Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1917-11-03
|. samaria Besicged wv. 1-12.)

eirdcth on his harness boast himself as
lie that putteth II Off Kings @:l.
!. samaria BesieGed wv. 1-12)
l. BY whom ". ~
Benhadad. the Syrian king, accom-
panied by % kings, came against Sa-
maria. These 81 kings were not al
lies. but rulers over the neighbOring
citics-vaSSal princes.
.. Benhadad's message TO Ahab Wv.
2-G.)
He offered peace on the most AFFECT
and insulting terms. His demands
meant more than the eXaction Of trib-
ME. He ovcr-reaChed himself in this =
thus defeating his purpose. He not
only demanded tribute money, but the
surrender of that which was most vital
to AhabS manhood and self-respect-''
his wives and children. He thus made
a thrust Mt his tenderest spot. Many
a man has been thus aroused TO do his
duty. who otherwise would have SUBJ
mitted to shameful indgnities.
3. Ahab's reply wv. 4, 7-o)
His reply was tame and humiliating-
" submissive. Perhaps, he thought
It only meant the giving Of tribute,
which he was willing to do in face Of
BenhaGads overwhelming army. Con-
/ ciliatory measures We're regarded as
most prudent. But the peremptory de-
mands 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. Benhadad's buster and Boosting
". 1O)
The design Of this was to strike ter
ror into the hearts of the king and
people. He vows that he will make
Samaria a heap Of dust, and that this
dust will not he sufficient to fill the
hands of his army, so overwhelming Is
the number of his host.
3. Ahab's answer by a proverb ".
III
'Let not him that girdeth on his
harness boast himself as he that put
teth it Off" This Is q pr0verb full OF
points for all boosters. Gods purpose
may override all mans proud pre-
SYMPTOMS. "Man proposes, but God
disposes." "Pride goeth before de-
struction, and naughty spirit before
fall"
6. Readiness for the attack ". 12.)
In the full confidence of victory, thu
Syrian king was giving a banquet L
!, ME prfilces IfssfAr1isifsr-osfsfirs n TIT
ling, the command was given to inyade
Samaria. Incitcd by strong drink, he
gave no attention TO the striking prov
GRO Of Ahab. Many have gone to ruin
because tl.ro1ch the stupOr of drunk
Gnnre<. they have failed 10 heed proper
warnings.
II. 4 Prophet Sent TO hhab wv. IL,
14)
Who the prophet was, we are not
told, but why he was sent is made
clear. He brought from God a prom
Use of victory which was to cause Ahab
to know Jehovah. 1t Is a marvellous
|
Israel deserved the most severe chas'
tisement, but God promised victory for
his own sake in order TO make his glory
known. The agency by which the VIC
tory was to he achieved was the young
men, an agency purposely feeble, that
the victory might be seen to be of God,
III. Ahab's Victory Over the Syrlans
! ". 1929
The army Of Ahab was but handful
compared with that Of the Syrian king
". IS; CT, V. 10). Benhadad, with con-
fidence in his superior numbers, or.
dered the young men of Israel to be
taken 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
| Syrians. From the human side, the
victory is accounted for by the drunk.
enness Of the Syrians, but from the oil.
| vine side. we see that God wrought for
/ his own glory. Ahah pursued the Syrl-
/ ans with a great slaughter, but Ben.
| hadad escaped. Many have been the
defeats which have come through
/ drunkenness; defeats in morals. de-
fents In religion, defeats in business,
defeats in physical endurance. The
man who INDUCES even moderately,
has reduced his opportunities of sue
cess very greatly. Most Of the acci-
dents by automobiles, railroads. etc,
nre traceable to the use of intoxicating
liquors.