The Tupelo journal., 1915-09-17

r. v.
We feel somewhat like questioning
the title of this lesson. 1t 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. Jehovah's jealousy Of his
name ". 49, and the enemies con-
tempt for Jehovah wv. %, 2S) are the
fundamental causes of the defeat of
the Syrians though, of course, drunk
enc and therefore of weakness, was
a natural accompaniment of that con-
tempt for God.
l.. Ahab's Predicament, w. 1912.
The Syrian kings contemptuous treat
ment Of Ahab (vv. Id 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. l, 10,
20, but n was on Ahab's side who
had not yet withdrawn his mercy from
Israel and with whom B%en-hadad could
not cope ". 10; Rom. 1891; Phil.
4:13). B~en-hadad was the most pow
erful monarch of his time Of those ma
tons bordering upon the Mediter-
ranean. The march of his army was
like "a tempest of hail, an overwhelm-
ing scourge" with u~nrestrained power.
The effect was worse than the plaques
of Egypt. But Ben-hadad was q drunk
ard, a habitual n wv. 1916.
Samaria was rich and this king want
ed it eve as intemperance always
lusts after the wealth of youth and
the gold of a nation wv. 8, 12). Drink
always makes a fool of its victim and
dooms to ultimate defeat all who yield
to its power (ch. 1853; II Sam. 1928;
Prov. 31:4, 5; Luke 1884; Eph.
5:1s).
II. Gods Prophet, w. 1915. 1t was
indeed dark for Ahab. He saw (v. 13)
the host confronting him but he also
heard the word of Jehovah. AS con-
trasted with Jehovah that multitude
was but as a handful of dust. God
is on the side of temperance. All OF
GOu 3 laws ldNOT tCAipCl uSC OaA
everything glorified leader and the
energizing power of the holy spirit are
the ones who are the source of our
victories over all pr~incipalities 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-l2).
God has today set forth his prophets
Ct 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 its be-
ing unnecessary and a drag upon so.
ciety, and God has taught us how to
overcome it. Ahab's unfortunate char
acter appears at its 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" ". 14). These choice
yOuuR l6llOWS are luuotCi GU III, y "a
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 victorl-
Gus achievements of youth.
Two-thirds of Lincoln's army were
under twenty-one years Of age at their
enlistment; the Union was preserved
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 mot is 10
match for even a handful of organized
and sober men. These thirty-three
kings courted their own defeat prov.
23:29-32; Eccl. 11:1O; Hos. 4:11C. Ben.
hadad's kings who helped him" ". 16)
proved to be a reed for all the strength
and support they rendered him in the
L;o ~noI