Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-10-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 20.
Subj Get: Elisha and Naaman, III Kings,
w., 1-14-Golden Text, Jer. xviii, ID -
Momory Verses, 3-1O-Coninsntary on
the Days Lesson.

w., l-14-Golden Text, der. xviii, Ia -
Memory Verses, 3-1O-Commentary on
the Days Lesson.
!. Naaman's sad condition ". D.. l.
"Naaman." Naaman means beautiful or
pleasant to look upon" Captain, etc.
He was commandcr-inchiefo of the Syrian
army. lie had great ability; power and in
huence. He had done much or his king,
and in some famous exploit had won a
memorable victory for the Syrians. Ac'
cording to tradition he was the man who
drew the bow at a venture and killed
Ahab, King of Israel Il Kings 22:34. ''The
Lord had given" The scrptural 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 fly in the
ointment of his triumph, the shadow hat
followed him everywhere, the bitter dreg
in his cup of joy. "A ieper." Leprosy was
supposed to be inflicted for the punish
ment of some particular sin, and to he,
more than other diseases, a mark of Gods
displeasure
II. The captive's story Tvs. 2-D. 2. "By
companies" In plundering parties who
made forays upon the neighboring Israel
ties. "A little maid a young girl. She
was regarded by her captors as a chattcl
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 indescribable, 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 forgivng spirit and
generosity toward those who had wronged
her. 2. Her fidelity. 3. Her sympathy, the
faith. "Would God" 4 better trans.
lation would be, ooh, that" Recover
him" Literally, gather" him from his
lcprosy. An illusion to the Israeitish
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.
III. Naaman seeking health Tvs. 5-W.
g. "Go to. go" That is, set ont at once;
let no time be lost. "A letter" Benha.
vices of such man would be at the com
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 shckels, were
standards of weight A silver talent was
worth 1914. in all Slo.44o. \ gold shekel
was worth S975, in all S5S,50o According
to this Naaman took with him $3.50, IA
princely present. "Raimcnt.' Costly
robes.
6. Recover him" Doubtless Eenha.
Had had magicans drawing rich salarics
AZ his and II, tbpIr 4 al
power he had good deal of snpcrstitious
faith. But they were not able to heal
Naaman. His rival king. .Ichoram, was
lucky enough to have magician able
tc perform this cure, and as BcnhadId's
prof hcts did as he ordered them IT was
suppossble that Elisha would obey .Ic-
horam's orders 1t was courtesy 10 ,jcho.
ram not TO mention Ehsha's name: but
poor Lchoram had himself so httc prac.
teal 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. Rendng the garments
was sometimes an expression OF gICt.
Gam | God" As much as to saw, Who
but God can cure the lcprosv? Who brt
the one who is able to kill and make
alive "a quarrel" Jehoram lived in
perpetual terror of his powerful aud en-
croachine neghbor lie feared this was a
pretcXt for again invading his country.
s. elisha heard" No dou6t the com.
ing of the Syrian general with his rctlnuc,
and the fact that the king had rent his
and the news came speedily to Elisha,
who appears to have had his home IN the
raptal city. "Whereiore,' etc. Have You
forgotten that there is a God in Israel,
and that His prophet is near at hand?
Gle 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 .Ichoram needed
to be reminded of his obligations to God
and His prophet, o. stood at The door,
lie came with great pomp, with horses
and "chariots' Or. W and with money
to richly reward his benefactor
". Elisha message and Naaman's
rage (vs. l0l2). TO- Sent a messenger"
Not that he was wanting IN pohtencss.
or influenced by priostly pride, or feared
the lcprosy. or avoided intercourse with a
leper in obedience to the law; but Naa.
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 ODE
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
II. "Was wroth." The plan was too
simple. SO the very simplicity of the Cos.
rel is stumbling block to the proud.
How was he to tell that Elisha did not
design to mock him by sending him on a
fools errand. SO that he would come back
as a laughing stock both to the Iarac,it,s
and his own people? Some thinl; Elisha
was disrespectiul, but he kne, what was
best for Naaman. II thought" Per.
sonal pride and heather magic formed
this fancful picture. No wonder it proved
a deluSive dream.
-. "Abana and Pharpar." The modern
Barada and Avail. ALBANIA signifies 'coo"
in Arabic and clean" in Hebrew. Called
by the Greeks, THE golden flowing"
PETER" Certainly from his point of
view the waters of his own country were
better than the Jordan, for the Syrian
and the Jordan was a deep, sluggish. dis.
coored stream. But Naaman judged ac.
cordng TO appearances and not according
to faith. "May | not wash in them and
be clean" No. for God has directed thee
to Jordan. and by its waters or none shalt
thou be cleansed
V. Naaman accepts Gods way Tvs. It..
l4. 10. Servants" Naaman had ad.
mirable servants. They were wise and
generous my father" There is no
other instance were servants thus adj
dress their master. 1t indicates the af.
fcctionate relation between Naaman and
those about him. IA. "Thcn went he
down." etc. He submitted and obeycd
the words of the prophet. His cure vas
perfect.