The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-04-11
THE JUDGE
REVIEWS
THE LESSON


and Mammon." Matthew Vi. "a.
MT. Carmel is the scene Of today S
lesson Eljah's victory over Baal was
one OF the most dramatic events OF
history. But it was more than that.
The lesson OF THAT occasion is Of IN
iversal application.
when Elijah was raised 70 the
prophetic office Israel was in a bad
way. We have studied how the king
dom OF David was divided between
Rchoboam and Jcreboam. Elijah was
the prophc, OF the northern kingdom
and he was called to preach very un-
popular doctrine Prophets generally
are. That was a dramatic meeting re-
corded in | Kings xviii:l7. when Ahab
the king, said 10 the fierce prophet
rs it thou. thou troubler OF Israeli
Prophets and Preachers OF righteous
ness are always making trouble &c
cording to their enemies. But it is a
kind OF trouble nation needs when
all sense OF righteous values are lost
and niquiiy rules unchecked. Elijah,
however. gave the king the correct
answer.
And he answered, \ have not troub-
led Israel: but thou and thy fathers
house, in that We have forsaken the
commandments OF Jehovah. and thou
hast followed Paal
at undeniaby true that most OF
the difficulties OF life come as a result
OF sin, the following OF Baal which
represents all tina, is grossly licentious
in human life. But always the votaries
OF these evil practices place the blame
for hard times and for everything that
is wrong upon the shoulders OF the
cody priests and prophets who decry
them and their sinfulness In Elijah's
time RIGHTEOUSNESS was elevated TO the
dignity OF religious worship. Baal be-
ing its incarnation OF deity.
After meeting Ahab. who had
sworn to kill him on sight. and plac-
ing the blame for the famine in Is
rae and the hard times through
which the nation was passing upon |
the king and his officials. Elijah chal-
lenged the priests OF the state religion
Baal, to combat on Mt. Carmel 1t ,
was TO be spectacular exhibition OF
strength between jehovah OF Israel
and the Phenician deity. Baal. Here
4 comment is in order as to why Baal
had the right OF way religiously. The {
answer is Ahabs wife. know il Z
seems cowardly to put the blame on
woman. Many women today say that
S an Adamic trait too often practised 7
,y his descendants. But Jezebel was 7
| Phenician. foreigner, and Paal was $
Ter god. When Ahab welded her he
had to wed her religion at the same
ime A woman's religious faith gen
rally governs in her household wheih-
T i, is good. bad or Indifferent
Had Ahab married a devout be-
lever in Jehovah he undoubtedly
would have been different type OF
nan. Bu, Jezebcl ruled. and was the
cal power behind the throne. She was
me OF the wickedest women who
yer lived Her name is a synonym
or thar which is utterly had In the
ook OF Revelation John uses Jezebe
S the name by which he character
res an apestate Faith in the churcl
{ his century. Thank God for the
ODDLY women, the mothers in Is.
ael.' who keep alive the sacredness II
nd purity OF real religion We car
ever pay to them the eternal deb II
&C owe But when women OF the type II
{ Jezebel and every irreligious wo-
ian belongs to her camp rule in any II
ONE then God help all within the II
cope of their influence. The highes; II
'pe OF woranly character in the Old II
testament is reflected by Ruth. the
Ioabitest. also a foreigner and an inn
agrant. But how radiant. how beau;i-
] she is rs pictured to us in the book
at bears her namel She was not
'illiant. she was only average in her
entail attainmenis. But her religious
it'll elevated that average lie into
lie OF the most famous and noble
oman of history. Contrast her with
zebel. ! have no doub, Iezebel was
ore beautiful, ouiwardly. Certainly
e was more brilliant. Bat hers was III
. brillsnoy of Cleopatra and OF
Uterine de Medici She had power
d wealth and the first social posi-
n in the land. Yet. behold. she ro-
'uted her briliiance. her power. her
alth to ignoble and bcas,ly purpose
ebel. the Phenicianess. or Ruth. the
abitess who represents the type OF
manhood we want most in society
ay, Elijah the prophe; cast his vote
the woman with the fear OF the
d in their hearts He came 10 over