:29-32; Eccl. 11:1O; Hos. AID. B
hadad's kings who helped him" w.
proved to be reed Tor all the strenI
and support they rendered him in
moment of his need.
II was the young men who W
first e. G., struck the first blow. B
badad's self-confidence and boast
~. 1s) is but another Illustration
that pride which goeth before
struction" prov. 1913; Luke 49,
The army of Israel was small ".
hut IL did not hesitate to attack
superior force and that sort of fl
will always incite others which
follow them" ". 19).
Every man slew his man." e
d,d his part-"played the game
played 1t fair"-and the result wa
host In full fight and the handful
Israeiites in pursuit ". 2O).
God saved Israel that day by the