The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-10-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER %.
Subj ect; Elisha and Naaman, II Rings
", t-14-Golden Text, Jer. xviii, Ia
Memory Verses, S-1O-Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

W, l.14-Golden Text. Jer. xviii, Ia
Memory Verses, S-1O-Cominentary on
the Days Lesson.
i. Naaman's sad condition w. ~. l..
"Naaman." Naaman means beautiful" OF
pleasant to look upon" Captain etc
He was commander-n.chief of the Syrian
duence. He had done much or his king
and in some famous exploit had won a
memorable victory for the Svrians. Ac.
cording. to tradition he was the nran who
drew the bow. at a venture and killed
Ahab, King of Israel Il Kings q: :3i). "The
Lord had given" The scriptural explana.
ton OF Naaman's greatness is that the
Lord had given him the victory and made
him great. But" This was the flaw in
the crystal of his prosperity, the hy in the
ointment Of his triumph, the shadow that
clouded his glory, the hateful presence that
followed low ed him in everywhere, the bitter dres
supposed to be inflicted for the punish.
ment of some particular sin, and to be,
more than other diseases, mark of Gods
displeasure.
III. The captive's story Tvs. PA. .. "By
companies" In plundering parties who
ties. "a little maid" A Young Eirl. She
was regarded by her captors as a chattel
and valued for her service like beasts. II
one doubts the steady progress of the
world in virtue and humanity it is only
necessary to spend an hour with history,
sacred or profane. The horrors of antique
war were indescribable and immeasure.
ably worse than the worse brutality of
modern times. 8. "She said" Like Jos.
| eph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon this
captive girl becomes the instrument of
making Jehovah known among the heath.
en-. Notice, |. Her forgiving spirit and
generosity toward those who had wronged
her. 2; Her fidelity. 3. Her sympathy, the
most Christlke of virtues. 4. Her simple
faith. would Cod" A better trans.
lation would be, "Oh. that" Recover
him." Literally, gather" him from his
leprosy. An illusion to the Israeltish
custom of shutting lepers out of the camp
and then gathering them in after the lep.
rosy was healed. This child must have
been familiar with the miracles of heal.
ing wrought by the prophet Elisha.
II. Naaman seeking health Tvs. 59).
D., Go to, go" That is, set out at once;
let no time be lost. "a letter" Benha.
dad very naturally supposes that the ser.
mand OF the king. Took with him" etc.
He took present to Jehoram. We can.
, not estimate the value accurately. The
money was probably weighed, and "tal-
ents' and pieces" or shekels, were
standards Of weight. A silver talent was
''ith F'otf, III All FI',ttb "a ROlu SIiekPl
was worth 1913, in all SIS, 800. According
to this Naaman took with him $3.50, a
prlncely present. "Raiment." Costly
robes.
6: Recover him Doubtless Benha.
dad had magicans drawing rich salaries
at his court; and in their supernatural
power he had good deal OF superstitious
faith. But they were not able to heal
Naaman. His rival king, Jehoram, was
lucky enough to have a magician able
to perform this cure, and as Benhadad's
prophets did as he ordered them it was
supposable that Elisha would obey Je-
horam's orders. 1t was courtesy to Jeho.
ram no: to mention Elisha's name; but
poor Jehoram had himself so little prac-
tical faith in Elisha that when he read
the letter he did not even think of him.
7. Rent his clothes" A sign here of
terror and alarm Rending the garments
cam l God" As much as to say. who
but God can cure the leprosy? Who but
the one who is able to kill and make
alive? "a quarrel" Jehoram lived in
perpetual terror of his powerful and en-.
croaching neighbor. He feared this was a
PreteeXt for agar, invading his country.
ing, of the Syrian general with his retinue,
and the fact that the king had rent his
clothes, caused sensation. in Samaria,
and the news came speedily to Elisha,
who appears to have had his home in the
capital city; Wherefore etc. Have you
forgotten that there is God in Israel.
and that His prophet is near at hand?
He shall know" 1t would be a great
injury to true. religion to have Naaman
return with false impressions of the true
God; then, too, probably Jehoram needed
to be reminded of his obligations to God
and His prophet 9. STOOD at the door"
and "chariots" 5R. VI and with money money
to richly reward his benefactor.
~. Elisha's message and Naaman's
rage Tvs. 1912. 10. "Sent a messenger"
Not that he was wanting in politeness,
or influenced by priesty pride, or feared
the leprosy, or avoided Intercourse with
man was to understand that he was healed
by the grace and power of God at the
prayer of the prophet. "Wash in Jordan"
This would humble him and test his obe-
dance. 1t was so simple and easy that
there was no excuse for refusal. "Seven
times" The sacred number which rep.
resents Tie union of the finite and infinite,
and "any transaction or covenant in which
both God and man are engaged"
H., "Was wroth." The plan was too
simple. So the very simplicity of the gos.
nel is stumbling, block to the proud.
design to mock him by sending him on a
FOOLS errand, so that he would come back
as laughing stock both to the Israeltes
and his own people? Some think Elisha
S.a, was diIsrespsetful, is , but he knee: what was
this fanciful picture. No wonder it proved
delusve dream.
l2. "Abana and Pharpar." The modern
Barada and Awaj. Abana signifies "cool'
in Arabic and clean" in Hebrew. Called
by the Greeks, ",The golden flowing"