The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-10-06

PLEASANT FIELDS OF HOLY WRIT
daily
Among the pleasant fields of Holy
might despair. -
The International Sunday School Lesson
Fourth Quarter Kings October L. 1904.
W. LARK

unique and imposing character of
Jewish history. His first appearance
is marked and extraordinary. He
suddenly and unannounced stood be-
fore Ahab and abruptly delivered his
awful message. He is an. apparition,
calculated to strike with terror the
boldest of kings in that superstitious
age. He makes no set speech, he
offers no apology, he disdains all forms
and ceremonies. He does not even
render the customary homage. He
utlers only few words preceded by
an oath, LAS Jehovah the God of
Israel liveth, there shall not be dew
nor rain these years but by my
word"
To all this Elisha's career presents
a marked contrast. Elijah was the
man of the mountain, desert and caye
the anchorite, the religious ascetic;
Elisha became a man of the city, had
his own home in Samaria. He was
gentle and affectionate. The excep-
tions are those which prove the rule
of his general beneficence His first
act is to sweeten the water of the city
fountain i'll Jericho, and is of his
whole career. He miraculously sup
plies water for the troops of Israel,
judah andEdom. He raises to life the
Shunammite's son. He neutralizes
the poison that is in the pot, from
which the sons of the prophet ate.
He heals Naaman of leprosy. He
caused the aXhead of the unlucky
workman to swim. Encourages his
young servant at Dothan, who, at
sight of the enemy, closely investing
the city, cries, ALAS! my master, how
shall we do?' Opens his eyes to see
the mountain full of horses and
chariots of fire round about Elisha.
The one destructive miracle, the
havoc among the knocking youths of
Bethel is exceptional, like Jesus
cursing the barren tig-tree.
The Teachers Lantern.
The comparatively small signifi-
canoe and range of the incident sug-
gested for this date affords opportun-
ity for a broad view of the character,
career, and influence of the Prophet
Elisha, which has just been taken.
Attention is now turned to the par
ticular circumstance.
The imaginative mind of the Jew
is in evidence in the suggestion made
by Josephus and others, that this was
the widow of Obadiah, and that the
debt was occasioned by his feeding
the hundred prophets during the
drought. He borrowed the money
because he would not support them
out of Ahabs treasury. The highest
pitch of fancy is reached when it is
soberly suggested that the creditor
is Ahab's own son, Jehoram. All that
can be said is, mo evidence"
The grim crudity of the social ethics
of the Hebrews at this time is shown
in that it Iegalized the sale of children
for their fathers debUs. Yet the last
century at this point was hardly up to
the Jewish standard. Debtors pris-
on is para dox. 1t is to put man
where labor is impossible, although
labor is necessary to discharge it.
Seryitude for debt is certainly more
reasonable than Imprisonment for
debt. Charles Dickens's satire tum-
bled the debtors prison in a heap.
The incident gives an interesting
glimpse of the social life of Israel
three thousand years ago. That there
was widow of the sons of the pro-
phet shows that these communities
were .cenobitic, but not celibate.
They did not all lead the cloister life.
That widow showed gumption. She
did not waste time inveighing against
the cruelty of the creditor. The law
was on his side. Her appeal was to
the chief of the prophetic society.
She stated her case and claim CT early,
and followed the program to the dot.
There was dash of passion in it, for
she uttered literally heart disturb
ing plea.
She was thrown upon her own re-
sources. All she had was just enough
inferior oil fer amounting her person
a single time. But she must use what
she has, not what she has not.
The door was to be shut, for it was
to be a sacrament undisturbed by
curious eye or tongue. Prayer, faith,
and praise were to be the only guests.
Well says old st. Bernard, He puts
the oil of his mercy into the vase of
our trust 1t is only question of
receptivity. When the last borrowed
pot was filled the oil stayed"
She will not move hand in dispo-
sition of this treasure until she has
the prophets oIders. Satisfy your
creditor first" is the direction. Moth
ing is our own until all debts are
paid.
One pot of oil over against a debt,
and that 6abt loroa on m, oh : r, oyeIo,,a