The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-10-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 80.

- Ciio NCirCb hoAf-SoAoSh
Text, Psalm xxriv., Recommending,
on the Days Lesson.
I. Elisha assisting the King Of Israel
Tvs. S-l2). s. king of Syria" Bennadad
H., who sent the letter about Naaman
e Kings 500. \ powerful king, bring
ing thirty-two vassal kings with him to
the first siege of Samaria Il Kings pod.
He was killed by Hazael z Kings S:7-l5)
"Warred.' Not an open war but a de-
sultory sktrmisnlng. The plan OF the Syr
ian king was to set an ambush that would
tempt the king OF Israel to his capture.
9. Man of God" Jehovah rescued Is
rael not by kings, mighty armies or great
generals, but by the man of God, that it
might be seen that salvation was not a
work of human strength or wisdom, but
on the lookout. Are come down" Are
coming down." r. V. God knows all
that the wicked are doing, and He will
employ this knowledge for the benefit Of
the good. 10. King of Israel sent"
A party of troops to pre-occupy the place;
and thus the Syrians found their designs
had been detected. 1t is probable that
whenever the Syrians arrived at a point
selected for attack they found superior
Israelitish forces already there. Saved
himself" Those who carefully follow
UOQ > ulTeCllOlS VIII nave III ulhlSuity Al
out-generaling the foe. Not once nor
twice" This was done repeatedly.
II. "Sore troubled" Eexed and cha-
grined that all his plans were made known
to Israel. and that they could thus treat
all his stratagems with derision. "Shew
me-" When his design was thus repeat
eddy frustrated it was natural to think
of treachery among his W people. u.
Zone of his servants" From some Israel.
tie this Syrian may have obtained his
knowledge. "Telleth." A confession OF
the boundless knowledge, as, before, Of the
torted from the Syrians. I'm thy bed
chamber" In the greatest possible Sc
crecy.
II. The Syrians seek Elisha Tvs. 1915.
Is. $50 and spy" How blind to imagine
that He who could tell his secret ~counsels
could not also Illustrate the movements OF
his spies. "In Dothan." Dothan means
"two wells" or "the double fountain" 1t
was situated on the south side of the plain
of Jezreel.
IA. "Horses and chariots." What I'm;
conscious tributes bad men pay to good
chariots ard a great host" to take a man
whose sword was the word OF God, whose
helmet was the defense of the Most High,
whose breast-plate was Righteousness!
Even had it L en- possible to kill Elisha,
God could easily raise up, and instruct
another prophet. "By night" To take
the city by surprise and Elisha in it with
out any warning or opportunity Tor es'
cape.
is. Servant. cor minister" r: ",
margin. tro "a os special ia he S%srv seba,o1I pF OF tSs
prophets" He had only been with him
since Gehazi's dismissal, and had little ex!
p~erience of his masters powers. HIS
faith was easily shaken. Risen early,
He NAV have been aroused by the arrival
of the Syricas. "Alas." Contrast the ter.
TOR of the servant with the calmness OF
the prophet. How shall we do" The
worst of unbelief is, that it not only loses
courage for itself, but assumes that all
other Christians are in the SAME plight.
III: God delivers Elisha Tvs. 1913:
whose eyes are opened and who is sure OF
Gods protection whether he beholds the
angelic host about him or not: He quiets
the fears of his, servant, ]. By showing
his W faith in God. 2. By causing the
young man to catch a glimpse OF their
protectors. "Are more" The person who
has God with him has more than all that
can possibly be against him. One with
God is a majority.
II. "Open his eyes" His natural eyes
are open and he sees the danger; now
open the eyes of his faith that ne may
see the protection. The greatest kind
ness we can do for the fearful and faint
hearted is to pray for them, and so to
recommend them to the mighty grace OF
God. The opening of our eyes will silence
our fears; the clearer sight we have OF
the power of heaven, the less we shall
fear the calamities of earth. 1.-The Lord
opened" God opened his spiritual eyes,
unveiled his inner sense. Mountain was
full" How thickly. crowded the spirit;
ual world must be when such a host could
be spared for Elisha alone. Horses and
chariots." Horses and chariots were there
to match horses and chariots of the Syrian
invader. When Judas came to Gethse-
name with a detachment of the Roman
guard, Christ said. "Thinkest thou that
[ cannot beseech My Father, and He shall
even now send Me more than twelve lie:
! gions of angels?" The reserves were of
the same military order as the foe. Fire"
Ezekiel, Isaiah and John, when they de-
scribe the divine equipage, represent 1t as
q wheeled, harnessed contagration. That
means purity, justice, chastisement, de-
liverance through burning escapes. Char
is. "They." The Syrian army. Came
! uOWH. IlOIl llS
which they were cncamped. ITO him"
Elisha, to capture him, which was their
I object in coming to Dothan. 1t was quite
in the character of Elisha to 60 forth from
the city with his now courageous servant.
"Elisna prayed" He had prayed for his
servant that he might see Gods army.
He now prayed for his enemies that they
might be withheld from doing the evil
they designed to do. For the servant the
eyes of his understanding were enlight'
ened; but for the Syrians their faculties
Jailed them. The were so confused as
not to know the place to be Dotkan or to
recognize Elisha. They grored as in dark
ness. linus protection came in answer to
PRAYER. God is r~:erciful to sinners when
He defeats their plans and saves them
from crime. "Smote with blindness"
Not the usual Hebrew word for blindness,
but a compound word meaning to blind,
to shine. The resulting idea would be
that of dazzling. This would denote hal
~. Elfsha's treatment OF his enemies
Tvs. 1929. 10. "He led them to Samaria."'
There is a sort of irony in these words OF
Elisha, which virtually treated the enemy
with derision.
20. :'They saw" Elisha led them twelve
miles to Salnaria and then their sight was
restored and they found themselves cap
tives in the midst of their enemies. q.
! When Jehoram, the king of Israel, saw
them be asked Elisha if he should kill
them. %. Elisha strongly objected to
this and ordered them to be well fed and
sent back to Benhadad. %. The result
OF IGlisha's kindness was that the Syr-
ians ceased this sort OF warfare against.
Israel.
Wives For Sale Cheap.
In the kharkoff, Poltara and Ekateri-
noslav provinces of Russia, says the No
voc Vremya, there is a rapidly growing