Lesson for March 12,1911
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the wealth and the wives of Ahab, and claimed them as his own. The liquor men are like-minded. There is nothing sacred in their eyes; the rights of others are ruth- lessly ignored and trampled; all the desola- tion and robbery and violence that lies in the path they have trodden kindles no re- gret, repentance or remorse. 3. His Arro- gance. 11 is his purpose and endeavor to take possession (v. 6) of property, all pleas- ant things, of wives and children. Directly intoxicants cost the country $14 per annum per capita, men, women and children, or $70 per capita for adult men. Incidentally, the sum is incalculably greater. But the direct and indirect injury to social peace; the sorrows inflicted on wives and mothers; the destruction of mind, body and morals among the children and youth of the land, all is essentially more devastating and ir- reparable than Benhadad was capable of occasioning; he, his followers, and succes- sors. Who but, out of his own observation and experience, can draw for illustration of the arrogant appropriation of property, marring of domestic and social peace, and destruction of health, intellect and morals? Two out of five of the insane are the vic- tims of Alcohol; one out of five of the epi- leptics are the fruits of strong drink; four out of five of the criminals are th'e moral wrecks on this ocean of drink; and most of the tramps are its derelicts. 4. His As- surance (v. 10). So great is the multitude of his adherents, so vast the opportunities of his trade, so strongly intrenched is he in the commercial world, that nothing can daunt his confidence in continued success. He may have temporary and local reverses, but he believes in the abiding supremacy of his evil star. He has unlimited money, and prevailing influence. He does not hesi- tate to multiply his stations as fast a space is afforded him to push on. I remember a ride on the Third Avenue "L," in New York and noting on but one side of the street from three to seven saloons on the block; gen- erally one, frequently all, of the corners, oc- cupied by saloons. I counted nineteen saloons in a row in a mining town in In- diana. The saloon despises a vacuum and ' expands into every vacant storeroom and ontd every available corner. "My lord, O King, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have!" What could be more abject? To such "base uses comes the worshipper of Baal and the golden calf. Oh, for one day of the old heroes of faith. The oxgoad of Shamgar (Jdg. 3:31); the sword of Gideon (Jdg. 7:20, 21); the jaw bone of an ass in the hand of Samson (Jdg. 15:15, 36); the bow of Jonathan (1 Sam. 1-22); the sling stone of David (1 Sam. 17: 48 49). 2. The same craven concession is made to King Alcohol today. He boasts, "Thy silver and gold is mine. But for me the grass would grow in your streets, the wheels would stand still in your factories, your rails would rust, your laborers Would clamor for work, your storerooms would stand empty in their rows, your- treasuries would default to the public service." The taxpaver trembles; the merchant sees bank- ruptcy at the doors; the laborer fears for his job; the office holder feels his seat slip- ping from under him; the policitian is in II. AHAB. 1. His Craven Concession (v. 4).
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SYRIA'S SIEGE OF SAMARIA. 1 Kings 20.
^ I. NOTES:
1. Forshadowings. a. The coming event *• of Israel's captivity cast its shadow before. Syria on the northeast border had become a formidable power. It should prove a lem- ».porary buffer between Assyria and its fu- ture captive Israel, b. Chastenlngs. Je- hovah, meanwhile, uses Syria to chasten * His backslidden people. He makes them feel the power of their neighbors to injure, that He may drive them home by fear; and His * own power to deliver that He may draw them back to trustful hope. p. Obduracy. But it is i human perversity not to know r that the goodness and long suffering of God leadeth. to repentance (Rom. 2:4); and sin- , ful blindness not to see the .evident signs "of impending judgment. 2. a. Chronologically this should have > been lesson ix. The order is transposed to fit into "Temperance Sunday." But, b. we must not pass the place It holds in the rec- y ord of redemptive history, while we .accom- modate the story to the temperance crusade, c. Prophetically, the passage stands to teach (1) the longsuffering' of God with re- bellious Israel (and men); (2), His providen- tial relations in raising, up., heathen (na- tional) powers to Serve His purposes; (3) His revelation to them as the true and al- mighty God who is able to save His people B even if later, to show His glorious justice, He gives them up to their enemies; and (4) that the gods of the heathen in whom they f trust cannot save thefn from defeat and do not give them their victories. These are worthy reason's for an inspired history, and perennial lessons for each generation of men to learn and to heed. (5) For His own name's sake it is that He delivers or ' -delivers up, as may be (E'zek. 20:44), and this our best assurance • that He will per- form His promises; ultimately save His peo- * pie; and make the nations know that He is Jehovah. With this confidence we should never eravenly yield to our enemies and f His nor fear to go against them whether "by many or by few" (2'Chron. 24:11). His 1 His Array, a. He led a conglomerate " and confederate host, with all the munitions ' of war, bent on the destruction of the peo- t ' pie of God and the possession of all their • inheritance. He had penetrated with them to the capital, the very citadel and heart of * the nation, and not without leaving a devas- tated country in his rear, reducing thereby Ahab to abject fear and stripped of earthly <• reliance, b. Spiritually it stands for that mighty host arrayed against the Church of God; the society, families, and souls of men, actuated by that aerial power that now works in the children of disobedience (Eph. "612 - 2'2). c. There is much in common-be- tween the King of Syria and the king of spirits. Alcohol leads a . motley host of brewers, distillers, vintagers, bottlers and dealers, wholesale and retail; of hotel men, saloonkeepers, bartenders; of gamblers, the- atres dance hails and brothels; drinkers, treaters, tempters; whiskey, brandy, wine, beer cigars, pipes, cigarettes, opium, mor- phine, cocaine; bottles, cans, mugs and glasses. 2. His Avarice. He coveted (v. 39 - Name is Victory. - II. BENHADAD.
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