The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-13
2 Kings Nv: 1887.

presence of Elisha, the woman was over
come by the grief which she had re-
pressed till then, and, falling down, she
clasped tho prophets feet, in deep hui
initiation and earnest petition. (Matt.
Nxviii: % This action was deemed an Of
tense against the dignity of his master.
(John iv 27) and Gehazi, the servant,
sought to prevent 1t, but Elisha rebuked
him, mark y: 49, very much as the
Saviour rebukcd the disciples The pro-
phct saw that the Shunammite was great
ly distressed over some matter of which
he was not informed, and he determined
to give her opportunity to tell her story.
Verse 27) 1t was condescension on his
part prompted by pity and desire to
do good such as all true ministers feel,
such as the Master Himself displayed on
many occasions. Matt Ni: 2S.) Encour-
aged by the prophets favor the woman
spoke for the first time" (Ferse 2S) On
the first reading her words appear to be
an expostulation or complaint. More
careful study will show that they were
intended as an argument. She had not
been greatly desirous for child. The
son was not given because of her inor-
dinate importantly. When, then, after
her motherly affection had been awak-
ened, was 1t taken from her?
%
RELIEF.-If Elisha did not attempt to
was far bettcr-he proposed to restore
the dead to life, and thus to assuage the
mothers grief. Turning to GehaGi he
gave orders to take his statt (Elisha -
and to hasten to the home of the Shu-
nammite, to salute no one by the way
which would consume time, duke X: 49,
and to lay the staff upon the dead child's
face. Verse 29) 1t is difficult to assign
a reason for this order. Evidently there
was supposed to be some virtue in the
staff as in the rod of Moses (liX. vii: -
and 20) and in the mantle OF Elijah. Gil
Kings, /: So Some think they see here
a remnant of fcticsm; others suppose
that by certain objects God condesCcnded
to help the faith of men in an earlier
day. (Ex. iv: 2 and 80 Eut the mother
of the child was not satisfied with this
mode of relief. She refused the proxy,
even with the staff, and declared that she
would not have Elisha until he put forth
his personal effort n her behalf. NerSe
30D Her spirit was not unlike that of
Jacob, Gen. xxxii: 26D and Of the woman
of Canaan Matt. XIV: 2S.l
o
ATTEMPT The woman's steadfast
purpose moved Elisha. What man can
resist the pleadinGs of a bcreaved moth
cr? Together the two started for Shl-
nom. Following the original purpose, Ge-
hazi set out, staff in hand, before them.
He could so moro rapidly as a man In
those days could outrlln a beast of bur
den. There may have been the thought
still lingering that an early visit would
he most successful, that servant could
do all the work. The attempt was at
least rroper. Verse 3l) But all in VAN,
No touch of Eliiahs staff suiiiced to
bring back the dead boy, and Gehazi Te-
turned to meet ir the way his approach
ing master and to report the fact. 1t
then appeared that the mothers pleading
and purpose were wise. She mad chung
to the one in whom her hope and faith
centered and would not come to her home
without him. When they entered the
dead was lying upon his bed ready for
burial Verse 32D All human effort ap-
peared then to be in vain. What can man
do but lay the body down in its last
resting place?
RECOVERY. elisha did not falter. He
knew that a power not his own could re-
store. He who gave life could wake the