The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-10-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER Is.

1. Kindness rewarded Tvs. SID. Elisha
in mis- work as a prophet and religious
leader of the people Travelled from place
to place, on foot, with Gehazi, his attend
ant. There seems to have been public res
ligious services on the Sabbath and hrst
days of the month ". 23). Elisha ire
quently passed by the village of Snunem,
and was invited to the house OF one OF tne
leading families for refreshment and food
The lady of the house seems to have been
much more intelligent and religious than
her husband, who was wise enough 70
know it and to trust her, while she showed
due Difference to him. This woman was
childiess. which was a great sorrow In her
life, and as a reward for her kindness
Elisha promised that within a year she
should embrace a SON."
II. Death in the home Tvs. 1924. In
due time a son was born into the house.
He grew up to be four or five years old.
He could not have been much older if this
part of the story took place during Jeho-
rams reign. But the story may have be-
gun then. but run on to a later period.
One morning the boy went out into the
fields where his father was gatheringln the
harvest. In this valley which is to-day q e
of the richest wheat lands on the wide
globe, he was taken suddenly sick. Q
sidcring the symptoms and the season or
the year there is little doubt that q sun.
stroke was followed by inflammation or
the brain. The boy was sent home to MS
mother. who held him till noon, when he
died. She took him up to the little cham
Der by the roof and laid him on the pro-
phet's bed. 1t was a strange att!letlon thaS
God should take away the child He had
given as a reward for her kindness to the
prophet, while her kindness had been con-
tinued and increasing year by year.
Ill. Meeting the prophet Tvs. 25-ssG.
Is. "She went" The mother immedlately
fastened across the plain to Mount Car
mel. sixteen or seventeen miles distant, in
search of Elisha. MAN of God" That is,
Gods representatives. So called, I. Be
cause of the integrity of his character. 2.
Because he instructed the people in divine
things. Ten times in this chapter is Elisha
called by this title. "Saw her" From the
hilltop looking down into the valley.
20. "Run now" This was a mark OF
courtesy, showing his great esteem: Us It
well?" "Is it peace?" ut is WE'LL IN
the Hebrew only the word peace 10
used. She gives this answer, to Gehazfs
question that she may avoid more WORDS;
she has no thought of deception:
tude of humblest duplication. She hum
bly, reasoned with him concerning her pres
emit affection; she threw herself at nus feet
as one troubled and in grief, which she
never showed until she came to Elisha, the
one whom she believed could help her.
"Thrust her away" In his .~oficious zealy
angry at the slight toward him, or deem
ing her touch d%eflement, or her importu-
nity excessive. or such liberties beneath
his masters dignity. LET her alone.
noble mind does not pass sentence before
hearing the case. Elisha's %gentleness was
an evidence Of his greatness. Soul ~
vexed." Sympathy is penetrative. Cuitl-
vate earnestly the Christ.like talent OF diss
the sorrow OF others. LORD nat9
In reference to this point he had
not the discernment of spirits. This and
the gift of prophecy were influences God
gave and suspended as in His infinite WIS.,
dom and love He was good:
%. "Did I desire a SON." She reminded
him that she had not asked for the child,
but that he had come to her as q free git
from God. Why should God, she argued,
give her the child of His, " will, only TO
take him away? Had she not besought the
not to mock her with a false hope!
Thus did she reason.
". The servants failure Tvs. 29-3l). ~.
"Gird up thy %loins." By tightening the
girdle and tucking the mantle under go as
to leave the legs free. "Staf; The badge
of the ~prophetical gift which he had re,
ceived from God: Of might n strength.
Salute him not" In the East salutat,ons
are full of form and consume much time.
The commend showed the urgency OF the
and the necessity for the exercise
of faith and prayer. 80. "WM not leave
After the heartless attempt of &c
hazi to thrust her away she has no q
in his ministry, even though ne
carry the staff Of Elisha. Sacred vest
ments and @ holy commission will not com.
the confidence Of earnest souls I'M
less they be associated with a true and ten
der heart.
81. "Neither voice, nor hearing" Why
Elisha's mission fruitiess! Everything
goes to show that at first Elisha did not
intend to go to Shunem, but when ne saw
the persistency of the mother. he changed
his purpose. 1t was probably in eonse-
quence of this change of plan that no re-
Spouse was made to the t,rst Clam OF taltn
by means of the staff. That appeal was ]
fact superseded the moment he resolved to
90 in person, the Lord thus reserving tor
the personal intercession of His prophet
the honor of this marvellous deed.
V. A great miracle Tvs. $3.50. 81.
"Child was dead" This statement clear.
forbids the suppositien that the child
had merely tainted or fallen into a trance.
He was really, not apparently, dead. 80:
'Shut the door" He prayed in secret and
his Father rewarded him openly. Prayed
The only remedy in such a case as tins.
The best things in life come through
prayer. "a. Lay upon the child.n be
used what means were in his power, though
the child to life. So James. tells the ED
ars to pray With the sick and to anoint
them with oil flames 5: IA, 49, Put his
etc. Elisha followed the example
Elijah as nearly as possible Il Kings ~:
1924. "Waxed warm" Returning 4
s slowly given, but the first signs of re.
,toration must have strengthened his zeal
md given fervor to his prayers.
50. RETURNED" Left the bed: Walked
to and fro" His own animal heat might
have become much reduced by absorption
INTO the cold body of the child. Possibly,
too, there was a struggle Of faith in the
mind of the prophet. "Sneezed seven
When the nervous influence be-
ran to at on the muscular system sneez-
ne would be 4 natural consequence, as
distractions must have taken place in the,
lead. the cause of the disorder of which
he child died. SO. Take up thy SON."
J~oyfully the child was returned alive to
MS mother. See the power OF prayer; as
t has the key of the clouds, so it has the
;ey OF death. See the power of faith. That
iSsd law of nature, death, shall be dis
lensed With rather than this believing
shunamite be disappointed: 81. Fell at
lis feet" In overwhelming gratitude.
When God has done great things for US, we
should bow humbly and say, lord, l I'm
rot worthy" See Gen. 80: 10.