Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-04-01
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Second Quarter, For
April 2, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text OF the Lesson, u Kings v. LA
Memory Verses, 10, 14-GoIden Text
lisa. xiv, 22-commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. NJ. stearns.
IL Is a most interesting aud profitable
study to search out IN the old Tesla.
mcnt all the people and the events
which the Lord Jesus mentioned in His
teaching aud TO remember that Jesus
Of the New Testament Is none other
than the Lord God of the prophets,
whose goings forth have been from OF
old. from the days of eternity (Nlic. ",
2. marginl. In Luke ~, -, lie men
lions both Naaman aud Elisha, and of
course that includes the little maid
Of Israel and all the other people and
incidents of the story.
In chapter ~. 5. we read of n great
woman. and now II is great man
and honorable. Il deliverer and mighty
man OF valor, but lcper. He was o
great man in the eyes OF his fellows,
but had he lived IN Israel he would
have had to live without the camp.
Lcprosy is a wonderful type Of sin,
aud, It matters not how great man
may be in other mems eyes. if he Is
an unsayed sinner he Is child of
wrath. dead In sins. without Christ
and without God (Eph. II. /, 3, 12). and
those who die in that condition are
forever shut ont tRev. xxi, s, 90. In
as seemingly strange ways rs the Lord
brought healing 10 Naaman He still
wins sinners To Himself. He may use
captive maid. humble servants, wa
tiers OF Jordan. etc. but He Is always
seeking To save the lost. not willing
that any should perish I'll Pet Ill. 81.
The little captive maid stolen away
from her home might have so hated
her captors as 10 wish them evil and
be glad that Naaman was a leper, but
she evidently had the spirit Of Him
who taught to love our enemies and
TO be subject even TO pcrverse people
Matt. V. A: Pet. II. lSl. So she
pltied Naaman and told Of the prophet
In Samaria. of whom she knew or had
heard many wonderful things From
the slowncss of believers 10 tell of the
Lord Jesus and His wonderful redemp
ton the world has right 10 conclude
that they have nothing wonderful to
tell.
Tho result OF the little maids testi
mony was that the king of Syria sent
Naaman to the king of Israel with Il
letter and lot of silver and gold and
raiment. asking from the king health
for his servant There was a double
mistake In sending 10 the king in
stead of the prophet and in supposing
that money could purchase heavens
gifts. The maid had spoken Of the
prophet In Samaria. not the king. and
true prophet Is Il spokesman for
God. But royalty can only deal with
royalty and. as a rule. has no use for
poor men even II they are prophets.
Such pride must lie laid low before
God can help such people.
The king of Israel thought that the
king of Syria was seeking n quarrel
with him IN making such Il request.
and he rent his clothes Elisha. hear.
liis w IT. saul w AHt kli<s la'A tiifii
come now TO mo. and he shall know
that there IS n prophet IN Israel" So
Naaman came IN all his pomp and
pride 10 the door of the house Of
Elisha. thinking that the prophet would
make n display Of his power and in
some striking way give him health.
When the prophet did rot deign even
to come To the door. but sent mes
sengcr, saying, Go and wash In .Ior-
dan seven times. and thy flesh shall
come again Ia thee. and thou shalt
he clean" Naa IAN was SO angry that
he turned and went away IN rage
When we remember that even Abra-
hams thoughts brought him trouble
(Gen. Xxx. III and Mary's supposing
gave her three days Of sorrow luke
81. 4446l we do not wonder so much
at the result of Naaman's thoughts.
Simple faith Ia God and prompt obedi.
ence is the only safe way. Servants
sometimes have more sense than their
masters, and so 1t proved IN this case
for. as they reasoned with Naaman
that he would gladly have done some
great thing, then why not do this sim
pie thing? He went and did ms Elisha
had said. and his flesh became rs the
flesh OF little child. and he was clean
There was no special value or eflica-
cy In the waters of Jordan, but II was
10 Naaman a lesson IN humility and
obedience and submission to the true
God. In the matter OF salvation for
the sinner there Is only one way. one
name. one sacrifice. one precious blood
and he who dIsdaIns II cannot Ice saw
cd. Naaman. being healed, returned
to Elisha with good confession. BE
hold, now | know that there j. no
God In all the earth but IN Israel 90,
and he would fain have rewarded the
prophet. How grand Is the dignity Of
the soul that can turn down earth's
silver and gold and say TO such as
Nnaman. "As the Lord liveth before
whom ! stand ! will receive none
Compare Gen. xiv. 22-23; Dan. Y. IL.
See also the rich young ruler who was