The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1911-03-28
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Second Quarter, For
April 2, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, u Kings v. LA.
Memory Verses, 10, 14-ooIden Text,
lea. XIV, 22-commentsry Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

lea. xiv, 22-commentsry Prepared
by Rev. o. N. stssrns.
IL is a most interesting and profitable
study to search out In the Old Tesla.
ment all the people and the events
which the Lord Jesus mentioned 10 Ills
teaching aud to remember that Jesus
OF the New Testament is none other
than the Lord God of the prophets.
whose golngs forth have been from of
old. from the days of eternity mic. Y.
2, margin. In Luke iv, %. He men
lions both Naaman and Elisha, and Of
course that includes the little maid
Of Israel aud all the other people and
incidents of the story.
In chapter iv, = we read of a great
woman, and now 1t is a great man
and honorable. delivcrer and mighty
man of vIlor, but n lcper. lie was a
great man ia the eyes II his fellows,
but had he lived in Israel he would
have had 30 I've without the camp.
Lcprusy is wonderful type Of sin.
aud, e matters not how great man
may he IN other mems eyes. if he is
an unsaved sinner he is child Of
wrath. dead I'm sins. without Christ
and without God u.ph. H. /, 3, II. AMI
those who die ia that condition are
forever shut out tRcv. xxi. 5, "a. In
as seemingly strange ways as the Lord
brought healing 70 Naaman He still
wins sinners to Himself. lie may use
q captive maid. humble servants, wa
ter, OF Jordan. etc, but lie is always
seeking tn save the lost, not willing
that any should perish III Pet iii, 81.
The little captive maid stolen away
from her home might have 80 hated
her capturs as 20 wish them evil and
be glad that Nudman was lcper. but
she evidently had the spirit of Him
who taught to love our enemies and
10 DO subject even to pcrycrSe people
(Matt. v, ~; | Pet. ii, 49,. So she
pitied Naaman and told of the prophet
In Samarla. Of whom she know or had
heard many wonderful things From
the slowness of believers to tell Of the
Lord Jesus ard His wonderful redcmp-
ton the world has n right TO conclude
tell
The result of the little maids testi-
mony was that the king of Syria sent
Naaman 10 the king Of Israel with a
letter and a lot Of silver and gold and
raimcnt. asking from the king health
for his servant. There was double
mistake In sending to the king in
~ L.,
that money could purchase heavens
gifts. The maid had spoken Of the
prophet IN Samaria. not the king, and
Il true prophet is spokesman for
God. But royalty can only deal with
royalty and as a rule, has no use for
poor men even If they are prophets
Such pride must be laid low before
God can help such people.
The king of Israel thought that the
king of Syria was seeking quarrel
with him in making such n request,
and he rent his clothes. Elisha. hear
ing OF it. said TO the king. Let him
come now 10 me. and he shall know
that there is n prophet in Israel" So
Naaman came In all his pomp and
pride to the door OF the house of
Elisha thinking that the prophet would
make a display Of his power and in
some striking way give him health.
When the prophet did not deign even
10 come to the door, but sent u mes
senger- saying. Go and wash in Jor-
dan seven times, and thy flesh shall
come again To thee, and thou shalt
be clean" Naaman was 80 angry that
he turned and went away in u rage.
When we remember thai even Abra-
hams thoughts brought him trouble
Gen. xx. IL and Mary's supposing
gave her three days OF sorrow duke
II, 4446) we do not wonder SO much
Simple faith In God and prompt obedi-
ence is the only safe way. Servants
sometimes daye more sense than their
masters, and 80 Il 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 as Elisha
had said. and his flesh became as the
flesh of little child. and he was clean.
There was no special value or effica-
cy In the waters OF Jordan, but Il was
to Naaman 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 It cannot be saw
ed Naaman, being healed, returned
TO Elisha with good confession, Be
hold. now l know that there IL no
God i'm all the earth but In Israel 40,
and he would faln have rewarded the
prophet. How grand IL the dignity OF
tho soul that can turn down earth's
silver and gold aud say 10 such as
Naansn. "As the Lord liveth before |
whom | stand ! viii receive none"
Cnmp.re Gen. xiv, 22-23; Dan. V, II, !
See ~ o the ri h young ruler who was
told I our Lord 60 give all that he had |
to The roor G.uke xviii, 29 and then
follon 'rsuF thus revealing 10 him |
hls own heart. ana that his possessions
y ore Ia 3D. and that he was break
Ing tNr rst commandment l expect |
Q T..art,N ttra5 frarthlaH hv |