The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-05-17
GOLDEN TEXTILE BEING DEAD YET
Heb XII: 4.
shOrtsr Catschism. Question 1OS.

GOLDEN TEXTILE BEING DEAD YET
XII: 4.
Shorter Catschism Question l0S.
QUESTIONS.
V. IA Who came to see Elisha when ne was lilE
What is said of the death OF prophets In Aeca' / !:
5? Why did Joash weep2 Psalm xii: l.. Prov,
Xxx: 6. What titles did he bestOw upon the pro
pbet2
Y. Is. What did Elisha tell him to do?
V. L. What was the further commando w nal
did Elisha do also? Why was this doneE Psalm
xviii: 80.
V. II. Why did he tell him to open the east
Window What did he say that arrow was! Where
was Joash to smite the Syrlans?
V. Is. What command did ne now give no"
many times did he shoot to the ground yin,
V. 10. Did this please Elisha Why not WY
did he shoot no more arrows? Mark vi: B. How
many victories did Joash gain? verse 70.
V. 20. What is said Of Elisha in this verse E
What maruding bands invaded the klogdOmI
V. 81. What miracle is here related what
was it thought PETERS shadow could do Acts i: |:
I5 What was done with Paul's handkerchiefs
Acts xix: r.
NOTES ON THE LESSON.
The last mention of Elisha vas in the ninth
chapter of II Kings, when he sent one OF his
disciples to anoint Jehu king. Now after q
long life of usefulness and honor, for he must
have been over eighty years of age ne lay
mon a bed of death. "Msn lieth down,
and riseth not" Job xiv: II. A long In
terVal had elapsed since Jehu was anointed
forty, five years had passed without any men
ton of Elisha, and yet during all that time
he was probably busily engaged in the in
struction of his pupils, "the sons of the pro-
phets." 1t is evident by the lamentation
made by the king over his sickness that ne
had steadily maintained his honorable and
useful position in the nation.
V. IA. JOash, the son of JehOahaz, was
not pious man, and yet he loved and re-
spected the prophet as his friend, and called
him by the same reverential title "my father"
that Elisha had used at the departure OF
Elijah. Hazael, king ofSyria, had oppressed
Israel all the days of Jehoahaz, and Benhsdad
was still more hostile.
V. Is. In this direction to stake bow and
arrows" we have symbol; which was after
wards interpreted. JOash was sad over the
frequent defeats his army had experienced
in their contests with the Syrians and need
ed to be encouraged, and to have his hopes
revived.
V. 16. "Put thine hand, or make thy
hand ride upon the bow, ," and Elisha put mis-
hand upon it to show that the hand of the
Lord would be with Joash, and thus strength
to overcome the enemy was symbOlized. 1t
taught also that though the king might hold
the bow, unless the Lord directed the arrow
the effort would be in vain.
V. II. Eastward" was towards the east
side of the Jordan, where the victories were
to be gained, and portions of the land re-
covered that had been wrested away by the
kings of Syria. To "shOot'' was an ancient
method of declaring war. An arrow or
iayelin was thrown into the country to be in
vaded. The Interpretation was now plain to
the king, for the arrow of the Lords oliver
ance was the arrow of deliverance from Syria.
Aphek was town between Damascus and
Palestine, about six miles east of Galilee.-
The Lord had already given the Israelites a
great victory at this place. l. Kings Xxx;
49, The modern name is Fix.
V. Is. The number of victories to be gain
ed were told by the arrows smitten upon the
ground. This was a test of JOash's faith,
lust as the widows faith was shown by the
number of jars she filed with oil. His shoot
ing only three arrows showed that he either
feared to ask too much, or lacked faith and
perseverance for thorough triumph.
V. 10. Elisha was angry at his want of
zeal and fervOr, and rebuked him and limited
the promise, predicting only three victories
over the Syrians. See verse 25.
V. 20. We have here only short Obitu-
ary notice of the death of the prophet. Jo-
sephus says she obtained a magnificent flu.
neral" He was buried in cave, as was the
custom. Some writer's think this cave was
near Jericho, where frequent bands of rob
bers invaded the country. Others Fix the
burial place near Samaria where he resided.
V. 81. 1t pleased God so to honor the re-
mains of his servant, as to quicken to life
again dead body brought in contact with
his bones.
PRACTICAL LESSONS.
l. The death of good man is public
calamity, and is often lamented by those who
while he lived, refused to believe his doc
trines, or follow his example.
2. We must attempt great things for God,
and expect great things from Him. He has
given us culver full of arrows, the Bible,
with which to overcome the flesh and the
devil, and His blessing is in proportion to
our active, faithful efforts.
3. God takes care of the honor and inAu
ence of His servants.
PRAYER is knowing work, believing work,