The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-10-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 9.


, mentary OH the Days Lesson.
7. 4 widow in trouble ". y. l. "a
certain woman :Esephus says this
woman was the widow of Obadiah, Ahabs
steward. and that the borrowed money
mentioned in the text had been expended
on the support of the hundred prophets
whom he hid and supported Il Kings
1879. "Of the wives" etc. 1t appears
from this that the members OF the colleges
of prophets did not withdraw themselves
from common domestic life altogether.
Unto Elisha" Elisha made it his home IN
Samaria e Kings 2:25: 6:32). This appeal
shows that he was looked upon as the lead
cr among the prophets. He seems to have
made journeys around the country for the
purpose of instructing the people. We
hear of him in various places. "The cred
itor." The man here spoken of had EVIL
IDENTIFY been engaged in some transaction
for which money had been borrowed and
he bondmen." The law of Moses provided
LEV. 25:39-4l) that in cases Of poverty and
inability to pay his debts a man and his
children might be sold and remain in bond
age until the next year Of jubilee. Mat
thew 1925 shows that this law was still IN
force in our Lords time. This fact. thus
incidentally introduced in history of Elisha
shows that in his day the law of Moses
was the basis of judicial and civil proceed
ings in the kingdom OF Israel. The terri
BILE tyranny of debt may fasten upon those
who do their best to avoid it.. 1t is more
keenly felt in proportion to the desire to
often brings suffering upon the family.
Grace cannot keep US from financial re-
verses. =.
IT The woman's poverty ". y. 2.
:What shall | do?" How Shall I relieve
you? The sons of the prophets were poor
and it would signify little to make a collec-
ton for her among them. Elisha was also
a poor man. What hast thou?" The
Lord always delights to take the little we
have and increase it. He pursued this
course in feeding the multitudes with a
little bread and fish. If she has a little
committed to her management, her need
creasing that little. POT of OIL" The
only thing she had in the house was a pot
of oil. The word rendered pot is from a
root meaning to anoint' and the clause
has been rendered. Save the oil with which
/ shall anoint myself The word may be
noticed because it indicates the poverty of
the widow. 1t was not the finest oil, such
as would be used for cooking food, that
she had, but the more common kind which
every Oriental makes use of after a bath"
Some think that this pot of oil was what
this woman had kept for her burial: See
Matt. 1912. Out of this last pot Of oil
the sign of her utmost poverty-Ellsha
furnished the source of her future comfort
and happiness.
III. The prophets advice Tvs. 8. q. 8.
"Borrow-empty vessels" But why did
not the Lord supply the vessels as He did
the oil? Simply because she had the abll-
ity to obtain the vessels. Those who think
it c~ripples their faith to help themselves
should remember that the exact opposite
is the case. What right have | to expect
God to undertake my case when l have
not done what I can to help myself? Not
a few" This method Of aid was a test OF
her faith and an aid to her faith. The as
s~istance was given in a way to beneht her
and her sons in character and spiritual
life.
d: "Shut the door."\ So as not to draw
q crowd of curious spectators round, or
make q vain and needless display OF the
miracle. Some miracles God works in Sc
rret for a chosen few. The work was to be
done in quiet, without display, and where
the moral influences might have their per-
feet work. 1t was like praying in secret
Matt. 6:6). 1t is not in the crowd that
God works His wonders in nature and
grace: it is in the lonely place, to the soil
tary individual. The one who would see
the crander revelations of God must turn
his back on the human multitude. Pour
out" God would supply the oil; from a
human standpoint there was nothing much
to pour out.
~. The supply of oil Tvs. SD. 5. $50
she went" The widow might well nave
been ~astonished at such a peculiar COM
mand; "but as the wife of a prophet who
had been a servant Of the Lord she had
learned whence help could be sought when
every other source had failed" In spite Of
all the objections which might have been
suggested to her she FASTENED to obey the
prophet.
was poured out so much oil as by a mirac-
ulous multiplication filed all these empty
casks. Scare had that pot any bottom, at
least the bottom that it had was to be
measured by the brims of all those vessels;
could they have held more the oil would
not have ceased flowing. Even SO the
bounty of our God gives grace and glory
according to the capacity of the receiver.
Could we hold more, o God, Thou wouldst
give more; if there be any defect, it is IN
our vessels, not in Thy benefcence. Not
a vessel more This is a good emblem OF
the grace O: God. While there is an empty,
longing heart, there is a continual over,
flowing fountain of salvation. If the oil
ceases to flow it is because there are no
empty vessels there-no souls hungerlng
suits were according to her faith. Every
vessel she borrowed was filed with the
miraculous oil. Then the flow stopped.
| She put her own limit to the amount she
received. "The oil stayed" That is, 1t
ceased to flow longers
7. Game and told" Feeling that the
disposal of the oil should be made accord:
ing to the direction of Him who bad told
her what to do. 1t would seem to ner that
the unexpected supply could not be re-
earded as her own property. "Setl-pay
thy debt" How calmly the prophet re-
! ce;Svea ner. He knew what would happen.
And does not this show a wonderful
amount of faith and confidence in God on
the part of Elisha? If means are given
thee to satisfy thy creditor let it be thy
first duty to pay him -efore thou carest
for thyself. He who can pay his debts and
will not takes what does not belong to
him. and breaks the eighth commandment.
When the Lord gives there is always some
thing left over and above. He never
merely takes away distress; He gives a
blessing besides. "Live-of the rest" The
oil was all to be sold, and the money that
be a means of support till the sons might
find a way to earn a living. The miracle
goes no further than is absolutely neces
sary. 1t does not permanently enrich the
poor, but provides only for temporary ne.
cessity. How %strikingly does this incident
show that we must be fellow.worEers with
God throughout, from first to last, IN oul
own deliyerGnce.
Mountains Are Melting.
The intense recent heat, says a Geneva
special in the London Express, has bad an
extraordinary effect On the Alps, which are
In nlaces Incoming barred Of snow under