Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-08-24
ELISHA AT DoTHAN.
Sunday school Lesson I'm the Inter
national Series for August -,
Isos-2 Kings. 6ss-1s-


encampeth round about them that fear
Him. and delivereth them.-Psa. 3s5.
THE SECTION should include chapter
6. showing how God helps His people In
various kinds OF trouble.
TIME-Not long after the last lesson.
Between T. c. so and SSi (com. chron).
or So and Sf5 (rcV. chron).
PLACE.--(D Samaria. the capital CD
Dothan. on the south side OF the plain OF
Jezreel. II miles north OF Samaria. Here
Joseph was put In the pit. and sold by
hts brethren Gen. a:iI. etc.)
EXPLANATORY
I. Elisha's Warnings.-Vs. SIP. S.
THE king OF Syria" Benhadad H., of
Damascus.
o. And the man of Cod" Elisha:
so called because he was Gods special
servant and messenger. through whom
God revealed His Will. sent unto the
king OF Israeli" Josephus says the
king OF Israel was starting on a hunt
ing party when Elisha warned him.
beware that thou pass not such n
place" or beware that thou pass not
over such a place, leaving il unoccu-
pied.--keil. "Syrinas are come (R.V..
are coming) down." lie must either
avoid the place. lest he be taken una
wares by the Syrians already there.
or he must occupy and defend II, ready
for the syrians. who are on the way
there.
10. And the King sent TO
the place" several times, and in every
case the prophets warning was cor
rect.
IL. king OF Syria was sore
troubled" He was both enraged at
the defeat of his schemes. and per
picked at the unaccountable and mys-
FERROUS manner OF his defeat. (Which
of us is for the king of Israeli" He
could account for these things only by
some treachery among his intimate
advisers.
u. And one of his servants:" Per
haps some one who had been TO
Sumaria with Naaman and had con
versed with the neighbors of Elisha.
III. Elisha's Defenders.-Vs. 1918.
-. "Go and spy where he is, that may
fetch him." and take him away
from the power of communicating
with the king.
IL. ~ great host:" Great for the
purpose. They came. by night:" So
rs TO take the city 10y surprise, and
Elisha in it, without warning or op.
portunity for escape.
Is. "The servant was risen
early" Something unusual had
alarmed him; the noise of the chariots.
or the alarm of the Waterman.
16. And he answered, Fear not: -
He comforts him in two WAYS: iil bv
|
"A vision of those who defended him.
They that be with us are more than
they that he with them" We need not
suppose that Elisha saw the angelic
host of which he here spake. He only
gave utterance to the conviction of all
Gods saints when the world perse-
cutes them.
IL. Lord, pray Thee, open his
eyes" His spiritual vision. his power
of recognizing the great unseen real
tiles around him. Nothing was created
or chnuged for him. The heavenly
host was really there, but unprotected.
as the stars are in the heavens. and
the flowers in the field, though the
blind man sees them not. All he needs
is opened eyes. behold the noun
tain The Hill on which Dothan was
situated. WAS full of horses and
chariots of fire." The symbols of the
unseen powers and forces of God.
which defended the prophet.
Is. when they came down" from
the surrounding hills. Ito him." 10
take Elisha. Apparently he and his
servant had gone on toward the Syri-
ans. "Smite this people, pray Thee
with blindness;" This was not re-
vengeful. but loving prayer. for the
| tendency Of the whole transaction was
/ az TO teach the Syrians about the true
God and His goodness; (2) to lead e
horam, The ling. to go to God for his
help; 60 to deliver the people from
these raids. And He smote them with
blindness" This is not The usual lie
brew word for blindness" but Is a
compound word; the whole denoting
visual hewildcrmeut, hnllucinatinn
rathor than total loss of sigbt.-Tay-
Ter Lewis.
Then Elisha went up to the leaders.
and offered TO guide them to the place
and The men they sought. Some Of
them thought Elisha was guilty Of de-
ception when he said: "'rhis is not the
way. neither Is this the CITY: follow
me. and I will bring YOU TO the man
whom yc seeh. But he led them 10
Somaria.' The fact is that Elisha told
them the plain. simple truth.
Elisha led them ~ miles 20 Samaria
the capital. Here. their sight being re-
stored. they found him in his own
city. but they were captives i'm the
midst 81 their eneruies. Jchorn,n
wanted % XII them; but Elisha linz
dignantly objected to this. and instcnd
supplied them with abundant food
and sent them home. lie hcnpcd coals
Of fire on their heads he slew his en-
emies hy sparing them. Only when be
had them iu his power could he do
this cffectually; otherwise it would
have been attributed 10 fear As the
result. the piuuderiur band which
had been in the habit ~ rnvapirr IN.
territory r. Kings. s:2) ceased their
incursions for u time
PARAGRAPHS FOR Cyclists