Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-08


Racine. who selected the vivid and
son for his drama "Athalie," makes
us realize the fascination and power
or this thrilling Old Testament mar
rative, with its contrasted characters
and strange scenes. The story is a
bloody one, with revolving picture.
because strong willed, coarse. DOM
lneering woman introduced Baal wor-
snip into Judah. 1t teaches us that
moral and spiritual forces do not
develop their results unhindered and
unopposed. In the contest between
good and evil the greater advantage
appears to be apparently upon the
sade of evil. We have often thought
the same true in our own day. The
lesson clearly teaches us that there
is no age SO dark with crime but
there is hope that the seed of righteous
ness. religion and reform will take root.
spring forth and bear fruit
Jehoshaphat. the brave and good
son of Asa, during the height of his
prosperity as King of Judah was
filled with the ambition to restore the
union between the Kingdoms of
Judah and Israel. He tried to bring
this about through a marriage of his
with Athaliah. who was the daughter
Of Ahab and Jezebel The result of this
'.entangling alliance" was almost
fatal to the house OF David, for it
brought upon it the doom foretold by
Elijah upon the house of Ahab.
Athaliah was a daughter of Jezebel.
not only after the flesh, but after the
spirit. She dominated her husband,
Jehoram. so that when he succeeded
to the kingship of judah Baalism was
ence was so powerful that she had
the Temple Of Jehovah partially de-
stroyed to secure materials for the
building of shrines of Baal.
Her influence over her son, AhaZiah,
was as great as over his father. SO
that during his brief career, which
was cut short in the revolution of
Jehu, which had been started by
Elisha to wipe out the idolatrous
dynasty. of .Ahab and to cleanse
Israel Of Baal worship. when -Ahaziah
persisted. Athaliah seized the throne.
pregnable by destroying every MEM
Der of the royal family She did not
allow her remorseless ambition to
quench her human feeling that the
helpless condition of her grandchil-
dren ought to have made upon her
heart. A woman's wit and love were
used of God to fulfill the Lords
promise to maintain the seed of
David until the greater son of David
appeared by saving the infant son of
|
mother would have killed in her
bloody effort to rule supreme.
In our studies of the political,
civic and religious life of Israel, we
have seen the prophets opposing
Baalism. In Judah wa find a priest
all records of the southern kingdom.
His power. prestige and pecuniary re-
turns had been crippled by the in
PRODUCTION of Baalism. 1t was Je-
hosheba, the devoted and loyal wife
of the priest. who took the initiative
ever wrought in Judah. when she
took Joash and hid the babe in the
storeroom of the temple. Back of
every mans success and every move
ment for the benefit of humanity can
be found the influence of a noble
woman. Jehosheba'S success in hid
ing the young prince with the native
woman. whose service as nurse was
necessary for the maintaining of his
young life, was due to the fact that
she was the chosen instrument of Je-
hovah to demonstrate His power in
the affairs of men.
Jehosheba was the wife of Je-
hoiada, the priest, who sympa thized
with her efforts to save the boys life.
One OF the leading woman judges of
our juvenile courts recently called
the writer's attention to the crying
insists that philanthropists and So
cial workers are apt to overlook the
needs of the young lads of our city
streets, shops and stores. Probably
the greatest God-given opportunity
presented to US in this hour is to help
save the boys of our generation The
power Of woman TO shape the destiny
of the unfolding life committed to
her care is not surpassed by man. yet
every man can lend a helping hand.
L,
who was his nephew by marriage, for
Jehosheba was half-sister of Ahazi-
ah, was educated for his life's work.
In the seclusion of the temple the
young prince was fitted to become the
servant of the Lord in restoring the
temple and ruling the nation. We
will fail in our efforts if we do not
train up the young lives intrusted
to US, in the way of the Lord and for
the glory of His church. Jehoiada
not only supervised the education of
Joash but he prepared to place him
on the throne by means of a systematic