The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-04-02


arose and hed:" Not oven waiting to take their
horses. "When three lepers did eat
and drink:" They satisfied their own wants
and seorcted treasures for the future 1--WE
DO not wells" Their conscience was troubling
them ana they realized their own selflshnesS
"some mischief will come upon us:" They
would be found out and punished 10. They
called unto the porter" A guard OF the
city. II. "And he called the porters:" He
summoned the rest OF the guard to tell them
the news. 10. "And the king arose in the
night:" He had probably been waking and
watching. II will now show you what the
Syrisns have done:" The king was suspicious
and believed trap had been laid to catch
them. IS. 'Behold they are as the multitude
Of Israel," They would bs no worse OF than
those who stayed in the city and starved. IL
'They took therefore two chariot horses:" The
proper rendering is two horse chariots, mean
Ing four, i've or six horses 10. They went
after them unto Jordan" The Syrians had fed
by the great road which crosses the Jordan
about thirty-h Ave miles northeast Of Ssmaria
16 "And the people went out and spoiled the
tents," Gathered the treasures out Of the tents.
According to the word Of the Lord!" Thus
again were the prophetic words Of ElishS full
filled in the most public manner
LESSON COMMENTS.
Our lesson is series Of five pictures,
each one with its own instruction. The
first Is the siege of Samaria and its hor-
rors. This is the fourth attempt made
by the king Of Syria to capture Samaria
and all failed. This time, and also once
before, the attempt was made to reduce
the city by starvation. Such a course
was long and tedious one, as q city
often had a large amount OF supplies
laid in In preparation for such time.
Sx,% <1n M
to have been unexpected and no pro
vision had been made. The people
were soon driven to such extremities
that they paid almost any price foreve
the poorest kind of food. Many similar
cases to this are on record. The people
had been warned OF this punishment
for disobedience beforehand. (Deut. %:
62-6e.)
The second picture presents Elisha In
his home in Samaria- In this home
were congregated the pious elders OF
Israel. praying with Elisha to God for
the fulfllment Of his promise to save
the people from the hands Of the Syri-
ans. Here II was the kings messengers,
who had been sent to behead the
prophet, found him. Then It was that
Elisha proclaimed Gods promise OF
speedy deliverance.
The third picture brings us to the
fight of the Hyrians. God not only
kept His promise of deliverance, but
scattered the armies of the Syrians so
quickly that they fed, leaving behind
them everything, even their horses and
cattle, 30 the people of Samaria had an
abundance Of supplies to feed the starv-
ing.
Now comes the relief Of the city. So
quietly, although in great haste, had
the Syrians left their camp that not
even the lepers sitting outside the city
gates knew Of it until reaching their
camp.
Now comes the last and saddest pic
ture Of them all, the tragedy Of unbelief.
The great captain who Knocked at
Elisha's prophecy Of plenty was ap-
pointed to have charge OF the gate Of
the city. ''The city gate was the place
where customs were paid for everything
that was carried into the city; and II
was probably to the duty of collecting
the tolls that he was appointed. This
was a place Of honor rather than Of
danger. 1t would give the captain with
his guard specially good opportunity to
receive Of the spoil. Sothat the prophecy
| OF his fate by Elisha would seem to be
most unlikely of fulfllment. But the
way Of seeming safety was the very
way to the fulfllment Of the prophecy.
Still, there is no little reason for be-
heving that it was Intentional The
captain Of soldiers could easily keep ort
of the crowd. "The expression seems
to indicate intentional violence. Per
haps this lord, whose manner seems to
have been naughty and scornful (ver.
| q, gave offense by his treatment OF the
crowd" In the gate the mocking cap
tain was trodden to death by the peo-
pie, so that he saw the plenty, but d1d
not partake of it. This may have been
accidental; for the excitement must
have been intense, and the crowd very
dense.
| PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1. God sends His judgments to bring
back the people to Himself, and He con-
tinues them till they have done all they
can to effect this end.
2. And yet in all history God has
shown more Of love, more expressions
of His tender mercy, than OF Justice.
8. The good suffer with the bad, the
prophet with the wicked king and idolar
trous people. Thus they can do most IA
help the people.
I. Seeming accidents are not outside
Of Gods providence.
& In the fate of the mocldng lord we
see the end of the sinner. He shall see
the reward Of tho righteous. but moi
share In IT. - Dives saw Lazarus In
Abraham's bosom
6. The prophecy Of Elisha was fui-