Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-03-20
ELISnA'S DEFENDERS.
LESSON XII, FIRST QUARTER, INT en-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH 22.

NJ. St.arps.
Compiled from Lesson Helper QuarserlY by pc
mission OF IL 5. Hoffman, publisher, PhiNhel |
phia.
s. "Thcn the king Of Syria Warrcd
against Israel, and took counsel with his
servants, saying. In such and such place
shall be my camp"
Between the story Of Eaamun and Ge-
hazi and this lesson the Holy Spirit has
written the r,cor1o of house building near
Jordan by the sons Of the prophets, and
the miraculous recovery Of n lost Ak, from
which we see the need, humanity speaking,
of the money which Naanan offered Elisha;
but the prophet prefers to rely wholly and
only upon lac God Of Israel.
0. And the man of God sent unto the
king Of Israel, saying, Beware that thou
pass not such piece, for thither the
5yrians are come dos ~
How often we are reminded that "All
.hin.,s are naked aud opened unto the eyes
Of Him with whom We have to do, and that
"'Thc eyes Of he Lord are in every place
beholding the evil and the good (Heb. ir,
IL; Prov, Ky. 81 but mere IS woulroua
grace and continued grace to a wicked
man. The king OF Israel was Jehoran,
son Of Anab, aud be wrought evil in the
sight of the Lord, chewing unto the sins of
Jcrob0oul, the son oi NcbaJ (chap. iii, l-5J,
and get this i not the first I me that God
has Shown him Kindness through Elisha
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.
God hath spoken once; twice have |
heard this, that power belonEeth unto
God" and TIN, power is continually being
put forth on behalf OF sinful nun to bring
back bis soul from the pit, but though God
spcaketh oncc-yea, twice-yet mum per
cciveth it not (Ps. Xii, II; Job xxXiii, H.
20
II. "Therefore the heart OF the king OF
Syria was sore troubled for this thing
1t was not his sins that troubled him.
but the fact that he could not catch his
pre-, and that lis enemy 50 succe-s iully
eluGed him.
Il Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel,
tclloth the king Of Israel the words THAT
thou speak - in thy bedchanber.
Like the servants of Naa:nan. these serv-
ants seem wiser than their master, for
Great men are not always wise dob
xxi, O.
ID And he said Go and spy where he
| is that may sead and fetch him
The Lord so ciiectUaily hid Elijah that
| Ahab and all lis searchers could nov .ind
| him anywhere in all the llud ! KINGS
| xviii, 100. lie also hid BarIch aud ,Tere-
miah so that their enemies could not find
them (jer. XXNVi, @o) let TINS uuoeiieyer
thinks to capture one who could say Of
/ God, "I'hou art my hiding place, Thou
shalt preserve me- from trouble; Thou
shalt compass me about with songs OF de-
| liverance' (ps. xxi, .. The wicked
watcheth the righteous and seeiieth TO
Stay him, but be Lord will not leave him
in his hand Dps. xxXvii, 32-@3l.
And it was told him saying, Behold, he
is in Dothan.'
A. Therefore sent he thitner horse, and
! churiojS and great host, and they came
by night AID coInVISscd the city about.
surely trey had their man nov, and es-
cape was impossible. Thus it seemed to
human eyes.
u. And when the servant OF the man
OF God was risen carly, &ul conc t1-ti. be-
hold, an host comprised me cltT both ~ith
| horses and cn1riots."
While Elisha slept the enemy encom-
passed him about. but Elisha rod neither
slumbers nor sleeps, and Elisha rested IN
Him, and feared no evil. HIS servant
however had not the faith of his MASTER
and We may imagine his fears a. this -ly.c
met his eyes. The host OF syrian, VS. r. i
and formidable, and there was evidently
no way Of Geliyerauce
"And hi, servant said unto him, Alas,
my master! how shall we Go:'
lie probably felt something Ike Israel
when they saw the hosts Of Pharaoh i1r-
SUNG them, the mountains on either ,e
OF them and tho sea before them TX. XIV.
Is. And he answered. Fear not
From Gen. Ky, /, ~ Rev. i, II how Oft
that precious word Fear not ha, siilird
the troubled soull But before it can give
peace it must be spoken by ono who has
some ground and authority f'r saying il.
They that he with us ere more than
they that be with Them
What is it that Elisha sees that his sery-
ant cannot seer l. he giving utt~rhuce "a
a hope orto the assurance OF reality, We
shall see that he means just what h' says
and is fully persuaded Of every wor of it,
II. And Elisha prayed and said lerd
| pray thee, open hi, eyes that he may sec.
What simple prayer, how short, loN
comprehensive! No preiu,narieN ana IA,
conclusion, not even an amec; just "A >ln-l,
petition, asking ~ from a familiar irieud
for just what lac wanted. Ny soul says
Lord Jesus, ask tAo Father for me that
my eyes may by the Holy spirit be opened
to behold wludrou- things uNt oi Thy
word" And expect He will 1hankiuc
Him for what We nave seen, let - expect
moro Light every time We c7eu His Word
And tie Lord opened t.r eyes Il t.e
young man, and he saw; and behold, the
mountain was iUN Of horses ans chariot,
Of fire round about !i,ha.'
Now We know why Elisha sald, Fear