The Green Forest tribune., 1917-11-02
|. samaria Besieeed (vv. 1-123

|. Samaria Besieged (vv. 1-l2)
 l. By whom (v. 1.)
 Benhadad, the Syrian king, accom- panied by 32 kings, came against Sa- maria. These 32 kings were not al' lies, but rulers over the neighborins cities-vassal princes.
 9 Benhadad's message to Ahab (vv. 2-6.)
 He offered peace on the most abject and insulting terms. His demands meant more than the eXaction of tTib' ute. He over-reached himself in this; thus defeating his purpose. lie moi 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 thrust at his tenderest spot. Many man has been thus aroused to do his duty. who otherwise would have sub. mitted to shameful indignities.
 3. Ahab's reply (vv. 4, 79.)
 His reply was tame and humiliating' ly submissive. Perhaps, he thought 1t 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. 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. Benhadads bluster and boosting (v. 1O.)
 The design of this was to strike ter. TOT 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 fill the hands of his army, so overwhelming is the number of his host. 5. Ahab's answer by a proverb (v. H.
 Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that put. teth it off," This Is proverb full of points for all boosters. Gods purpose may overrule .all mans proud pre-. sumptions. Man proposes, but God disposes." Pride goeth before de- structfon, and a naughty spirit before q fall"
 6. Readiness for the attack tv. 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. 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 enness, they have failed to heed proper warnings.
 H. A Prophet Sent to Ahab (vv. 13, 14.)
 Who the prophet was, we are not told, but why he was sent. is made clear. He brought from God a prom. ise of victory which was ito cause Ahab to know Jehovah. 1t is a marvellous display of Gods goodness and grace. Israel deserved the most severe chas. tisement, but God promised victory for his own salle'in order tp 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.
 III. Ahah's Victory Over the syrians {v. 15-21.) F.
 The army of Ahab was but a handful compared with;that ofsthe Syrian king (v. 15; of, 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 waf. He, with his princes. continued their drunken debauch.. The young men struck right and left. creating great consternation. When the seven thou. sand reserves joined the young men, general panic was produced among the Syrans. From the human side, the victory is accounted for by the drunk. enness of the Syrians, but from the al. vine side. we see that God wrought fol his own glory. Ahab pursued the Syri. ans with a great slaughter, but Ben. hadad escaped. Many have 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 acci. dents by automobiles, railroads, etc. are traceable to the use of intoxicating liquors.