The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-10-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER Is.
Subject: Elisha and tho shunamite. II
Kings. w., 25-3T-Golden Text, Rom.
vi, 23-Menory Verses, 3a-35-Com.
mentary on the Days Lesson.


vi, a3-Memory Verses, 3s-35-Com.
mentary on the Days Lesson.
l. Kindness rewarded Tvs. SID. Elisha
in his work as prophet and religious
leader Of the people trave,ed from place
to place, on foot, with Gehaz, his attend
ant. There seems to have been public re
ligious services on the Sabbath and first
days of the month ". 23). Elisha ire
quently passed by the village Of Shuncm,
and was invited to the house OF one OF the
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 to
know it and to trust her, while she showed
due Difference to him. This woman was
childless, which was a great sorrow IN her
life, and as reward for her kindness
Elisha promised that within year she
should embrace son"
ii. Death in the home Tvs. 1920. 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 il this
part of the story took place during Jeho
rams reign But the story may have be.
gun then, but run on to later period.
One morning the boy went out into the
fields where his father was gathering in the
harvest. In this valley which is to-day one
Of the richest wheat lands on the wide
globe, he was taken suddenly sick. Con.
sdcring the symptoms and the season OF
the year there is little doubt that a sun.
stroke was followed by inflammation OF
the brain. The boy was sent home to his
mother. who held him till noon, when he
died She took him up to the little cham.
5er by the roof and laid him on the pro.
phet's bed Ii was a strange affection that
sod 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. 800,
III. Meeting the prophet Tvs 25'2Sl.
%. "She went" The mother immediately
fastened across the plain to Mount Car
mel. sixteen or seventeen miles distant, in
search Of Elisha. Man of God" That is,
Gods representative. So called, !. be-
,ause of the integrity OF his character. 2.
Because he instructed the people in divine
:hiugs. Ten times in this chapter IS Elisha
called by this title. Saw her. From the
hilltop looking down into mt the valley, i. %
courtesy, showing his great esteem, rs it
well?" "Is it peace" 1T is well" =, In
the Hebrew only the word peace IS
1sed She gives this answer to GehaZl
question that she may avoid more words;
she has no thought of deception; -, -.
81. Caught hlm by the feet The atti'
tude Of humblest supplication: She hum
bly, reasoned with him concerning her pres
ant affliction; she threw herself at ms 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 officious zeal,
angry at the slight toward him, or deem
Ing her touch defilement,. or her lmportu-
atty excessive, or such liberties beneath
his masters dignity. 'Let her alone. a
noble mind does not pass sentence before
hearing the case. Elisha's gentleness was
an evidence of his greatness. Sonl is
yexed." Sympathy is penetrative. Culti-
yate earnestly the Christ.like talent OF dis
,erning the sorrows of others. Lord hath
hid" In reference to this point he had
not the discernment of spirits. This and
.he gift of prophecy were influences God
gave and suspended as in His infinite Wis
, dom and love He was good. ,
80. "Did desire a SOM" She reminded
! him that she had not asked for the child,
( but that he had come to her as a free gift
| from God. Why should God, she argued,
give her the child of His own will, only TO
! take him away? Had she not besought the
! prophet not to mock her with false hope! !
| Thus did she reason.
". The servants failure Tvs 293D. 90.
| "Gird up thy loins." By tightening the
yirdle and tucliing the mantle under so as
/ to leave the legs free. "Statf; The badge
+ Of the prophetical gift which he had re-
ceved from God, of might and strength.
/ Salute him not" In the East salutations
are full of form and consume much time.
! The command showed the urgency OF the
mission and the necessity for the exercise
Of faith and PRAYER. 90. "Will not leave
! thee" After the heartess attempt OF Gee-
! hazi to thrust her away she has no CONN
ience in his ministry, even though ne
carry the staff of Elisha. Sacred vest
ments and a holy commission will not COM
mand the confidence of earnest souls un'
less they be associated with a true and ten-
der heart.
81. "Neither voice, nor hearing" Why
was Elisha's mission fruitless! Everything
goes to show that at first Elisha did not
| intend to go to Shunem. but when he saw
the persistency OF the mother he changed
his purpose. 1t was probably in conse'
auence of this change OF plan that no re-
sponse was made to the first claim OF faith
BY means of the staff. That appeal was IN
fact superseded the moment he resolved To
90 in person, the Lord thus reserying ,toI
the personal intercession OF His prophet
the honor OF this marvellous deed.
V. A great miracle Tvs. 32'3D. 81
"Child was dead" This statement clear
" forbds the supposition that the chlid
had merely tainted or fallen into a trance
ua was really, not apparently, dead. 33
"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. 81. Lay upon the child He
Used what means were in his power, though
the means alone could never have brought
the child to life So James tells the ed
ers to pray with the sick and to anoin'
them with oil (James 81 IA, l5.) Put his
mouth" etc Elisha followed the example
of Elijah as nearly as possible II Kings Y
1924. "Waxed warm" Returning lif'
is slowly given, but the first signs OF re
storaton must have strengthened his yea
and given fervor 10 his prayers.
35. Returned" Lett the bed. "WalkeC
to and fro" His own animal heat nigh
have become much reduced by absorption
into the cold body OF the child. Possib,y y
too, there was struggle OF faith In th'
mind of the prophet. "Sneezed sever
times" When the nervous influence he
gan to 1T on the muscular system cneez
ing would be a natural consequence, a
Instructions must have taken place in tn,
head, the cause of the disorder OF whicl
the child died 30. Take up thy son
Joyfully the child was returned alive t.
his mother. See the power OF prayer; a
it bas the key OF the clouds, so it has tn
key of death. Zee the power OF faith. Tha
fixed law OF nature, death, shall be dis
pensed with rather than this be.ievin
Shunamite be disappointed. 81. Eel a
his feet" In overwhelming gratitude
When God has done great things for US, W
should bow humbly and say. Lord, l an
Lot worthy" See Cen. o.: 10.