Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-08-18
EAA-IAT HEALED.
national Series fer August II.
Is9S-2 Kings. 5;I-I4.
lPasad uron Pslouhet,s select -Notes.l


ii connection @-ilh u 2 Kings. 5;i-23l
TIME.-B. c. ss0-SSf common chroa). u
sJ2-Ss5 (reyised chron)
LESSON NOTES.
l. The Sad Case of the Damascus
Generai.-N. l. Now Naaman tbeauti-
full or pleasant TO look upon), captain
of the host" The commandments
Of the Syrian army. "Of the king Of
SYRIA" Benhadad IL. Was a greas
man with lis master" lie had great
talents. strong personality; he had
done much for the kiag, and was there
fore very highly esteemed. by him
the Lord had given deliveraace unto
Syria" Probably from ASsyria. by
faeans Of Israel. whose forces had
common enemy. Hence il is said that
Jehovah had given The deliverance.
But he was a leper:" Fer ieprosy
/ there was no cure in Syria; but there
WAS prophet III Israel, and he could
do for this genera! all that was needed.
II. 4 Little Girl Shows the Way to
Healing.-Nz. -. .. The Syrians had
gone cut by companies: \ part OF
the misery inflicted by the Syrians on
Israel was caused by the forays in
which their lght-armed bands de-
seconded upon the country and carried
off plumber and captives before they
could be pursued.
3. And she said unto her mistress,
Would God ny lord were with the
prophet that is in Samaria:" This
young girl must have often heard of
the miracles of healing performed by
Elisha, and of his readiness to help
those in distress.
III. Naaman Seeks Help from the
Wrong Man.-Vs. 81. 5. And the
king of Syria said l viii send
lei ter unto the king of Israeli" Prob
ably Jehoram, the son of Ahab. He
thought this to be the easiest way to
reach Elisha, And took with him: :"
TO come before anyone will cut gift
when a favor was to be asked would
| have been ineXcusable rudeness.
6. That thou mayest recover him of
his leprosy." Through the prophet at
his capital. He imagined that King Je-
horam would of course know all about
such a man.
Z. THE king rent his
clothes:" Jehoram lived in perpetual
terror of his powerful and encroach-
ing neighbor. "He seeketh quarrel
against me-" A pretext for again in
vading the country.
". Elisha Offers Salvation from God.
vs.. $40. s. when Elisha :.
had heard" He probably had his
home in Samaria. in another part Of
the city (Kings, 6:32). let him come
how to me-" ETC.: However sinful the
king had been. and however powerless
TO help Naaman, yet true religion was
not dead; and God would graciously
show His power through His prophet.
10. And Elisha sent messenger I'M
TO him:" Why did not the prophet
come forth himself? 1t was possibly
10 teach Naaman that the God of the
prophet was the superior of the king
of Syria. go and wash in Jordan
seven times" The Jordan was 25 or
30 miles away by the route he must
travel. The reason for this prescrip-
ton is evidently in the moral effect
of the cure, that the healing of the
body might lead to the salvation OF the
soul.
V. Gods Way of Salvation Rejected
VS.. II, IL. Il. But Naaman was
wroth:" His anger arose from the very
reasons, on account OF which the
course of the prophet was best for
him. The plan was too simple. 1t was
| absurd on the face of 1t. There was
nothing in the Jordan which could
help him. 1t was also contrary to his
pride and love of display. He wanted
something fitted to his station
Strike his hand over the place." 1t
is a very common superstition that
the hand of king waved over a sore
will cure it
VI. Gods Way Accepted Naaman
! Cleansed from His Leprosy-V ] 3, IA
ID. "And his servants (officers) came
near" gently soothing Naaman's rage
and seeking to restore him to reason
Had bid thee do some great thing"
Perhaps some deed of prowess, befit-
ting the mighty man of valor," or
some fatiguing journey by way of pill
| grimage. How much rather then"
etc: The ease and simplicity of the
requirement was a reason not for OBJ
| Jecting, but for obeying. 1t removed
! all excuses. Moreover, he had to cross
the Jordan on his way home.
IA Then he went down." The long
days journey to the Jordan. full of
thoughts and perplexities. But this
| day was good for his soul. Like unto
the flesh of little child" In striking
contrast to its former foul and dis
eased condition, it now became fresher
J and fairer than was natural in a full
/ grown man.
| VII. Naaman's Return.-When Naa-
man found himself cured he turned
| back from the Jordan to Samaria in
order to express his thanks to the
prophet and to beseech him to take
some reward. This Elisha refused to
| do. 1t would ruin the whole moral eff
feet Of the cure.
Gehazi coveted the gift, and in pun
ishmeut for his hypocrisy the leprosy