The Arvada enterprise., 1917-11-01
INTERNATIONAL
SONNSQDD0L
LESSON
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 4
DEFEAT THROUGH DRUNKEN
NESS.
(By REV, P. B. F1TZWATER, 2: p.
Teacher Of English Bible in the Moooy
Bible Institute of Chicago)
(Copyright. 1917, Western Newspaper Union.l

DEFEAT THROUGH DRUNKEN.
NESS.
(WorId Temperance sunday.)
LESSON TEXT Kings 20:1.n.
GOLDEN TEXT-Let not him tnAt
Erdesh ,sat on has haras.. o1 Rns. %
!. samarla BesIesed wv. 1-12.)
/. By whom ". ~
Benhadad, the Syrian king, accom-
panied by SO kings, came against sa-
maria. These 80 kings were not al
lies, but rulers over the neighborine
cities-vassal princes.
2. Benhadad's message to Ahab wv.
2-8.)
He offered peace on the most ab5ect
and insulting terms. His demands
meant more than the exaction OF tr1o-
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
a thrust at his tenderest spot. Many
a man has been thus aroused to do his
duty, who otherwise would have sub
mitted to shameful indignities.
8. Ahab's reply wv. 4, 7.9)
His reply was tame and humiliatng-
ly submissive. Perhaps. he thought
it only meant the giving Of tribute.
which he was willing to do in face Of
Benhadad's overwhelming army. Con-
ciliatory measures were regarded a.
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 bluster and boastins
". 10.)
The design Of this was to strike ter
ror into the hearts Of the king and
people. He vows that he will make
Samaria heap Of dust, and that this
dust will not be sufficient to fll the
hands of his army. 80 overwhelming II
the number Of his host.
e. Ahab's answer by a proverb ".
11.)
"Let not him that girdeth on his
harness boast himself as he that put
teth 1t of" This is q proverb full Of
points for all boasters. Gods purpose
may overrule all mans proud pre-
sumptions. "Man proposes, but God
disposes." "Pride goeth before de-
struction. and naughty spirit before
q fall"
6. Readiness for the attack ". 12.)
In the full confidence Of victory. the
Syrian king was giving Q banquet to
his princes. In the midst Of this feast
ing, the command was given to invade
Samaria. 1ncited 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
enness, they have failed to heed proper
warnings.
u. A Prophet Sent 70 Ahab Nv. Is,
14.)
Who the prophet was, we are not
told, but why he was sent. is made
clear. He brought from God q prom
ise Of victory which was to cause Ahab
to know Jehovah. It IL q marvellous
display Of Gods goodness and grace.
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 be achieved. was the young
men. an agency purposely feeble. that
the victory might be seen to be Of God.
~. Ahab's Victory Over the syrIans
". 15-21.)
The army Of Ahab was but handful
compared with that Of the Syrian king
". Is; Ct, v. 10Y. Benhadad. with con.
ndence in his superior numbers, OF.
dered the young men Of Israel to b
taken whether they came for peace Of
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. q
general panic was produced among the
Syrinns. From the human side. the
victory II accounted for BY the drunk.
enness Of the syrians. but from the d.
vine side. we see that God wrought for
his own glory. Ahab pursued the syri.
ans with q great slaughter. but Ben.
hndad escaped. Many ha1s been the
defeats which have come Through
drunkenness; defeats In morals, de-
feats In religion. defeats In business,
defeats in physical endurance. The
man who indulges even moderately.
has reduced his opportunities Of sue.
cess very greatly. Most Of the aeci.
dents by automobiles. railroads, ETC.,
are traceable to the use Of intoxicating
liquors.
ohert.oiehtsdnsse.
Few people. rich or poor. make tie
most Of what they possess. " their
anxiety to increase The amount q
~>.o. poe <,,ts,e~ nnAnvrnAnt thav aeA