The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-03-09
ELISHA RESTORES
A CHILD TO LIFE
Sunday School Lesson for Mar. II, 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper

TIME-ElIsha began his career ms a
prophet about 500 B. G. But no exact
date can be given 10 the separate stories,
as II Is not certain that they are arranged
chronologically.
PLACES-rhe Jordan. Jericho, Bethel,
somo part Of Mount Carmel. where Elisha
sometimes retired.
The promise Of Elijah that II Elisha
saw him ascend, then no might know
that he was to be his successor had
been fulfilled. This might be con-
frmed by the fact that EliJah's man.
tie, his familiar prophet-dress, fell
from him as he went up in the whlrl'
wind, and was conhrmatory legacy,
so that Elisha might appear TO tho
people to be a prophet like his mas
ter.
But, like Gideon with the fleece,
Elisha would like to make another
test before he entered upon his work.
He was standing by the River Jordan.
The sons OF the prophets from Jeri-
cho were looking on. The river must
be crossed. He held the mantle with
which Elijah smote tho waters, when
a way through them had been opened
by Elijsh's God. Therefore II he was
really Elijah's successor, with tho
same mantle, the same spirit, the samo
work TO do, then God would open a
similar pathway through the river for
Elisha, Folding up the mantle, and
emitting ha D. l. hah
done, he exclaimed, Where is the
Lord, the God OF Elljah'" and the way
was opened, and assurance was made
doubly sure.
Coming 10 Jericho. where there was
n guild Of the Sons Of the Prophets,
Elisha had an opportunity OF using
his power OF service as prophet. The
citizens Of Jericho came to him for
help because the water supply was
very bad for both the people and the
land. They brought Elisha new
bowl or dish. and put salt therein.
both typical Of purity and freshness.
Taking these with him he went up
the stream TO the fountain head q
mile and a half from the town, and cast
the salt into It, saying, Thus saith
the Lord, have healed these waters"
This clearly shows that the salt was
not the means whereby the healing
was wrought. but only as an outward
sign to point to the work which was
supernaturally performed" Salt
would naturally make the water
worse. not better: and even II II were
helpful, one dish OF salt could not
purify spring that supplied whole
city with water, much less make II
permanently good. It was like the
clay with which Jesus anointed the
eyes Of the blind man.
One OF the sons OF the prophets
died and left his widow and two sons
In poverty. She was so poor as TO be
in danger OF having her children sold
as slaves Her husband may have
left her I'm debt, or she had run In
debt, perhaps through her husbands
sickness. Her creditors demanded
their money, and, as she could not
pay It, they threatened TO take her
two sons for slaves, to work out tho
debt In her trouble she appealed to
Elisha as the head Of the guild. and
as one who had been helping others.
She had nothing left put a pot OF
olive OIL.
Elisha bade the woman borrGy
empty vessels from her neighbors, !
and bringing them into her house,
with closed doors, to pour out from
her own Jar of oil TIL every dish and |
jar was full. This oil she was to sell |
and pay her debt
The result was according to the .
prophets word. Every vessel she had
faith enough to borrow was filed with
the miraculous Oil Her debt wa5
paid. and her children saved from
According to her faith It was
done unto her.
Mother Goes to Elisha for Help
Elisha at this time was at Mount
Carmel, 16 miles away. The mother
knows the only thing to be done. She
calls for one Of the servants, has an
ass saddled, and presses forward with
the utmost speed TO the prophet.
Elisha knew that only some matter
Of great Importance could bring
woman there. she caught him by
the feet, Gehazl came near to thrust
her away" Deemlng her importantly
excessive, or such liberties beneath
his masters dignity.
Elisha went with the Shunammite
10 her house, and found the child dead
upon the bed In his chamber. he
shut the door upon them twain. and
prayed" Thus, like Jacob wrestling
alone with the angel for the blessing,
could the prophet come into closest
with God, and learn his
will. Prayer makes the heart a chan.
lel for Gods blessings. Gifts through
prayer are doubly blessed, the spirit
lal life is increased, the character
And he went up, and lay upon the
,hild." He used whatever means
we're In his power, though the means
llone could never have brought the
,hild to life. SO James tells the eld-
IT'S who pray with the sick, to also
lnoint him with oil, one of the com
noner remedies OF the day. There
we're faint signs of life.
Then came another season Of az.
,nizing prayer, while the prophet
walked to and fro. This was a new
experience of what the Lord might do
through him, and he could not know
he Lords will at once "The child
neezed seven times, and
,nened hiR ewes" These Mere thu