Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-10-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 70.
Subject. Elisha and Naaman. III KIpE''
y..1.14-Golden Text, Jer' XVIII Ia
Memory Verses, s-1o-Cominen'"rS U"
the Days Lesson.

I Naaman's sad condition ", D., l.
"Naaman." Naaman means beautiiu' VI
pleasant to look upon. captain. cue
He was commander-in-chlet OF the oyr'ni
army. He had great ability, power and IN
duence. He had done much or his King,
and in some famous exploit had woa
memorable victory for the Syrlans &c
cording to tradition he was the man Wh3
drew the bow at venture anu k iiS
Ahab. King of Israel Il Kings H;3i). Inc
Lord had given" The scriptural eXpana'
ton of Naamans greatness is that me
Lord had given him the victory ana naHc
him great. But" This was the iaw III
the crystal of his prosperity, the ny IN the
clouded his glory, the hateful presence that
followed him everywhere, the bitter drea
in his cup of Joy "A ieper." Leprosy was
supposed to be inflicted for the punish
ment of some particular sin, and to be,
more than other diseases, a mark of Gods
displeasure.
H. The captive's story Tvs pa. 2. by
companies" In p.undering parties who
made forays upon the neighboring Israel
ties "a little maid" A young girl. she
was regarded by her captors as chattc
and valued for her service like beasts. If
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 Undesirable, and immeasure.
ably worse than the worse brutality of
modern times. g. "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 wrongcd
her. 2. Her fidelity. 3. Her sympathy. the
most Christlike of virtues. d. Her simple
faith. "Would God" A better traAs-
lation would be, ooh. that '..Recoyvcr
him." Literally. gather him from his
leprosy An illusion to the lsraeiti>h
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 ,lthe prophet Elisha.
III. Naamap( seeking health Tvs. SOY.
5. GO TO, got' That is, set out at once:
let no time be lost. "a letter" Benha-
dad very naturally supposes that the SER
vices of such a man would be at the COM
mand of the king. "Took with him" etc.
He took a present to Jehoram. We cam
not estimate the value accurately: The
money was probably, weighed, and tai,
ents and pieces" or , she't is,ao+ We're we're
SIdHudEuS Vi NcISib. n SilNCl N"'
worth 1914 in all Sl9.44O. A gold shekel
was worth 1915, in all $500. According
to this Naaman took with him $77.940,
prncely present "Raiment." Costly
robes.
6. Recover him." Doubtless Benha
Had had magcans drawing rich salaries
at his court. and in their supernatural
power he had a 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
tc perform this cure, and as Benhadads
prophets did as he ordered them it was
,upposabe that Elisha would obey ,Je-
horam's orders. 1t was courtesy to Jeho-
ram not to mention Elisha's name; but
poor Jehoram had himself so little prac.
tical faith in Elisha that when he read
| thesietter he did not even think of him.
7. "Rent his clothes A sign here of
terror and alarm! Rending the garments
was sometimes an expression of grief.
Am l Cod" As much as to say, Who
but God can cure the leprosy? Who hut
the one who is able to kill and make
alive? "a quarrel" Jehoram lived in
croaching neighbor He feared this was
pretext for again invading his country.
s. elisha heard" No doubt the COM
| ing of the Syrian general with his retinue,
and the fact that the king had rent his
| clothes, caused a sensation IN Samarla,
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 lsrae'.
| 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
- Toh4 led
| to be reminded of his obligations to God
and His prophet g. STOOD at the door
He came with great pomp. with horses
| and "chariots' (R. W and with money
to richly reward his benefactor.
| ". Elisha's message and Naaman's
rage Tvs. 1912. 10. Sent a messenger."
/ Not that ne was wanting in po.lteness,
or influenced by priestly pride, or feared
| the leprosy. OF avoided intercourse with a
leper in obedience 70 the law; but Naa
man was % understand that he was hcacd
by the grace and power Of God. at the
| PRAYER Of the prophet. Wash in Jordan y
This would humble him and test his obe-
/ dance. Il was 20 simple and easy that
| there Wa no excuse for refusal. "Seven
| times" The sacred number which rep
rcsent8 tie union Of the finite and infinite,
and "any transaction or covenant in which
! both God and man are engaged"
II. "Was wroth." The plan was too
simple. So the very simplicity Of the Cos
pcl Is a stumbling block to the proud.
How was he to tell that Elisha did not
design to mock him by sending him on a
FOOLS GRAND, 50 that he would come back
as laughing stock both to the l3rac.itcS
and his own people? Some think Elisha
was disrespectful but he kne. what was
best for Naaman. 81 thought" Per,
sonal pride and heather magic formed
this fanciful picture. No wonder it proved
q delusive dream.
r. "Abana and Pharpar" The modern
Barada and Awaj. ALBANIA signifies Goo
in Arabic and "clean" in Hebrew. Called
by the Greeks, "The golden flowing"
"Better." Certainly from his point OF
view the waters of his own country were
better than the Jordan, for the Syrian
waters were salubrious and invigorating
and the Jordan was deep, sluggish. dis
colored stream. But Naaman judged ac-
cording to appearances and not according
to faith "May / not wash in them and
be clean" No, for Cod has directed thee
to Jordan, and by its waters or none shalt
thou be cleansed
Y. Naaman accepts Gods way Tvs. l3
lQ. 49, Servants" Naaman had adj
generous. "My father" There is no
other instance were servants thus ad
dress their master. 1t indicates the at
fectionate relation between Naaman and
| those about him. ID. "Then went he
/ down." etc. He submitted and obcyed
the words of the prophet. His cure vas