Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-08-31
THE DEATH OF ELISHA.
Sunday school Lesson In the Inter
national series for September
q. 1915. kings. I5sis-Ss.


the Lord Is the death OF his saints. -psa.
n6IS
THE SECTION includes tho two chief
remaining incidents IN the lifc OF Elisha.
ana both contotning tests OF faith and
training In trust. First. chaps. C.2t-1.s3.
then glance az the religious progress OF
the nation during the Intervening times
aud then the lesson verses i3.it-es
IlMt..-klisha died early m the reign
OF Jehonsh, Si2-s26 H. {. tor 5ss-sSD. This
lesson Is - years after our last.
EXPLANATORY.
1. The Prophet and the Siege of
Samaria.-A few years after our last
lesson. still in the reign OF Jehoram.
the Syrians besicgcd Samaria 50 closely
that there was the utmost distress. Ii
is probable that Elisha had shown the
king that this misfortune was the
fruit of his sins.
Then came the word of the Lord TO
Elisha, and he announced 20 the king
that within "a hours plenty should
reign ia the city.
As promised, the relief came. Dur
ing the night the Syrians heard unac-
couutabic sounds cchoing among the
hills, as OF horses and chariots rush
ing toward them. They though, that
the hosts Of the warlike Utilities from
the north were coming. and they fled
la panic. leaving their supplies be-
hind them.
Thus was fulfilled the PROMISE Of
Elisha. No sooner had the messengers
delivered their glad tidincs than The
people Of Samniia began 10 pour tu-
muituously out OF lie gates. 20 linr
themselves on the food aud on the
spoil.
III. The Political ChmRcs ia Israel
were. the extinction OF the house OF
Ahab, the coming OF new dynasty
into power through Jchu. as foretold
10y Elijah, thc destruction of Baal wor-
ship and violent reforms. considered
prosperity, several serious invasions
from Syria and Assyria, and az last q
very low condition politically at the
time OF Eisha's death.
III The Dying Prophets Last GIFT.
VS. li-25. After the death Of Ieht,
the kingdom became greatly. weak
ened. The Syrians were the chief enc
mics. and they had taken from Israel
their possessions east OF the Jordan
G. Kings iu:32-33). and had desolatec
and devastated the kingdom. uud So
reduced its resources that the king
had but so borsemen aud ten chariots
in his army Of 10000 footmen e. Kings
1870 when his Young grandson
Jehoasb came 60 the throne.
Elisha, now an old man. over so years
OF age. is lying on his deathbed I'm
samoria. Il. The King came down
from his palace 20 the lowly abode of
the prophet. land wcpt over hts face"
20 my fathers" Expressing tho kind
and loving interest the aged prophet
tookinthcyoung king "The chariot Of
Israel, and the horsemcn, thereof"
The prophet OF God was Of more value
Tor the defense OF the Kingdom than nn
army with chariots and cavalry.
- Take bow aud arrows:" vs.. IS
90 Il describe "a symbolicaI action as n
preparation for the test which was 60
follow. II said 30 the king Shooting
the arrow means victory over your on
prcssors. And The king undcrst God the
rymbol. For It. was an ancient Gus
tom 10 shoot an arrow or cast a spear
into the country which an army in
tended to invade.
l6. Elisha put his hands upon the
kings hands:" To show that Gad's
power would work through the lsinq's
hands.
H. open the window. eastward:"
Toward the scene Of the recent defeats
OF Israel hy Syria, and where syrians
still held the country. "rhe arrow Of
the Lords dcliverance." This was said
to explain 10 Joash the meaning Of the
symbolical action and the one 90 fol-
low. il meant dcliverance from the
power of Syria. "Aphek:" 4 town
now called Fix. six miles east Of tie
Sea Of Galilee. on the road o Damas-
Gus.
IS. and be said: Take the ar
rows" That Is. those left in Che CULVER.
'Smite upon the ground shoot them
one after another 90 the grouuo out
Of tie same eastward window. 'fnc
was not merely 20 shoot. he was 10
hit" And hc smote thrice. and stayed.
He had go little faith. So little earnest
ness that instead OF shooting tiH fhc
prophet told him 20 stop. or tim every
arrow was gone. lac sped three arrows
and bascly stayed his hand
10. And the man of g cd was wrofh.''
lie was indignant that when such
blessings we're offered. when such de-
liverence for bio native land was al
most thrust upon him. such "a noble
and splendid career was opened before
him' the young king should be 90 weak.
so blind, SO wicked as 10 throw away
bis opportunity. Thou shoulders
bav" smittcn five or Elk dmcs." You
should have shown real. and faith. and
earnestness by shooting more arrows.
wow thou shalt smifc Syria but
thrice" Gain only three Victories in-
stead Of entire deiivernnce from thc
foreign yoke.
The fuiallment Of the promise 81
found in vs. e2-25. II is expressly said
that 10 wns Gods gracious mercy chat
preserved them. and Ellis covenant
with Abraham" that God would make
his children M everlasting nation as
the stars 81 heaven FOR multitude (see
Gen. 17:i8: 22:15-IsJ
SAT- ops COccrp