Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-04-05
J Elisha's Heavenly
Defenders
Sunday School Lesson for April ., 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper
LESSON TEXT Kings s:s-s. Mem


His angels charge over thee, to keep thee
In all thy ways.-Psa. SILL
Misunderstanding to most scholars this
event occurred in the reign of Jehoram
B. G. sO4-S94, Beecher, S61-S49. Hastings).
Mrs Houghton, however. holds that tho
Syrian king of this story was Hazael and
the king Of Israel was Jehu.
PLACE-Dothan. small town about
ten miles north Of Samaria, situated on 9
three sides by hills. Traces Of walls may
still be seen all around the hilltop. Also
samaria,, the capital Of the Northern
Kingdom.
How did Elisha show himself to be
true patriot? BY using for his coun-
try his supernatural knowledge, as we
should use for our country our lesser
knowledge, and all our powers. Assy.
ria was not at the time pressing upon
Syria, SO that Syria could attack her
hereditary enemy to the south. But
the plans Of Benhadad II. were frus.
trated over and over. Elisha was
then living in Dothsn, about ten miles
lorth of Samaria. Dothan was "a small
town, of which some ruins and well
still mark the Site" The caravan route
from beyond Jordan passes, from the
Plain Of Esdraelon, close to 1t. Prob
ably Benhadad's route on his preda,
tory expeditions lay through this pass.
which was narrow and easily defend
ed. Therefore when the Syrians' COM
ing was revealed to Elisha and told by
him to King Jehoram, a comparatively
small body Of Israelites, posted a little
north Of Dothan, would effectually
check their progress.
How can we apply to ourselves Eli
sha's advice, Beware that thou pass
-lpot.such a placer" BY recognizing all
places special temptation, and being
on our guafd there. Think of the
men who cannot get past any gam
bling resort to saVe their souls! There
are certain stores aRit ,hay.lofts and
street corners and vacant lots tnat
are more dangerous to boys than pest
houses. There is absolutely no pos
sible safety except in avoiding them."
Boys, and men, too, beware!
How did Benhadad plan to circum-
vent Elisha? Sending spies, and learn
ing that the prophet was living at
Dotham, he sent a large body of, cav
airy and chariots to capture him. To
secure such man was vital. 1t would
at once deprive Jehoram OF one who
was inspired by the gods and put him at
the service of Syria, for it would be as
sumed that he could be bribed to help
either side.
How did Elisha, in the knowledge
of his heavenly. helpers, meet the
Syrians? Our version, the Hebrew,
implies that Elisha and his servant
boldly went down from Dothan into
the valley, and that the leaders Of the
Syrians came down from the heights
on which they were e-Sd1rp@dy 80 Per
ley with the prophet. He prayed; for
prayer is the recourse Of all the strong
est men in the time when they need to
be strongest. Prayer is powerful
thing, for God has bound and tied him
self thereto. He prayed that blindness
might fall upon the Syrians, and at
once his prayer was granted. Not lit
eral blindness is meant, probably, for
they were able to follow Elisha to Sa-
maria, but a confusion Of vision or of
mind, so that they were readily de-
luded. Perhaps only the leaders were
affected. L
Why did Elisha lead the Syrians ten
miles to Samaria? To show then, and
also to show the Israelites, how power
less they were before Jehovah Elisha
made the pompous and confident lnva-
ders appear ridiculous, which ia the
most thorough defeat that can be
given to any enemy. Besides, one rea-
son why Elisha had led the Syriais to
the capital was that they migh be
kindly treated, feasted and sent back
to Benhadad with Goals of fire leap
ed upon their heads.
What is the great teaching Of our
lesson for modern people. The real
ity of the invisible world, and its pow
er to help and comfort. To hae no
sense of the invisible is the run OF
art. 1t is the ruin of all life also. Hany
will believe only what their uninsf-uct.
ed eyes can see. K. /
Christians should be continually up
held by the realization Of their angel.
ic helpers. The brave man need not
see any celestial form with spear and
helmet by his side, yet he may lnow
as he goes out to the battle thai the
spirits of justice everywhere are Sym
pathizing with him and helping hm In
unknown ways. The mother may
not discern an angel bending ovel the
bed on which her child is laid9 but
still she may know that there are Cher
watchers by its bed beside herself, ,5pir.
its whom God has sent to see that
none of his little ones take any hirm.
The soul in its bereavement mayInot
look to see here again the very Hes.
ence and feature of the friend waom
God has taken, yet still may be lure
that even now, in such unknown Pays
as soul may present itself to soulehis
friend is with him, for encouragement
and strength. Pity we cannot COW
practice Elisha's plan of ending ar.
When the comet of October, I58,
appeared, a lecturer made a top OF
some country villages In Devon;ilire
with view to telling the countryaeo-
pie some facts about the, beautifu3ob
| ject; and among other points he tIch.
ed upon the calculations which aston.
| oroorc bad mada as IN the enOrIrnue