The National tribune., 1885-09-10
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by a Study of the Inter
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed for
Sent 00-3 Ri. =: 1-iE.

| Our headquarters in this lesson are at Da-
masCus, the Capital of Syria. Benhadad is
King. His principal General is Naaman. Jcho-
ram, son of Ahab, is King of Israel. Elisha is
living probably in the vicinity of Samaria. 1t
is held that Naaman is the soldier who slew
| Ahab, and gave victory TO Syria. Il Ri. D.
34.) The going out, i'll verse 2, does not prob
| ably refer to a formal battle. 1t was sort of
raid for spoil-the act rather of ireebooterS
than soldiers. The Douay styles the captOrs
"robbers' Such exploits were similar to the
! predatory incursions of the Bedouin Arabs, or
| to the dsordcry attacks of the HoobOos in the
| vicinity of Sierra Leone, or to the inrOads of
| Italian banditti. If committed by soldiers, it
was without regular orders. Sometime before our
lesson opens, body of Syrian pillagerS returning
from their forays, among other booty brought
| home little Jewish girl captive. She was
| sold Syrian slave and became the property
| of Naamau-the waitingmaid of his wife. The
| General for time had been afflicted with lcp
rosy. The captive girl noticed Naamans con-
ditiOn and felt sorry for him. One day she
marked to her mistress: II wish Elisha, our
| 1sraeltish Prophet, might only see Naaman;
| he would surely cure him" The suggestion
| leaked out. male servant heard it and went
at once and told it to Naaman. 1t reached the
| ear of Benhadad, who held Naaman in great
| esteem and would make any sacrifice in his
| interest He called for Naaman, and proposed
| that trial at once be made of the little girls
| suggestion. He wrote letter of introduction
| for Naaman to take to the King of Israel. He
| also furnished presents to be given to Elisha
money to the amount of 500 000 and 10 suits of
| apparel. What subjects do can be credited to
their rulers; SO, though Elisha was to effect the
| cure, it was to be by the permission of JehO-
| ram and so, in the letter of introduction, he Is
| addressed as the author of the cure. Bcnha-
dads subjects were at his order, and he supposed
Jehorams were, and that hence the King of
| Israel has but to command Elisha to favor
| Noa In hn loft lph nm
| inferred that the object was to stir up trouble,
| leading to war The letter asked Jehoram to
do an impossible thing, failing in which Ben
hadad would declare war. AS soon as Elisha
hears of his Kings agitation and its cause, he
sends word to him to have Naaman directed to
his prophetic home After little, chariot and
horses are seen before Elishas house. The
Prophet does not approach the royal occupants.
He simply sends out word by his servant, di-
recting Naaman to plunge seven times beneath
the waves of the Jordan. Naaman imagined
he did not receive such attention as became his
rank. He expected the Prophet would ap
proach him in an obsequious manner, and, pass
ing his hands over the leprous skin, remove
the disorder. Then, if he must wash in any
river, he is offended at the Prophets choice
He thought a river of Syria more fitting. The
Jordan was not beautiful and clear as either
the Abana or the Pharpar. Had it not been
for the persuasions of his servants he would
have returned to Damascus uncured. They
urged he at least make the experiment, and
not be offended because the means suggested
by Elisha were so simple. He listened and
needed. The company drove on to the Jordan.
Naaman walked down to the river bank and
out into the stream. Six times he dipped and
no signs of cure. Now comes the telling mo-
ment. Naaman is just bending beneath the
waters for the seventh time. He rises Won
derful change! The grimy skin, filthy in its
open, disgusting cracks and seams, offensive in
its deadly odor, is changed for skin fair, soft,
clean as that of a little child
We read this history in vain unless it teach
us some lessons of use in daily life We now
notice such:
l. Greatness is not exempt from afliction.
Naaman was to Syria what Grant was to the
United States. lie was the General of Ben
hadads army. But both Naaman and Grant
suffered from incurable diseases.
2. The case of Naanian gives hint as to the
Catholicity of Christianity, and so is suggestive
from missionary point Not only Jews were
benefited by Prophets of Israel, but likewise
Gentilcs.
g. What men do they do through Gods aid
and permission. Even Naaman's victory over
Israel was by the Lords help. (V1D 1t was
a punishment.
4. The ccclesiastic dominates over the civil
in the religious realm. Kings impotent
where at times the clergy are effective. Jeho-
ram was forced to turn Naaman over to Elisha
This principle is illustrated also i'll Benhadad.
He could command chariots and horses, gold
and silver, costly raiInent, and ask favorS OF
Kings, but he could not cure his General.
5. Notice the limitations to human perfect
ness. Say whatever you please to the credit of
any man, and after you have done and said all
you are obliged to add but" There is some
) defect. Naaman had almost every qualification,
but lie was a lepcr."
Perfections have offsets No one is perfect.
Enumeratc all the good features of any man,
and yet at the end you are forced to add " but
he has this and that leprosy spot" Even st.
Paul had thorn in the flesh. The story goes
that Providence gave to certain Province of
France to have most fascinating spirit in its
Wines but (there was but" as to said
Province) Providence denied to its human in
| habitantS common sense
g. Train children WELL so that, if they be
taken from home, they will bear lessons with
them helpful both to them and those with
whom they may live. Naaman's wife'S maid
had evidently learned at homo the facts she
taught in the Generals house.
T. Do not be suspicious. Do not too hastily
| infer evil intent. Jehoram thought Beuhadad
meant mischief. Weigh letters and words care
fully. BE sure harm is intended before you
become alarmed and before you are grieved
with another and offended by him.
6. Patriotism is virtue. One is excusable
for loving his country, its hills, valleys rivers,
} | III preferences 10 LnOSe VI OtnCr laDuS. buu
God, too, is entitled to his preference, and
when he says Jordan we must not declare
ALBANIA.
8. Be faithful servants. Blessed maid For
tunato master! AS Krummacher says, the SOL
diers caught nightingale that was destined
to sing the songs of Zion in the darkness OF
r Syria" And Naaman was a true servant to
Benhadad
10. We see something of the proper relations
between mistress and maid, master and servant.
, Naaman's wife was conversational and conf
Dental with the little slave. Benhadad was
kind to Naaman.
IL. Even children have power to do great
good. A little girl speaks Hence originate
the royal introduction, presents and the cure
of Naaman.
II. Sin is leprosy We should go to Christ
for cure. He is styled Fountain. Salvation
, is called the water of life" In a fgurative
way, the Prophet sets forth the condition OF
the soul of man before conversion. lie says
"The whole head is sick, and the whole heart
faint. From the sole Of the foot even unto the
head, there is no soundncss in it, but wounds
and bruises and purifying sores they have
, not been closed, neither bound up, neither mol
lifted with ointment" as, g.
"No outward form can make clean;
The leprosy lies deep within"
Christ has once for all had compassion on u.s.
; touched our wounds by the incarnation, borne
. our sckncssc5, stretched out his hands the
cross, and from its ascGnt exclaimed: 81 viii