Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-10-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 80.

, Subject: Elisha at Dothan, II Kings, vi,
1928 - Memory Verses. 15-17-Goldcn
Text, Psalm xxxiv., 7-ComIn entnry
on the Days Lesson.
7. Elisha assisting the King of Israel
Tvs. 8-l2). s. king of Syria" Benhadad
H., who sent the letter about Naaman
e Kings $50. A powerful king, bring
ing thirty-two vassal kings with him to
the first siege of Samaria Il klngs 2O:l).
He was killed by Hazael e Kings s:7l5).
"Warred." Not an open war but de-
sultory skirmsnlng. 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
work of human strength or wisdom, but
due to the God of Israel. "Beware."' Be
on the lookout "Are come down" care
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 1crael 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 point
Israelitish forces already there. Saved
himself" Those W ho carefully tolloW
Gods directions will have no difficulty IN
out.generaling the foe. "Not once nor
twice" This was done repeatedly,
IL. "Sore troubled NeXed aud cha
erined that all his plans were made known
to Israel, and that they could thus treat
all his stratagems with derison. SheW
me-" When his design was thus repeat
lal Irp n
of treachery among his own people. T.
"One of his servants" From some Israel
lite this Syrian may have obtained his
knowledge. 'Telleth" A confession OF
the boundless knowledge, as, before, ot the
boundless power, Of Israeps God IS eX'
torted from the Syrians. In thy bed
chamber" In the greatest possible Sc
crecy.
Ii. The Syrians seek Elisha Tvs, 1879.
t3. "Go and spy" How blind to imagine
that He who could tell his secret c"unec'S
could not also Illustrate the movements OF
his spies. "In Dothan.' Dothan means
two wells" or ''the double fountain II
was situated on the south side OF the plan
,f Jezreel.
IA. Horses and chariot," What un.
conscious tributes bad men pay to goo9
nhuences The king sent horses and
.hariots ard great host to take man
whose sword was the word OF TOD, whose
helmet was the defense Of the Most High,
whose breast-plate was righteousness
Even had it ! N possible to kill Elisha,
sod could easily raise up and instruct
mother prophet by night 10 take
The city by surprise and Elisha IN 1t with
,ut any warning or opportunity tor eS'
:ape. :,
i5 Servant "Or minister" Il. y,
margin. "A special ;crvant, probably
,hosen from one OF the schools nl thH
prophets" He had only been with hm
rnre Gchazi's dismissal, and had little cN'
oerience of his masters powers. lt,S
'ajth was easily shaken. "Rlsrn early.
10 may have been aroused by the arrival
,f The Syrio1s. "Alas." Contrast the ter.
ror of the servant with the CalmncSs OF
The prophet GLOW shall we do The
worst OF unbelief is, that 1t not only loses
courage for itself, but assumes thai an
other Christians are III the same plight
TIT. God delivers Elisha Tvs. 1918.
I6 "Fear not" Elisha speaks as man
whose eyes are opened and who is sure OF
Gods protection whether he behoids the
angelic host about him or not. He, qulets
the fears of his servant, ]. BY showing
his own faith in God. .. By causing the
young man to catch a, glimpse OF ther
protectors "Are more The person who
mas God with him has more than all that
ran possibly be against him. One with
God is majority.
are open and he sees the danger: now
omen the eyes of his faith that he may
see the protection. The greatest knd-
ness we can do for the fearful and talnt-
hearted is to pray for them, ana so 10
recommend them to the mighty grace OF
God. The opening of our eyes VIII silence
our fears; the clearer sight we nave o. Q,
the power of heaven, the, less we Shal,
fear the calamites of earth. The LORD
,ncned" God opened his spiritual eyes.
unveiled his inner sense. Mountain was
full" How thckly crowded the spirit,
ual world must be when such host could
Ne shared for Elisha alone Horses ana
,hariots' Horses and chariots were there
10 match horses and chariots OF the Syrlan
invader. When Judas came TO Gethse-
name with detachment OF the Roman
yuard, Christ said, ''Thinkest thou that
[ cannot beseech My Father, and lie shall
sven now send Me more than twelve lie,
yions of angels" The reserves we're ct O.,
the same military order as the foe, 'flre.
Ezekiel Isaiah and John, when they de-
scribe the divine equipage, represent II as
, wheeled, harnessed conhagration. That
means nurity, Justice. chastsement, de-
iverancc through burning escapes, Char
lot Of rescue? Yes, but chariot of tre;
Is. "They." The Syrian army. lame
down" From the surrounding hliis on
which they were e1ncamped 40 MN; 4h,
Elisha, to capture him, which was their
object in coming to Dothan. 1t was quite
in The character of Elisha to go 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 dong the ey''
they designed to do. For the servant the
eyes Of his understanding we're cnhGht'
,ned; but for the Syrlans their lacuitles
failed them. The were SO confused as
not to know tne place to be Dothan or 10
recognize Elisha. They grored as IN dark
uess. 1nus protection came IN answer 10
prayer. God is merciful to sinners when
He defeats their plans and saves. them
from crime. 'Smotc with blindness
Not the usual Hebrew word for blindness,
but a compound word meaning to blnd,
to shine. The resulting idea would be
that of dazzling. This would denote hal'
lucnation rather than total loss OF sight
w, Elisha's treatment of his enemies
Tvs. 1929. 10. He led them to Samarla
There is y 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 u.
them he asked Elisha ii he should XIII
them %. Elisha strongly objected to
this and ordered them to be well led and
sent back to Benhadad. 23 The result
of Elisha's kindness was that the Hyr-
ians ceased this sort OF warfare against
Israel.