Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-04-05
SAVED FROM FAMINE.
1 LESSON l. SECOND QUARTER, IN.
TERNATlONAL SERIES, APRIL s.

evil, documentary by the Rev. ID. M
stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per.
mission Of II. S. Holman, 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 well, and let them
go, thus conquering them with kindness
Today's lesson brings before us Samaria
so besieged by the Syrians that there is
a terrible famine, and mothers are so
Grazed by hunger that they eat their own
:. children, and all because of their rebellion
sgainst God.
!. Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word
pf the Lord"
The king of Israel professed to be 80 filled
18th horror at the doings of the people that
swore to kill Elisha, and proceeded
brthwith to put his threat in execution,
q Behold, if the Lord would make win.
lows in heaven might this thing be-"
Thus spake companion of the king of
Israel, in reply 10 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.
II is 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, L. why sit we here until we dief"
We are now introduced TO four outcasts
without the city because of their leprosy,
who are in IA most pitiable condition They
, are dying slowly of disease; hunger is now
fastening their death-there is no relief
fspm the city; the Syrians can only kill
vfem, and thus shorten their misery but
possibly may take pity on them and save
them. 1t 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 III
s. 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 satisfac ton from this world and a
saved soul rejoicing in the fullness Of the
redemption and life eternal
g. THE Lord had made the host of the
Syriaus to hear a noise of chariots, and a
noise Of horses, even the noise Of great
host"
He did net open their eyes to see the
sts of the Lord as He did the eyes Of
wisha's servant wi, ~, but He caused
their ears to hear, and their hearts TO i'm
agine great host pursuing them. 1t WAS
not host Of lIittitcs and Egyptians, a.
they thought, bat the unseen hosts Of the
Lord. What rest there is in the soul that
can say, Though an host should encamp
against me my heart shall not fearr
T. Wherefore they arose and fled for
their life"
How many ways the Lord has Of over
throwing His enemies aud sending deliver
ance 70 such az lie desires 20 blessl The Lord
knoweth how. II is not for US either To
make suggestions or have any anxiety, but
just abide in Him who is our suiIiciency in
all things
9. I'VE do not we'll; this day is day of
good tidings, aud we hold our peace"
Thus spake the lapers rs they perhaps
paused in their overwhelming Joy TO con
slider the famine stricken city so near by
What aword this il for ali who have heard
and received She glad tidings Of salvation
"If we tarry till the morning light some
mischief viii come upon Us"
AWho eau tell what the loss will be in the
surrection morning to all believers who
~have done nothing to spread the glad It'd
.ings, when at the Judgment seat Of Christ
their iniluity has found them out Or. v.
margnJ.
10. go they came and called unto the
porter OF the city"
They did not stop at good resolutions.
but Immediately put the same into effect.
d.. Let all believers who are thinking of tell
ing or sending the good tidings to others, at
once do something about il and the work
will move on.
IL. And he called the porters; and they
told it to the kings house within"
Thus the good tiIings are passed on from
, one to another, no one thinking of himself,
but only Of the message of joy which he
bears.
u 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
ing. 1t is a time Of sore trouble, and per
haps sleep had forsaken him. But he does
not believe the good tidiugs; he imagines
mischief Had he believed the word Of
the Lord by Elisha he might now have
said humbly and gratefully, "This is the
= Lords doing and marvellous in our eyes"
b. Let US send and see"
this was unlikely; how could it be
~uei We tell people Of the forgiveness
oSsll their sins and tue possession Of eter-
nal life by just receiving Jesus Christ as
their Saviour John /, IL; v, d; Rom. iv, 3;
Acts xiii, 3s. 39), but they will not look up
the passages in their Bibles to see II it il
really So
IA. '"rhe king sent after the host Of the
Syrians, saying, 60 and see"
A willingness to investigate is so much
better than imagining or believing an evil
report. God asks us to search the Script
ures, TO read to hear, To believe, to prove
Him