The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-10

Golden Textile gift OF God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our
I.ord.-Rom. s.: IS.
one day while Elisha was tarrying
at Jericho az was shortly after the
ascension of Eluah), committee OF
citizens waited on him and told him
of the wretched water which was
such u drawback to their city, ana
of a trouble in the soil in the coun-
try around, also due to the water,
which caused the trees to shed their
fruit before maturity. The prophet
told them to bring him a new cruise
filled with salt. The cruise was
brought, and together they walked
out To The source OF the stream which
supplied tho city and surrounding
country with water, Here the prophel
cast the salt IN the spring and solemn
~ declared that Jehovah had healed
the water. and that there should be
no more death or miscarryiDg of the
land on its account
After the miracle of the healing OF
the waters. Elisha went TO Bethel.
ON the way occurred the distressing
incident of the hooking of Elisha b.
siRtle children" and their conse-
auent destruction. The teacher who
undertakes TO defend Elisha or
Flisha's God in this matter will only
succeed in hardening the hearts OF
his pupils or awakening doubts
which he VIII be unable to settle.
All that we can say Is that Elisha
was acting under Inspiration from
Jehoyf h-~-that IT was Gods matter
and that we know nothing whatever
of Gods motive in the matter. We
only know that IL Is IL terrible thing
70 question His deeds, and that whe-
Sher We understand Him or not the
Judge of all the earth will do right.
II is good rule never to try to ex-
plain thing II you are not sure that
you can make it plain.
On leaving Bethel Elisha went TO
Mt. Carmel, and from thence TO Sa-
maria" Here he disappears from our
view. Our next glimpse OF him is
during an invasion Of Moab in which
he miracdlously provides water for
the combined armies OF Israel and
Judah.
One day the widow OF one of the
sons of the prophets came to Elisha
in great trouble. her husband had
died heavily in debt and his creditors,
flnd!ng that. the poor man had left
nothing but his two sons proposed to
take them as slaves to satisfy his
claim. Her tale of woe touched the
heart of the prophet, and under q di-
vine impulse ne asked what she had
at home. Nothing but n pot of OIL"
she said Very WE'LL he replied,
Ego around among your neighbors
and borrow all the empty vessels you
can, and when you have carried them
home shut yourself up with your two
sons alone. and pour the oil you
have into these vessels She obeyed.
end 10 her establishment the single
pot of oil held out until she had
filled all the vessels she could Dor
row. Then she went with q glad
heart TO the prophet and told him
what had happened. 60 and sell
the OIL said Elisha, land pay your
debts and you and your children live
on what is left"
The prophet seems To have been r
very busy man. He was always COINS
about doing good. Yesterday he was
at Samaria, to-day ne is at Shunem,
tomorrow he will be at Carmel Here
at shunem he Is enjoying the hospi.
tally of the first family Of the place
Some time ago he had stopped at this
home to rest. and the woman of the
house--one OF the first ladies OF the
undertaking that hts presence wa.
benediction TO her home, suggested
TO her husband that n room be added
80 the house to be kept exclusIvel,
ANs ElplbSA use ms WIS uOUSa
and ever afterwards when Elisha
passed on his way from Samaria tt
Carmel he would stop at Shunem anc
refresh himself.
Years passed by and the womnu's
son--her only child who had beer
given to her by Jehovah in return
for her Kindness to His prophet
Was taken suddenly III in the tielc
and was brought home IN a dyins
y.
i,~sass with the boy upon her lap unit
he died, and them carrying the prec
ious body to the prophets room
left II there and taking Il servan
hurried away 10 md the man O.
God
The Lesson Text tn Everyday Dress,
Elisha was at Carmel ano thithel
the mother rode with feverish haste
The prophet recognized her as sh,
came up the vaIy below, and divin
ing that something OF unusual mo
ment had happened. sent his servan
to meet her and inquire IL all wa,
- we'll with her. Tie servant oheyeti
but to his inquiries she only return
cd the simple salutstion. Peace" ant
hurried on When she came int
the presence of the man OF God hel
grief overcame hcr. and she fei
down before him and caught hin
tS ATS %GIsE hS iAtG9 shisn NOIt4Cn vi
the East do when seeking a greai
havor at the hands of another
Gehan. with provoking oficiousness
and with an Ortsntars lack of rever.
ence for womankind, came up Il
thrust her away. but Elisha com.
ananded him to let her alone. saying
that she was evidently sn great trou-
bic. and that the Lord had cot re-
vealed the matter To him. The poo,
woman's mind went back 20 the day
when the prophet had promised g
son from the LORD. and she cried
did j ask you to give me n soE ?
And when the promise was giver
me did ] not say. do not deceive
ne?" II was enough. Elisha knew
thar the child wss dead, and handing
his star TO his servant he babe him
70 and lay IL upon the child's face
But the mother was not TO he put
of. She felt tina, # anything was
done II must be done By the prophet
OF God hi:nseif(. and she declared
that she would not leave him so he
arose and returned 10 her home with
her. On their way they met Gehazi
who had done as he was ordered but
70 no purpose. There was still no
sign OF life. When they reached
the house Elisha went straight TO
his room where he found the child,
lying upon his bed cold in death.
sshufting the door he poured out