The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-03-30
SCHOOL.
Le.son Second Quarter, For
April 2, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, 1t Kings Y, LA.
Memory versss, 13, 14Golden Text,
Isa. XIV, 0-commsntary Prepared
BY Rev. .. N. Stsarns

It. Is q most interesting and profitable
study to search out In the Old Testa-
ment 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 (Mic. Y.
2; margin). In Luke ", 81. He men-
tions both Naaman and Elisha. and Of
course that includes the little maid
of Israel and all the other people and
incidents of the story.
In chapter ", s, we read Of Il great
woman, and now it is a great man
and honorable, q deliverer and mighty
man Of valor, but leper. He was
great man in the eyes of his fellows.
but had he lived in Israel he would
have had to live without the camp.
Leprosy is a wonderful type of sin,
and, it matters not how great a 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 EEh. il, l, 3, 1g. and
those who die In that condition are
forever shut out (Rev. xxi. s. 2D. In
as seemingly strange ways as the Lord
brought healing to 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 III Pet. lii, 81.
The little captive maid stolen away
from her home might have so hated
her captors as to wish them evil and
be glad that Naaman was leper, but
she evidently had the spirit of Him
who taught to love our enemies and
to be subject even to perverse people
GIatt. V, A: I Pet. H., 49,. So she
pitied Naaman and told Of the prophet
in Samaria. Of whom she knew or had
heard many wonderful things. From
the slowness of believers to tell OF the
Lord Jesus and His wonderful redemp-
ton the world has a right to conclude
that they have nothing wonderful to
tell
The result Of the little maids testi-
mony was that the king Of Syria sent
Naaman to the king of Israel with a
letter and a lot of silver and gold and
raiment, asking from the king health
for his servant. There was double
mistake in sending to 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 spokesman for
God. But royalty can only deal with
royalty and, as rule, has no use for
poor men even II 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 a. request.
and he rent his clothes. Elisha, hear
ing. of 1t. said to the king. Let him
come now to me, and he shall know
that there is 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 dcign even
to come to the door. but sent 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 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 supposi:ie
gave her three days Of sorrow (Lukc
ii, 44-46) we do not wo..der so much
| at the result Of Naaman's thoughts.
Simple faith in God and prompt Obcdi.
ence is the only safe way. Servants
| sometimes have more sense than their
masters, and so 1t proved in this cas-,
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 a little child, and he was clean
There was no special value or cifica
cy In the waters of Jordan. but it was
to Naaman lesson In humility and
obedience and submission to the true
God. In the matter of salvation fol
the sinner there Is only one way, one
name, one sacrifice, one precious blood
and lie who disdains 1t cannot be say
ed. Naaman, being healed. returned
to Elisha with good confession. BE
hold. now l know that there Is nc
God in all the earth but In Israel Q5)
and he would fain have rewarded the
prophet. How grand is the dignity oil
the soul that can turn down earth.
silver and gold and say to such rs
Naaman. "As the Lord liveth before
whom stand I will receive none
Compare Gen. xiv, 22-23: Dan. V, II
See also the rich young ruler who wa,
told by our Lord to give all that he haf
to the poor luke xviii, % and thel
follow Jesus, thus revealing to hin
his own heart, and that his possession.
| were his god, and that he was break
ing the first commandment. cxpec,
that Judas Iscariot was troubled by
our Lords words to the rich ruler, ant
we are quite certain that Gelazi wa.
troubled by Elisha's rejection Of Naa
mans wealth. Consider the result OF
his covetousness (verse 20 and re
member the words Of our Lord in Luke
Xii Is, Take heed and beware Of
covetousness. for mans life consist
eth not in the abundance Of thl