The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-06-29
The PEOPLES FORUM.
Half Hearted Service.

spear into the country they were to in
wade. When Alexander the Great ar
rived on the coast of Ionia he threw a
dart into the country of the Persians.
The dart, or spear, or arrow thrown.
was an emblem of hostilities begun.
Thus war was proclaimed. The chief
of the heralds went to the confines of
the enemies country, and after some
ceremonies, said, with a loud voice,
l wage war with you and then threw
the spear. The parties thus defied or
warned must take the matter under
consideration and if they did not IN 30
davs war was begun.
The act of King Joash was then a
declaration of war 1t declared that
deliverance in trouble can come from
God only and hence He is the only
source from which to seek it. But He
employs human agencies in His de-
liverances. The bow and arrows were
symbols of this.
Joash was to put hand on bow and
shoot, indicating that man has his part
to do in the Divine deliverances. But
human agencies can only succeed as God
strengthens the agent. Elijah's hand
on the Kings signified that the power to
gain the victory came from God.
The King was to shoot, which he did
thrice and stopped. The lncensed
prophet told him he should have shot
six or seven times then would the
Syrians have been wholly conquered,
but as it was, he would gain but three
victims. Stopping as the King did
showed weakness IN his character. a
want of perseverance, a tendency to be
satisfied with partial results; to stop
short Of the ultimate goal.
Notice how very trivial action may
often show great deal of character.
The reason we do not have more from
God is because we ask not. The shoot
ing of those arrows were prayers for
and pledges of victories. He asked
for and got three, whereas if he had
asked for more he would have gotten
them. We ask too little of God, hence
like Joash, miss the full blessing by
ceasing to ask.
Straws show which way the wind
blows. Little things indicate the
strength or weakness of character.
II showed a lack of zeal on the Kings
part. He did not enter into the spirit
of the symbolic act, which represented
the smiling of his enemies. The pro-
phet was justly indignant at this evil
dent lack of zeal in obeying his COM
mands, for he saw the greatness of his
opportunity, the abundant favor which
God was ready to grant, and the way
it was stinted by the kings lack of re-
ceptiveness. He showed lack of zeal.
Zeal Is passionate ordor in anything,
eagerness in any cause, ardent and
active interest. 1t is essential to sue
cess and mark of a character govern
ed by supreme purpose and a thing
much to be desired
We do not value the intermitting
spring as much as we do the clear
brooklet, which laughed on its course
unmindful of the scorching rays Of the
summers sun.
We do not guide ourselves by the
glow worms fitfull fame. No, we look
to the sun, which is our light poured
through the window, tightening up our
room, as if he knew how glad we
were to see him brighten the flower cup
and cheer the plant. We 90 not prize
the affection of stranger awakened
by some casual congeniauty and dis
PLAYED in kindly greeting or in oc-
casional courtesy, half so much as the
patient bearing, the ready sympathies
which make a summer whenever there
Is house. In the natural and social
relations; in the busy activities of men:
in the enterprise Of the world, the neces-
sity for uniformity in zeal is recognized
by all. Society puts its brand on the
man who has not perseverance as well
as earnestness about him. Society
marks the builder without an object;
who does not roof his house, either be-
cause Of inability or because some other
object dazzles his brain.
So matter of fact is the world now
that it jostles the genus off the foot
path, while the plodder, whose eve
sparkles less brilliantly, but more even
lY and longer, steadily proceeds on his
way to success. 1t was zeal that led
the Son of Man to cleanse the temple.
upon seeing which his disciples remem-
bered that it was written the zeal of
thine house hath eaten me up. 1t is
demanded in secular things, how much
more then in things religious. If it is
essential in acquiring this world S
goods, how much more in securing the
endurable riches of heaven. If it is so
commendable in warning of danger,
how much more so in urging flight from
the wrath to come. A story is told of
the noted Welsh Evangelists, who was
called Jamaican on account of his zeal.