Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-09-16

f. "
We feel somewhat like questioning
the title of this lesson. 1t can be used
as a temperance lesson no doubt, but
to attribute Ben-hadad's defeat entire
ly to drunkenness is not quite true to
the facts. Jehovah's jealousy of his
name ". 49, and the enemies con-
tempt for Jehovah (vv. %, 28) are the
fundamental causes of the defeat OF
the Syrians though, of course, drunk
enness, as an exhibition of self-indulg-
ence and therefore of weakness, was
natural accompaniment of that con-
tempt for God.
| !. Ahab's Predicament, w. 1912.
The Syrian kings contemptuous treat
ment of Ahab (vv. I'D at last became
SO great that in sheer desperation the
people refused to listen to his demands
(v. 81. His forces far overwhelmed
the little army of Israel (vv. /, 10,
20, but one was on Ahab's side who
had not yet Withdrawn his mercy from
Israel and with whom Ben-hadad could
not cope (v. 10; Rom. S:31; Phil.
Alb. 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 drunk
ard, habitual one (vv. 1916.
Samaria was rich and this king want
ed it even as intemperance always
lusts after the wealth of youth and
the gold of a nation (vv. 3, 12). Drink
always makes fool of it's victim and
dooms to ultimate defeat all who yield
to its power (ch. 1872 II Sam. 1928;
Prov. 31:4, 5; Luke 21:34; Eph.
5:1S).
IL. Gods Prophet, w. 1915. 1t was
indeed dark for Ahab He saw ". 13)
the host confronting him but he also
heard the word of Jehovah. AS con
trasted with Jehovah that multitude
was but as handful of dust. God
is on the side of temperance All of
Gods laws favor temperance. Our
everything glorified 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. Ahabs predicament
is answered by Gods II will deliver
". 49, and SO today we have his sure
promise of victory (Eph. 6:10-12).
God has today set forth his prophets
q Cor. 1929 to proclaim his mes
sage of salvation and power to over
come intemperance. This is not a
necessary evil" Experts and scien-
lists have clearly demonstrated it's be-
ing unnecessary and drag upon So
ciety, and God has taught US how to
overcome it. Ahab's unfortunate char
acter appears at it's best in this story,
but alas he and his successors soon
forgot the lesson.
III. Victorious Princes, W. 1921. To
Ahab's question by whom" is this de-
liverance to be wrought, God answers,
by the young men of the princes of
the provinces" (v. 14). These choice
young fellows are mustered in, 232 of
them, as leaders of an army of 1000,
all who could be found in the capital.
God delights to work through young
men l John 2:13, 14) and the pages
of history are strewn with the victori-
GUS achievements of youth.
Two-thirds of Lincoln's army were
under twenty-one years of age at their
by an army of boys.
Ahab himself is the leader ". 14)
and they began at once by carrying
the battle into the enemies territory.
Ben-hadad and his drinking compan-
ions never dreamed of being attacked
at that hour. Like Gideon and his
army these young men smote the
Syrian host in overwhelming defeat.
Israel's enemies had incapacitated
themselves. A drunken mob is no
match for even handful of organized
and sober men. These thirty-three
kings courted their own defeat prov.
23:29-32 Feel. H. 10; Hos. AID. Ben
hadad's kings who helped him" (v 16)
proved to be reed for all the strength
and support they rendered him in the
moment of his need.
1t was the young men who went
first, e. g., struck the first blow Ben
hadad's self-confdence and Boosting
". 1S) is but another illustration of
that pride which goeth before de-
struction" prov. 1918; Luke 1919.
The army of Israel was small tv. 15)
but it did not hesitate to attack the
superior force and that sort of faith
will always incite others which will
follow them w. 49,.
Every man slew his man. each
did his part-'played the game and
played it fair"-and the result was a
host in full fight and the handful of
Israelites in pursuit (v. 20).
God saved Israel that day by the use
of young men. Teachers, do you real
ize your opportunity? 1t is ours to
arouse in youth a realization of its
capacities, advantages, opportunities
or ci bilifior.