The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-01-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

SUNDAY, JANUARY Is.
ELIJAH'S CHALLENGE TO BAAL
WORSHIP.
l. Kings 10.
This is the victory that hath overcome
the world, even our faith.-I. John
Sd.
THE FIGHT.
Moses kindled a new fire of devo-
zion in the religion of the world Je-
hovah had wrought SO marvellous g
deliverance that passionate loyalty
was the only rightful response. But
while Chemosh was the god of Moab,
Osiris of Egypt, and Marduk of Bah
yl0n, Jehovah was the God, the He
brews. Canaan was their land of
promise and its possession was an
other stimulus to their religious zeal
Yet no inconsistency was felt in keep
ing sacred the old shrines of the land
and local. Baals offered convenient
now ruling deity. No more scruple
was felt than is true among the Cath
olics for the pictures of various saints
where Christ is regarded as supreme
But with Jezebel a new factor was
introduced. The supremacy of Je-
hovah was disputed on His own
ground. This Tyrian Baal was god
of a neighboring and powerful peo-
pie, and there could be no question
OF his independence of Jehovah or his
claim to worship. The queen had
also a passion for her faith and was
as sure of the right of Baal to. reign
as of her own. Why should not the
deity of a higher civilization dom
mate that of a lower? All the vigor
and splendid ability of despotic and
attractive ruler was flung into the
task of expanding the rule of her re-
}igion. The question that emerged
was whether Jehovah was only one
among the gods of the world or
whether He was supreme. It was an
idea full of peril for religion as well
as for Israel, for her nationality rest
ed upon a religious base and her very
life was threatened if that founda-
ion was broken up into fragments
instead of being a solid wall. And
many-godded religion has always
plunged its people into degradation.
All the science and all the unity Of
rhe universe were involved in the
struggle that has brought US to rec
ognize q single Head for all things
chat exist. 1t is little wonder that
Elijah passionately fought for the
supreme place for his God who had
wrought such deliverances for him
self and for his people. And that is
The need today-the devotion that
viii thone Christ as Lord Of all His
world; that will make every knee
DOW before Him whose right it is to
reign. And the peril lies in the fact
pointed out by Dr. Cope that there
are twice as many young people I'M
der 25 who are receiving no religious
instruction as there are in our Sun
day schools. Here is a peril as po-
tent as that which Elijah attacked.
THE FIELD.
The Prophet emerged from his OBJ
security after the long drought had
Kept his promise to the land as an
evidence of Jehovah's displeasure.
1t was daring thing to do, for a
price was on his head, yet he walked
boldly into the presence of Ahab and
demanded the calling of a great pop
uiar gathering to decide the question.
lie went over the king and queen to
the democracy of the people and in
sisted upon referendum on the atti-
Jude. of Jezebel. Old Carmel was to
be the place and from it's rugged
amphitheatre could be seen the rip
pling sea dotted with the merchant
ships of Tyre and Sidon outward or
inward bound, bearing the riches of
the world. The cities themselves
showed along the vast horizon, pro-
IIlC pOWtI anu wealth. Oh
Baal. At their feet was the valley of
countless struggles and inspiring
memories of Deborah, Barak, Saul
and Jonathan. To the east Galilee
cleaned like jewel set in emerald
and as his eye swept on it touched
Ebal and Gerizim, Shiloh and Bethel.
and a thousand spots sacred to the
mighty memories of Jehovah, Josh
va, Samuel, David, and the cherished
history of the land. Two wonderful
maps were unrolled in subtle appeal
before the faces of these Hebrews
who were being called upon to decide
whether the God of their fathers
should be leveled to equality with for
eign deities. Elijah could have what
he willed in the movie world TODAY
as stage manager planning the set
ting for the pictured story. His mind
was as keen as the hour was peril
Gus. Then into the arena came thous-
ands of men only summoned from all
t@aTTarc Of 4ho IoYJ L.,