The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-03-23
ELISHA HEALS
NAAMAN
LESSON TExr-lI Kings s. Memory
sssdsy sehesl Lssses f~ Az. z. 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper


be yo saved. all the ends OF the earth;
for nm God, and there IL none Else
| lisa. f5:N
TGME;-Most scholars place this event
In the reign Of Jehoran. the son Of Ahab.
king of Israel. who reigned y. G. m4-S9i.
| Others argue that Il occurred in the reign
OF Jehoahaz. p. G. sGi-sfs
PLACE Damascus the capital OF Sy-
ria the oldest city in the world. famed
for It's swords. "Damascus blades" and
| for its silks. "damask" Samaria, the
capital OF Israel. about ITO miles dis
tant.
The miracles Of Elisha we're nearly
all miracles Of kindly helpfulness.
What were some OF these? Those inn
mediately preceding and following our
lesson: healing the unhealthful wa
tiers OF a spring; bringing water into a
dry valley for the aid of the three
kings; paying a poor widows debts
by increasing her oil supply: restoring
to life the son OF the Shunammite
woman; making healthful some pot
tage into which a poisonous plant had
been put; feeding a hundred men with
20 barley cakes and a few ears of
corn-this and the preceding being in
time OF famine; healing Naaman;
making a lost AK head return 10 the
surface OF the water.
Who was Naaman? lie was com.
mander-in-chlef under the king of Sy.
ria, Benhadad II. Benhadad. who had
been wont in his youth aud middle
age TO lead his armies into the field in
person, seems now in his old age to
have found II necessary 20 ontrust the
command TO a general Naaman had
gained renown by freeing his country
from powerful foe. probably Assyria.
for the black obelisk mentions wars
OF the Assyrians under Shalmanezer
ii. again Israel and Benhadad.
Honored and powerful. what was the
faw I'm Naaman's fortune7 lie was
ieper. Leprosy is Of slow develop
ment. and as Naaman retained his
military command his malady cannot
have reached a very advanced stage.
IL Is not likely, in any case. that the
Syrlans observed the same strict rules
regarding IL as the Jews Leprosy.
however. is terrible disease. fifty
used throughout the Bible as the SYM
Dol OF sin and death. The disease is
contagious. IL is most loathsome IL
is inCurable, at least in the present
state OF our knowledge. Sin is cur
able, but not BY man.
Naaman was a great NAN. with a
great need: and God pre- pared n great
deliverancc for him. as he has a great
teliverance for all the great needa
OF his children. But IL was brought
about by four very simple agencies.
Only inferior artists make a parade %
complicated processes; the most skill
full workers use few tools and unprc-
tentious methods. and God is the most
skillful Of all artists.
Why did Elisha bid Naaman TO wash
seven times In the river Jordan? To
test and strengthen his faith. The
journey would give him time for medi-
tation. for the nearest point OF the
Jordan was. 25 miles in a straight line,
but much farther in distance TO be
travelled. from the winding OF the ra-
vines down which II must be reached.
Moreover. the simplicity of the act
would turn Naaman's thoughts away
from outward forms 10 the true God.
He would be sure that the water itself
did not accomplish the cure, else there
would be no lepers In Israel And he
be likely to ascribe the cure to the
prophet.
Why Was Naamau angry at this
message? How was he to tell that
this man OF God did not design to
mock him by sending him on FOOLS
errand. so that he would come back as
q laughing-stock both to the lsraolites
and to his own people? Naaman had
expected the prophet himself TO como
forth respectfully and wave his hand
over the place" and go through some
mystic ceremony. The sting lay In
the fact that the prophet himself took
no part In the cure; that. instead OF
ticnt. he had calmly handed him over
to one OF his assistant physicians--to
the medical skill az the waters Of ICr-
dan.
As Naaman went away In q rage
how was he put in a more sensible
frame " mind? By one of his serv-
ants: Naaman seems TO have had
great fortune in his servants. My fa-
ther. said the servant with respectful
affection. II the prophet had BID thee
do some great thing. wouldst thou not
have done &c? Yesl or course no
would. and the greater the better.
What was the result OF Naaman's
obedience? The result that always
comes when men obey Gods CON-
mands. he VAS Instantly and cCm-
plotely clennsed from bis leprosy.
II In a shame that this beautiful
story must close with q recital NJ Naa,
mans perhdy. We may be sure that
II woulC never have been inserted II
the tale were not a true one. Gch2zi
Is the Old Testament Judas. Geha.i
misrepresented the true religion 10
Naaman and the Syrian nation.
The story OF Naaman has been said
to be the best illustration In the Old !
Testament OF salvation from sin. low |
Is this? II indicates the hideousnesa |
OF sin. sin is like a leprosy, eating. |
lnsidious. deiling. mutilatlnG, dlsilg. !