The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-10-01
The Sunday Schools.
2 Kings 6, S-23

Kings 6, S-23.
Then the King of Syria warred against Is
| rael, and took counsel with his servants saying
In such and such place shall be my camp.
8 And the man of God sent unto the King OF
| Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a
! place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place
which the man of God told him and warned
him of and saved himself there, not once nor
twice.
IL Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was
sore troubled for this thing; and he called his
servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show
me which of us is for the king of Israel?
IL And one of his servants said, None, my
lord, o king; but Elisha, the prophet that is in
Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that
thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
13 And he said Go and spy where he is, that
may send and fetch him. And it was told him
saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
IA Therefore sent he thither horses. and char
lots, and a great host and they came by night
and mpassed the city about.
Is And when the servant of the man of God
was risen early, and gone forth, behold, host
compassed the city both with horses and char
lots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my
master! how shall we do?
16 And be answered, Fear not for they that
be with are than they that be with
them.
II And Elisha prayed, ard said, Lord, pray
thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the
Lord opened the eyes of the young man and
he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of
horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
1S And when they came down to him, Elisha
prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this peo-
pie, pray thee, with blindness. And he smote
them with blindness according to the word of
Elisha.
10 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the
way, neither is this the city follow me, and
will bring you 10 the man whom you seek. But
he led them to Samaria.
20 And it came to pass, when they came into
Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes
of these men, that they may see. And the Lord
opened their eyes, and they saw: and, be-
hold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
81 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha,
when he saw them, My father. shall I smite
them? shall smite them?
% And he answered, Thou shalt not smite
them wouldest thou smite those whom thou
thou hast taken captive with thy sword and
with thy bow? set bread and water before
them. that they may eat and drink, and go
to their master.
% And he prepared great provision for them
and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent
them away, and they went to their master. So
the bands of Syria came no more into the land
of Israel.
GOLDEN TExr.-For not: for they that be with
us are more than they that be with them.-
Kings, GIG.
TIME.-Perhaps B. G. $50.
PLACES. Dothan, twelve les north of
Samaria and Samaria, the capital of Israel.
The King was very shrewd. He would |
entrap the hosts of the King of Israel
and rejoice in a great victory over his
camp with view to taking his enemies
unawares. But his plans failed to work;
the enemy invariably escaped; here was
a mystery; the plans were carefully ar
ranged, the place of the surprise marked
out, but the enemy was not there; there
was therefore but one rational conclusion
left for the nonplussed King-some one of
tion to the enemy. There was some |
traitor in the ranks.
Calling his servants about him, he asked
that the traitor be pointed out. There
upon one of his servants informed him
hat Elisha the Prophet OWNED the
thoughts of the King of Syria. and COM
his plans to the King of Israel.
lC is not surprising, GHeItloIt, 1ldG ne
resolved to capture this wonderful
Prophet. And most completely did he
surprise the Prophet; but Elisha had
a greater spy and protector for himself
than he had been for the King of Israel.
He had the Creator of the Universe for
him, and it mattered not who was against
1im 1t so happened that just in the
moment of victory for the King of Syria.
in answer to the prayer of Elisha the
followers of the King were smitten with
blindness, and were thus led captives to
;he King of Israel. When their sight
was restored, they were fed, and sent
heir way, and came no more to the land
)f Samaria.
The great teaching of this lesson is the
irmness of faith which characterized
Elisha Even in the presence of an army
sent to capture him, his faith in his Di
vine Master never for moment wav-
cred, and in answer to his prayer he saw
;he hosts of the Lord ready to protect
him. God never forsakes those who
rust Him fully.