Evening star., 1922-02-25
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
This concluding study Of the work
of Elisha reveals him as a political
force The patriotism of the prophet
Is shown by the way his military in
telligence service protected the king
of Israel and frustrated the strategic
war plans of the Syrian monarch.
1t was not once, but repeatedly, that
the warnings of the prophet turned
the tide against the Syrian soldiers,
who were making desperate efforts to
capture Israers ruler. This filled the
king of Syria with despair. The dis
heartened monarch called new coun-
Gil Of war to probe the cause of their
series Of failures. 1t was natural to
suspect that Israel had succeeded in
planting a spy among the forces OF
Syria.
1t was the judgment of that coun-
Gil that Israel owed her victories to
superhuman omniscience of Elisha.
who appeared to them to be able to
penetrate the secrets breathed in the
kings bedchamber. In his despera-
ton Benhadad determined to locate
1t was not difficult for him to locate
Elisha at Dothan. which was ten miles
north of Samaria. He evidently
counted upon the forces Of his army
to capture Elisha. who probably
knew of his enemy's plans. The ef-
forts of the Syrians were doomed 10
fail, because they had not counted
upon the presence, power and protec-
tion of theS Lord. whose angel en-
campeth round about them that fear
Him, and delivereth them" The one
who shuts God out of his life will
find that his efforts will fail. Defeat
is certain to follow every plan that
does not consider the Lord as factor
in the affairs of men.
Loyalty to duty has called for many
heroic soul to suffer for the glory
of Chris, Jesus. Gods call to service
involves the possibilities of peril.
The cross meant death for the Master.
When the Lord summons us to FOL
low Him we must not forget that
His pathway to glory led through the
struggle of Gethsemane. the sacrince
Of GolSotha and the shadows OF the
grave. If we are to wear the victor's
crown in glory we must be prepared
to willingly suffer for Him here. NO
person is ever called upon to suffer
for Christs sake without having the
presence and protection of the Lord
given to him in the hour of his trlal'
tribulation and testing.
Our Lord in His parting message
to His disciples promised to be with
them unto the end of the age. He
was with the Jewish people in the
unfolding of the great epochs of their
history. He was with Abraham when
he responded to the call Of jehovah
He was with Moses in the organNa-
ton of the nation. as He was with the
chosen people in His advent. His
presence with His people has made
np$ he Ora r.
est in the hour of their bitterest
trials. The greatest progress OF the
Jew has been along spiritual lines
The record of the advancement OF any
people will always be found along
religious lines. There is noSiimit to
powers of this world are silent and
unseen. The mightiest is the spirit
ual. which, like air and electricity, Is
invisible. Men whose faith enabled
them to realize the presence OF Goo
have been the worlds greatest
spiritual forces. 1t was His protec-
ton that gave Elisha poise and power
to conquer when the hosts of Syria
surrounded Dothan in great numbers
at night for the purpose of capturing
the prophet.
tory are those that tell the story of
the sufferinss OF the faithful. The
record of the known and unknown
heroes of the faith have been sources
of great encouragement ito the fol-
lowers of the Lord Jesus in all ages.
1t is this that has made the blood of
the martyrs the seed of the church
All Christians have been inspired as
they have read how they have died
in exile and in prison. have been tor
tured on the rack and broken on the
wheel and burned to ashes at in
Vulnerable stakes; they have been
destitute, afflicted, tormented in their
lives. stoned. beheaded. sawn asun-
der. in every form of hideous death:
they have rotted in miry dungeons.
have starved on desolate shores. have
sighed out their souls in the agoniz-
ing fame" They, as well as Elisha.
received comfort and courage from
the presence of God with them in
their hours of peril.
The shadows. sorrows and Strug-
giles of life are changed when We
vrealize how Christ has kept His word
to His disciples. The history of Chris
tianity testifies that He is with His
people in the fullness of His love and
power to guide and protect them at
all times. God could not be with His
kingdom without being with every
subject Jesus could not be with His
church unless He was with ~every
member Elisha's experience has
been confirmed repeatedly in the mis-
sionary history of many ambassadors
of. the Master among heather and
pagan people. In the spiritual strug-
giles that come to every follower of
the risen Christ the Lord Jesus is
found meeting His disciples at their