Mower County transcript., 1891-04-01
SAVED FROM FAMINE.

SAVED ERUM FAMINE.
LESSON !, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATloNAL SERIES, APRIL 5.
Text Of the Lesson. III Kings vii, 1-16.
Commit Verses, s, 9-Golden Text, Ps.
evil. s-Commentary by the Rev. d. NJ.
Stearns. "*
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per
mission Of H. S. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel
phia]
After the Syrian army had been smitten
with blindness at the word of Elisha he
led them into the midst Of Samaria, then
prayed that they might see. Their eyes
being opened, they found themselves in the
presence of the man whom they sought,
the king OF Israel, who would have slain
them; but at the command of Elisha he
fed them, treated them we'll, and let them
go, thus conquering them with kindness
Today's lesson brings before us Samaria
SO besieged by the Syrians that there is
terrible famine, and mothers are so
crazed by hunger that they eat their own
children, and all because of their rebellion
against God
l. ''Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word
of the Lord.''
The king of Israel professed to be so filed
with horror at the doings of the people that
he swore to kill Elisha, and proceeded
forthwith to put his threat in execution.
2. ''Behold, if the Lord would make win
dows in heaven might this thing be-"
Thus spake companion of the king of
Israel, in reply to the word of the Lord by
Elisha, that tomorrow there would be
food in abundance; and thus speaks many
professed Christian today, in reference
to the great promises of the Lord of Hosts
It is a fearful sin, but so common, to make
light of the word of God or reject it alto
gether, because it seems impossible or un-
reasonable.
3: 4. "Why sit we here until we die?''
We are now introduced to four outcasts,
without the city because of their leprosy,
who are in a most pitiable condition. They
are dying slowly of disease; hunger is now
fastening their death-there is no relief
from the city; the Syrians can only kill
them, and thus shorten their misery, but
possibly may take pity on them and save
them. It is their only hope, and their
minds are made up. The condition of these
men was sad indeed, but what about those
in all Christendom who are on the way to
the second death and are Indifferent to it,
5. "And they rose up in the twilight to
go unto the camp of the Syrians, and, be-
hold, there was no man there"
Tremblingly and stealthily, under cover
of the twilight, they moved toward the
camp of the enemy, but enemy there was
none, no one to be seen. Their fears vanish,
their hearts leap within them; they ex-
pected death, but they find life, food and
riches in abundance. The change in
their circumstances is an illustration of
the difference between an unsaved person
seeking satisfaction from this world and a
saved soul rejoicing in the fullness of the
redemption and life eternal.
6. ''The Lord had made the host of the
Syrians to hear noise of chariots, and q
noise of horses, even the noise of a great
host"
He did not open their eyes to see the
hosts of the Lord as He did the eyes of
Elisha's servant wi, 17), but He caused
their ears to hear, and their hearts to i'm
agine great host pursuing them. It was
not a host of Hittites and Egyptians, as
they thought, but the unseen hosts of the
can say, ''Though an host should encamp
against me my heart shall not fear!''
z. "Wherefore they arose and fled fol
their life."
How many ways the Lord has of over.
throwing His enemies and sending deliver
ance to such as He desires to bless! The Lord
knoweth how. It is not for us either to
make suggestions or have any anxiety, but
1of obi do i,,n xr,t1 &C. 49, -
all things
9. 1--WE do not well; this day is day of
good tidings, and we hold our peace"
Thus spake the lepers as they perhaps
| paused in their overwhelming joy to con-
slider the famine stricken city so near by.
What word this is for all who have heard
and received the glad tidings of salvation.
eff we tarry till the morning light some
mischief will come upon us.''
Who can tell what the loss will be in the
resurrection morning to all believers who
have done nothing to spread the glad It'd
ings, when at the judgment seat of Christ
their iniquity has found them out R. ",
margin).
10. $50 they came and called unto the
porter of the city,"
They did not stop at good resolutions,
but Immediately put the same into effect.
Let all believers who are thinking of tell
ing or sending the good tidings to others, at
once do something about it and the work
will move on.
IL. "And he called the porters; and they
told it to the kings house within"
Thus the good tidings are passed on from
one to another, no one thinking of himself,
but only of the message of joy which he
bears.
IL. "And the king arose in the night and
said unto his servants, will now show you
what the Syrians have done to u.s."
Neither does the king wait till the morn