Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-11-03
Sunday School Lesson
Commentary.
z. r. WALKER, D. D.
Z. r. WALKER, 8

DEFEAT THROUGH DRUNKEN
NESS. I KINGS 20:1-2t
Golden Text-Let not him that
girdeth on his harness boast himself
as he that putteth 1t off, Kings
20:1l.
THE LESSON COMMENTARY.
e. F. WALKER, d. d.
introductory.
For today's study we go back about
four hundred and fifty years prior to
last weeks lesson. The second Sun
day in November Is appointed as the
Worlds Temperance Sunday" and
the international committee, in compli-
ance with this appointment has
chosen a temperance lesson for the
day-the title Of which Is Defeat
Through Drunkenness''-ve signifi-
cant and true. There Is no phase of
sin in the world today. perhaps. that
causes more defeat, in more respects.
than drunkenness.
Drunkenness defeats bodily health.
Drunkenness defeats mental strength
Drunkenness defeats moral vigor.
Drunkenness defeats religious In
stincts.
Drunkenness defeats marital happi-
ness.
Drunkenness defeats financial pros
perity.
Drunkenness defeats regard for hu-
man virtue.
Drunkenness defeats respect for hu-
man life.
Drunkenness initiates against every
thing that Is truly good and great in
human life, and finally defeats bless
ed destiny. for no drunkard shall in
herit the kingdom OF heaven.
No man who is a drunkard has con-
troll of himself for good In this life,
and such will eventually cause the loss
of the soul forever.
The lesson today is concerning the
defeats of a great king and great
army through drunkenness. They
weakened themselves through drink,
and Gods punitive judgment fell upon
them because of drunkenness. And
this is the double way defeat through
drunkenness must be viewed: Both
natural and penal result.
Explanatory.
Time: B. C. 906.
| Place: Samaria.
| Verse l. Ben hadad the king Of
Syria gathered all his host together:-
Three kings Of Syria had the name of
Ben hadad. The one of our lesson
OF the Syrian religion, for the sun re-
ceived divine honors from the Syrian
and the name of the king meant son
of the SUM-" Gathering the host means
marshaling or mobolizing the army.
The kings Of old were great militarists
like some of modern times who give
particular, almost supreme, attention
to military power-and 80 show that
they are, in that particular at least,
ancients-out of date and there were
thirty and two kings with him,-These
were not allied kings of Independent
states; but petty lords or vassal kings
of tributary little kingdoms. Ancient
history shows that in those days en-
pires were thus divided up. The
kings" were little If any more than
governor generals'-and horses and
chariots,-The cavalry and artillery
arms of the army. Many of the king
doms of old counted much on these.
Rawlinson says: "A king who had
probably been identified with this Ben
hadad brought into the field against
| Assyria nearly four thousand char
iots."-and he went up and beselged
Samaria, and warred against 1t. Just
why, we are not told. Possibly the
king of Israel had given Ben hadad
| some offense: but most likely the Of
Tense was nothing more than Ahab's
refusal to recognize the supremacy of
the northern king, and to do him
obeisance and pay him tribute. 1t Is
clear that Ben hadad was a vain brag-
CART and cruel tyrant.
10. And behold there came a
prophet unto Ohab king of Israel
The prophets were nearly all down in
Judea. where they were more appre-
ciated; yet Israel was not utterly for
saken of them nor of Jehovah. The
Hebrew reads "one prophet" We
know not who this was; but it Is far
from probable that 1t was Elijah. who
was the prophet of law and judgment
and wrath, rather than of grace and
peace and encouragement-sayi
thus saith the Lord. Hast thou seen
this great multitude ?-The array OF
Syrians was very imposing, and no
doubt the king of Israel was much
alarmed at its vastness and threaten
ing: and this prophet was sent as a
prophet Of cheer-behold, will de-
liver it into thine hand this day
Probably the day set by Ben-hadad
for the entry into the city and despoil-
ing of the houses. Jehovah here as
sures the intimidated king that He
will give him the victory-and thou
shalt know that I am the Lord. Here
was the motive the Lord had in view.
He still sought to win and save even
this degenerate king and people. How
hard 1t Is for God to give up a peo-
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