The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-04-18

| me King OF iSraci from military m
VISION q the Syrians. The prophet
sent word to the king tina; the Syrian
monarch in force was to camp a; a
certain place. and admonishcd him,
Beware that thou pass not such and
such a place; Tor thither the Syrians
are coming down The king was wise
enough 10 heed the prophet Elisha
and we read that he saved himself
there. not once or twice In other
words. by needing the divine word as
It came 10 him BY the prophet. he
escaped from the cleveriy planned
ambush OF the enemy The plan was
10 lead him on 10 narrow deiile in
The mountains. an old military trick.
and suddenly Gu, him Off.
THE Syrian king was much put
out over the shrewdness OF the Jew
sh king. and accused his own re-
tanners OF being spies and revealing
his plans to the other side One OF
his servants. wiser than he. assured
him that the Jewish prophet was the
occasion for his plans miscarrying
% King. he said, the prophet that
IS in Israel telleth the king OF Israel
he words thar thou speakiSt in thy
bedchamber.' Learning that Elisha was
in the citv Dothan he suddenly ad-
yaned upon that city with a formid-
able army OF horses and chariots. He
arrived a, nigh, and in the morning
the city awoke 10 find itself be,age-
wered by the Syrian host
This Syrian king believed that by
capturing Elisha and killing him. he
would catch the prophets ideas and
kill his influence: theory OF dealing
with prophets that has not yet wholly
died out in the world How brute
force has been worshipped as a god
throughout the genera;ionsl Napo-
Icons dictum. that God IS always on
the side OF the heaviest baiialions.
has its advocates by the tens OF thou
sands. but those who are wise-hearted
know, with Elisha. that only the
heather place their trust in rocking
tube and iron shard.' For them the
old promise holds ever true that it
it not by might, nor by power, but
by my spirit. saith the Lord Of hosts.
'Elisha's servant, a young man OF
fine character but OF quavering faith
cries out. Alas. my master, how shall
we do'' But Gods prophet could see
what the young man did not. and so
he prayed a beautiful and tender petit
ton Lord. pray thee. open his eyes
that he may see And. 10. he saw.
what young men and old men need so
much to see that the mountain WAS
full of horses and chariots OF fire
round about Elisha Fear not; for
they that are with us are more than
they that are with them And so II |
mas ever been. One with God is a |
majority. As another has written,
Gods world is full OF flaming forces.
angels. ministernig spirits, that we i'll
our earihlness and blindness cannot
see: but are there all the same and |
all the while Elisha lived in the spir-
il of the great warrior salmist who |
.hus challenged the hosts OF iniquity
The Lord is the strength OF my life;
or whom shall ! be afraid?
Though host should encamp
against me,
My heart shall not fear.
For in the day OF trouble he will
<eep me secretly in his his pavilion;
In the covert OF his tabernacle will
lie hide me.
THE Syrian forces were stricken
With blindness. and under the spell
If an hallucnation they were led By
he intrepid prophet away from his
.ity OF Dothan and into the very
midst OF the army OF the king of Is
ael. Then the Lord opened their
yes and they saw; and. behold. they
we're in the midst OF Samaria.'
"The end of this astonishing story
S quickly told. The king OF Israel,
eeing his enemy powerless before
i'm cried out to Elisha. Ny father,
hall smitc them? shall | smi:e
hcm' The answer of the prophet
must have nearly keeled him over for
e replied Thou shalt not smite them
set bread and water before them. .
hat they may eat and drink and go {
, their master Great provision was ;
iep~Inade for them. and the prophets r
ijunctiou was carried ont in spirit
nd in truth. Here. my friends, eight a
enturies before Christ, was applied +
lat apostolic command. If thine en-