The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-11-01

LESION TEXT Kings 2oI.H.
.s.SoIDEN TExr-Lct. not him thst
6o that putteth It OIL Kings 2o:lL
Z. samarIa Besieeed Wv. 1-12.)
I, By whom ". ~
Benhadad, the Syrian king, accom-.
panied by 80 kings, came against Sa-
maria. These 80 kings were not al
hies, but rulers over the neighboring
Eities-vassal princes.
2. Benhadad,s message to Ahab wv.
He offered peace on the most AFFECT
and insulting terms. His demands
meant more than the exaction Of trib-
ute. He over.reached himself in this;
thus defeating his purpose. He not
only demanded tribute money. but the
surrender of that which was most vital
TO Ahab's manhood and self.respect-
his wives and children. He thus made
q thrust at his tenderest spot. Many
q man has been thus aroused to do his
duty. who otherwise would have sub
mitted to shameful indignities.
s. Ahab's reply wv. 4, 7.9.)
His reply was tame and humiliating-
" submissive. Perhaps, he thought
II only meant the giving of tribute,
which he was willing to do in face Of
Benhadad's overwhelming army. Con-
ciliatory measures were regarded as
most prudent. But the peremptory de-
nands Of the enemy repeated, awoke
Ahab to his senses, and caused him to
call together the elders Of the land,
who counseled against submission.
Thus stiffened for the opposition. Ahab
refused to make full compliance with
his demands.
4. Benhadads buster and Boosting
". 10)
The design of this was to strike ter.
sor into the hearts of the king and
people. He vows that he will make
Snmaria heap Of dust, and that this
dust will not be sufficient to fill the
hands Of his army, so overwhelming Is
the number Of his host.
s. Ahab's answer by a proverb ".
Il1.)
"Let not him that girdeth on his
harness boast himself as he that put
teth 1t or" This is proverb full of
points for all boosters. Gods purpose
sI1ny override oil mans proud pre-
sumptions. "aIan proposes, but God
disposes." "Pride goeth before de-
struction. and naughty spirit before
a fan"
Q. Readiness for the attack ". 12.)
In the full confidence Of victory, the
Syrian king was giving a banquet to
his princes. In the midst Of this feast
Ing, the command was given to invade
.Samaria. Incited by strong drink, he
gave no attention to the striking prov.
erb Of Ahab. Many have gone to ruin
because through the stupor Of drunk.
ienness, they have failed to heed proper
warnings.
II. A Prophet Sent to Ahab wv. 10,
il4.)
Who the prophet was, we are not
told, but willy he was sent. is made
clear. He brought from God prom.
Use Of victory which was to cause Ahab
ito know Jehovah. It Is a marvellous
display of Gods goodness and grace.
Israel deserved the most severe ches.
Basement, but God promised victory for
ibis own sake in order to make his glory
known. The agency by which the VIC
kory was to be achieved, was the young
|fhen, an agency purposely feeble, that
the victory might be seen to be Of God.
III. Ahab's Victory Over the syrians
". 1921 ~.
( The army Of Ahab was but handful
compared with that Of the Syrian king
~. 10 ; Ct, Y. 10y. Benhadad, with con.
Mdence In his superior numbers, Or
dered the young men Of Israel to be
Saken whether they came for peace or
war. he, with his princes, continued
|their drunken debauch. The young men
struck right and left, creating great
CONSERVATION. When the seven thou.
sand reserves Joined the young men, a
general panic was produced among the
|Syrtars. From the human side, the
victory is accounted for by the drunk
|snness Of the Syrians, but from the dl.
Fine side, we see that God wrought for
|lis own glory. Ahab pursued the Syri-
pms with great slaughter, but Ben
,adad escaped. Many have been the
lefeats which have come through
drunkenness; defeats in morals, de-
eats In religion, defeats in business,
lefeats In physical endurance. The
aan who INDUCES even moderately,
las reduced his opportunities Of sue
ess very greatly. Most of the accl.
ents BY automobiles, railroads, ETC.,
re traceable to the use Of intoxicating
ouotS. y ....gl.. 80
~ short.siahtednsss
Few people, rich or poor, make TIE
host Of what thew possess Tn tho,r