The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-09-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights on Next sundays
Lesson fer Teachers and Pupils
Edited BY Charles X. Meyers.

written and preserved for us as ar
example and warning. The lesson
which we have today taken out of the
history of the kings of Israel, certain
II " has many remarkable and import
\ ant lessons for us in our nineteenth
century.
One of the most powerful kings of
Israel was Ahab. He was so great
that he has a name not only in bible
history but in secular history. He
\ built a great palace of ivory. founded
cities, Overcame his enemies and
ranks as one of the great kings of the
ancient times. With all his power he
was at heart weak man morally and
was further lead to wrong doing by
4 woman named Jezebel. This wo-
man was so wicked that she stands
Aminently in bible history and
that of the world as symbolic of a
desperate, resourceful, vile woman.
Although Ahab was so great and
4 powerful, he wanted more possessions
and his eyes fell upon the humble
home of Jew named Naboth. Now
II this Jew stood on his legal rights and
n would not part with the heritage
which had come to him from his an
cestors, either for money or trade.
I'd The king was much disappointed and
showed it. His wife asked him the
cause Of his grief and was informed
as to the circumstances of the case.
She said to her husband, "Are you not
the king? Leave this matter with me
and will fix it, Jezebel called to
mind that in case a Jew was convict
4 ed of blasphemy that he should die
and his property would escheat to the
king. She therefore arranged with
two Of her heather servants, that
Naboth should be accused of bias
& phemy in a public place and killed
This was done. The wife then went
to tile king and told him that the man
WHO had dared to stand on his legal
rights was dead and the vineyard be-
I0h&ed to the king.
Ahab went out to the vineyard to
take possession of his new domain.
Ona can well wonder at his thoughts,
AS he attempted to enjoy it's shade
and vines. Knowing how it was OBJ
tained. Foolish man that he could
imagine that the acts OF himself and
wife were hidden from the sight of
God. While he was in the garden,
God had spoken directly to that fear
less prophet Of old, Elijah, and told |
him to Immediately go before Ahab
and denounce his conduct and give
sentence of punishment. That was
IA most dramatic scene, as Ahab look
cd up and saw Elijah standing before
him. ~ needed no words from Elijah
40 nave the king understand the i'm
port .tt Of the interview which was about |
~ lake place. Ahab said "Hast thou
found me, oh my enemy" Note the la
comic reply of the prophet, Eyes, 1 /
hare found you" Elijah Immediately Il
denounced the act Of the king and
SAID that he and his family, the wick
ed vile. should come to violent death
on account OF this sin which had been
committed.
There are a host Of things which
could be said about the character of
AfnaD and, Jezebel, but ! will mention
Just l, q .feWe First, the sin OF covetous-
ness; Ahab was rich and had great
p0sse4sions, yet he wanted a little I
more and such was his lust that he |.
NJ, was ready to gain his object by
heinQus crime. Second, there are I
great many people who hesitate to +.
carry out wicked plans and schemes /
which will come to their personal adj.
yanceMent, but are willing that 9th
ers should do the foul deed and then
are ready to set forth to enjoy the Il
spoiIs ~
While we denounce the vile wife for
what she did, king Ahab was the true II
criminal. He knew better and vet
was ready to take advantage of his
wtfe's' sins. Third, there is an old 4
adage, BE sure your sin will find Won
out, and 1t is well illustrated in the Z
case Of King Ahab. Little did he II
Z think AZ when he entered the vineyard II
that a Pronunciation of his conduct Il
would come so soon.
VI There Is in connection with the Old II
Testament story the words of Jesus Il
found in Matt. 10; 1895, wherein
Jesus declares that He came NOT tn |.
bring peace to the world but a sword !.
70 arouse husband against wife and
Drother against brother and friend Il
against friend. There is also q verse
rom Ieviticus which calls upon the
Lalthfu Jew to denounce his neighbor
.or wrong doing without hatred, ST.
tSaul speaks of what we term right.
sous indignation. These Thoughts
Dear directly on the conditions of the /.
rue christian church Of the world in
me present war. These American =
and sflnglish christians believe that
ne doing right in wreaking vens
seance on the German aristocracv
v y ne set out to acquire by violent
'solnquest the richest part of the III
I Y world These believe that
leath destruction and violent de.
unclatlon are in keeping with the !.
rrinciples Of the bible religion. While |.
esus is proclaimed as the Prince Of
'eace, yet the church people believe
lat His denunciations of the scribes .
az FPharisees, hypocrites, the driving =
w q the decorators of the temple Il
/ jerusalem and His stern words |.
lat a final judgment would punish
q laH sins, gives ample basis for viz. II
,nt action and words against The II
COPIES OF the central powers inhabi.
lung ~ Germany, Austria and Turkey
desire to. express the view that # |.
ouid be unchristian for hatred to
lter.iDto the leadership of the church
q Christ in the world; that This IL
lnlsnment which is being given Ger.
any and its helpers is but a chastiso.
ent as a wicked child or criminal 81
Aeaten, confined in Jail or even MT
sde&th, and all this without hatred
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