Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-10-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER g..

Kings, w., 1-7-Golden Text. Psalm
xxxvii., 3-Memory Verses, 5-7-Con-
mentary on the Days Lesson.
I. A widow in trouble ". y. l. "A
certain woman Josephus says this
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
1850. "Of the wives" etc. It 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 leal.
err 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 evi.
IDENTIFY been engaged in some transaction
for which money had been borrowed and
had died before it could be paid off. ''To
LEV. 25:39-4D that in cases of poverty and
inability to pay his debts man and his
children might be sold and remain in bond,
age until the next year of jubilee. Mat.
thew 1928 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.
who do their best to avoid it. 1t is more
keenly felt in proportion to the desire to
do everything in the fear of the Lord. 1t
often brings suffering upon the family.
Grace cannot keep us from financial re.
verses.
II. The womans poverty ~. o.: 2.
"What she'll | do?" How shall | relieve
you? The sons Of the prophets were poor
and il would signify little to make collec'
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 multtudes with a
little bread and fish. If she has little
committed to her management. her need
nust be supplied by His blessing and in
creasing that little. "Pot of OIL" The
only thing she had in the house was pot
of oil. "1hc word rendered pot is from
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 II was not the finest OIL such
as would he used for cooking food, that
she had, but the more common kind which
every Oriental makes use OF after bath.
Some think that this pot of oil was what
this woman had kept for her burial. See
Matt. 26l2 Out of this last pot of oil
the sign of her utmost poverty-Eilsha
furnished the source Of her future comfort
and happiness.
Ill The prophets advice tvs. 3. ~. 3:
"Borrow-smpty vessels" But why did
not the Lord supply the vessels rs He did
the oil? Simply because she had the abb.
ity to obtain the vessels, Those who think
it cripp.cs their faith to help themselves
should remember that the exact opposite
is the case. What right nave | to expect
God 10 undertake my case when | have
not done what can to hep myself Not
a few" This method OF AID was test of
her faith and an AID to her faith. The as
slStance was given IN way TO benefit her
and her sons in character and spiritual
life.
l. shut the door" SO as not to draw
crowd OF curious spectators round, or
make vain ard needless display Of the
miracle. Some miracles God works in Sc
cret for 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. G;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
tRry individual. The one who would see
the gTlnder revelations OF God must turn
his back on the human multitude. Pour
out" God would supply the oil fiom a
human standpoint there was nothing much
to pour out
~. The sgppiy of oil Tvs. So. s. $50
she went TIE widow might well nave
been as' -1shed at s1ch n peculiar com
mand. hut as the wife OF a prophet who
had been a servant OF the Lord she had
learned whence help coad 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.
9. Were full" Out of one small jar
was poured out so much oil as by a mirac-
ulous multiplication filled all these empty
casks. Scare had that pot any bottom, at
least the bottom that it had was to be
measured by the brms 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 woudst
give more; ii there be any defect 1t is IN
our vessels, not in Thy beneticence Not
a vessel more This is a good emblem of
the grace of God. While there is an empty,
longing heart there is a continual over.
flowing fountain of salvation. Ii the oil
ceases to flow it is because there are no
empty vessels there-no souls hungering
and thirsting for righteousness. The re-
suits were according to her faith. Every
vessel she borrowed was filled 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 longer.
I. Game and told" Feeling that the
disposal of the oil should be made accord.
ing to the direction of Him who had told
her what to do. 1t would seem to her that
the unexpected supply could not be re-
garded as her own property. "Sell-pay
thy debt How calmly the prophet re-
ceived her. He knew " hat would happen.
And does not this show a wonderful
the part of Elisha? Ii means are. given
first duty to pay him efore thou carest
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
was over, when the debt was paid, would
he means of support till the sons might
find way to earn living. The miracle
goes no further than is absolutely neces.
sary. 1t does not permanently enrich the
poor, but provides only for temporary me-
ccssity How strikingy does this incident
show that we must be tellow-workers with
God throughout, from first to last, in our
own ielverance.