The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-03-04
NAAMAN HEALED.
International sunday-School Lesson 70
March &, 1891.


International Sunday school Lcsson for
March 9, 1891.
Especially Arranged from S. 8. QUARTERLY
LESSON TExT-s Kingsb: ia .,
GoLDRN TRxT-Who forgiveth oil thine in
iquities; who healeth oil thy diseasss.-Ps
l03:
CENTRAL TRUrr-wssh me, and shall be
whittier than snow.
TIMB--Between 900 and SS4 b G. h"
PLACH-li) Damascus, the capital Of Syria
(e) Samaria, the capital Of Israel, no miles dis.
tant In an air line. "h
HELPS OVER HARD PLACES Il. 'Naaman:"
pheasant 70 look upon" beauty" Captain"
general commander by him
deliyerance unto SYRIA" probably from the AS
syrians. But he was leper:" either the
white lcprcsy which turns the body TO disc
greeablc white color, and has scaly texture,
greatly disHgurtng the victims; or the true
feprosy, foul, deforming, incurable heretl.
itary, contagious, painful disease that
shuts mon out from the companionship Of the
pure. The hair falls from the head and
eyebrows; the nails loosen and decay and drop
Of; joint after Joint OF fingers and toes |
shrink up and slowly full away; the
gums are absorbed and the teeth dis
appear; the nose, the eyes, the tongue and ,
the palate are slowly consumed; and finally |
the wretched victim sinks into the earth and |
disappears" In the earlier stages one can At
tend his usual duties. 2. "Gone out by com |
panies:" on raiding expeditions over the Dor
der when there was no regular war. g. would
Gods" merely sob, that" 4. "And one"
probably Naaman himself went in and told
his lord" the King Of Benhadad 5. "A letter
unto the King of Israeli" supposing, Of course,
that such prophet would be under the King
control or influence. 'Ten talents Of silver
about sixteen thousand four hundred dollars.
"Six thousand pieces Of gold:" worth about
forty eight thousand dollars. Changes of raj
ment:" costly robes for festive occasions. 2.
Rent his clothes:" sign Of trouble and ter
ror. "Seelzeth quarrel" he misunderstood
the letter. never thinking it referred to his get.
ting Elisha to perform the cure. 8, Elisha"
probably living in Samaria. 10. go and wash
in Jordan" thirty milos away. Jordan had
no power TO heal; and thus while Naaman must
show his faith by doing something the healing
would direct him to the true God. This plan
would test not only his faith, but his obedience
and humility. Moreover, the plan was so sim
| Pile and easy that no willing person could fail.
'Thy flesh shall come again." the flesh
wasting away with the leprosy. II. "Naaman
was wroth:" angry; the plan was contrary to
| his expectations and wounded his pride. Yet
it was the very one that would bring healing of
the soul with the healing Of the body H.
| "Abana and Pharpar:" the ALBANIA now called
| Barada, ran through Damascus In seven beau
tiful streams. The Pharpar ran q little dis
lance below the city. Better than oil the
waters Of Israeli" the Jordan was muddy
stream, running through wilderness, with no
cities and few villages on it's banks. The ALBANIA
was clear, cool, bright, beautiful stream,
flowing by q hundred villages, and through
charming scenery. IA. And dipped himself
seven times in Jordan not only inthc journey
to the river, but also in the repeated clippings
was the faith of Naaman put to the test.
LESSON COMMENTS.
THE VALIANT GENERAL. Everybody
in Syria knew about Naaman, because
he was a great General and had won a
famous victory. The King knew him
and honored him because he was sue.
cessful fighter. The soldiers all knew
him and admired him because he had
led them to victory. There was no man
in all Syria more popular than he.
But he was a leper. A fatal and
loathsome disease had fastened itself
on him, and the conqueror of Others
would soon himself be laid low. There
was no help for Naaman, and he knew
it. So often there comes "but" int
our lives that mars our joy. This mar
is rich but he is nervously broken down
That man is well but he has no work K
do.
THE LITTLE SLAVE GIRL. We do mo-
even know her name, but that she wa
a believing, patient, kindly girl W.
infer from the story. She sets us all ;
very good example. She was (a) be
lieving, as we sec from her faith il
Elisha the prophet of God. She wa
fully persuaded that even lepros,
would yield to his power Perhaps sh
may have. heard of Elisha's raising tn
boy to life, and have thought that sine
he could raise the dead he could do an,
thing She was (b) patient, and (c
kindly, as we see from her way o
speaking. Many young girl, carries
away as she had been from her family
and sold into slavery, would have sal
: to herself: 81 am glad my master is
! leper. 1t serves him right, for he ha'
: no right to buy me and keep me as
\ slave. Elisha would cure him, but
never will tell him about the prophet
, to pay him for buying me-" But thi
little girl thought very differently. Sh
was sorry for poor Naaman, and so sh
, told his wife of the prophet. The yer,
: fact that they believed her at one
{ shows that she had so lived among
. them as to win their confidence.
THE ALARMED KING. If he hat
4 known as much as the nameless mait
1 about the true God, he would also have
! thought at once of Elisha and have
: sent Naaman to him. But Jehoram
' was wicked and knew more about idol
3 than about Jehovah, and he knew thai
. no idols could cure leprosy. This kine
was like many In our day, who have
l never truly turned to God as theil
> friend. So when trouble comes they
l are alarmed, and do not at all realize
! that God is very present help in time
] of trouble.
A THE GENERAL HEALED. He came very
near not being healed at all, because o
: his pride and high temper. Pride ant
, anger have often come between mai
, and his highest good. 1t is great pit,
' when mans servants are more reasol
' able than he is himself. But so 1t was il
Naaman's case. Fortunately, however
/. he cooled down in time, and did as tn
q prophet commanded him. And the re
s suit? The seventh time he dipped h
/ came up with all the blotches and sore
/ on his skin completely healed. The
o he was glad, and not glad only, bu
J, grateful to Elisha, and tried to max
: him take present. But no prophet O
9 apostle was ever willing to take an