The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1915-09-17

We feel somewhat Ike 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. Jehoyah's jealousy OF his
name ". l3) and the enemies con.
tempt for Jehovah wv. 20. 2S) 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
a natural accompaniment Of that con.
tempt for God.
I. Ahab's Predicament, w. to.i2 |
The Syrian kings contemptuous treat. /
ment Of Ahab wv. 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 wv. /, 10, F.
20, but one was on Ahab's side who /.
had not yet withdrawn his mercy from
Israel and with whom Ben-hadad could 7.
not cope ". 13. Rom. S:3l; Phil /
AID. Ben-hadad was the most pow.
erful monarch Of his time of those ma
ranean. The march Of his army was
like IA tempest Of hail. an oyerwhclm.
ing scourge' with unrestrained power.
The effect was worse than the plaques
OF Egypt But Bon-hadad was a drunk
ard, habitual one wv. 12-16).
Samaria was rich and this king want
ed 1t even as intemperance always
msts after the wealth of youth and
| the gold OF a nation wv. 3, 12). Drink
always makes fool osits victim and
/ dooms to ultimate defeat all who yield
/ TO its power (ch. 1863; IL Sam. 1928;
| Prov. 3l:4, 8, Luke 2l:34; Eph
5:lS).
II. Gods Prophet, w. 1915. 1t was
| indeed dark for Ahab. lie saw ". 13)
the host confronting him but he alsc
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. Oui
everything gloriiied leader and the
energizing power OF the holy spirit are
the ones who are the source OF oui
victories over all principalities and
powers OF evil. Ahab's predicament
is answered by Gods Il will deliver
". 13l and so today We have his sure
promise of victory (Eph. 6:l0.19.
God has today set forth his prophets
U Cor. 12:2S) to proclaim his mes
sage OF salvation and power to over
come intemperance. This is not q
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 tt
overcome II. Ahab's unfortunate char
ncter appears at It's best in this story
but alas he and his successors sooI
forgot the lesson.
~. Victorious Princes, w. 1921. Tt
Ahab's question by whom" is this dc
liveranCe to be wrought, God answers
"by the young men of the princes OF
the provinces ". 1D. 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 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 theii
Enlistment; the Union was preserved
by an army OF boys.
| Ahab himself is the leader ". IA
and they began at once by carrying
tho battle into the enemies territory
| Ben-hadad and his drinking compan
ions never dreamed of being attacked
at that hour. Like Gideon and hi,
army these young men smote IN,
Syrian host In overwhelming defeat
lsraels enemies had incapacitate,
themselves. A drunken mob is nj
match for even handful Of organized
and sober men. These thirty.thre,
kings courted their own defeat prov
% 29-32; Eccl. 11:10; Hos. 4:1D. Ben
hadad's kings who helped him ". l6
proved TO be a reed for all the strength
and support they rendered him in tn,
moment OF his need
| It was the young men who wen
FIRST, e. e., struck the first blow Ben
hadads selfconhdence and boastinl
". 1S) Is but another illustration o
that pride which goeth before dc
struction" (Proy. 1918; Luke 1910
The army OF Israel was small ". IS
but It did not hesitate to attack tn
superior force and that sort of faitl
will always incite others which vii
follow them" ". l9).
Every man slew his man." eacl
did his part-"played the game an
played It fair"-and the result was
host in full flight and the handful o
lsraelitos in pursuit ". 2O).
God saved Israel that day by the us
ot young men. Teachers, do you rea
ze your opportunity? 1t is ours I
arouse in youth realization OF 1t
capacities. advantages, opportunitie
and responsibilities; to inspire then
with determination to be OF service
10 instruct them in Gods plan OF can
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