The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-03-09
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson X.-First Quarter, For
March II, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Rom. vi, 23-commen.ary Prepared
by Rev. .. m. Stearns.
The power of the Lord God of Elijah
was first seen through Elisha in the
Of the Jordan, the Lord doing
for one man what He had just done for
two. and long before for whole ma
ton under Joshua. 1t is nothing with
the Lord to help with many or few
The power of the Lord is next seen in
the healing of the waters of Jericho.
then in the Christening Of the young
men who Knocked Elisha. telling him
to go up as Elisha had done; after
that in the bitches filed with water.
for the sake of Jehoshaphat, without
either wind or rain.
In the beginning of our lesson chap
ter we see the same power multiplying
the widows oil until every empty YES
sci was filed. all her need supplied and
something over
Now we have in today's lesson the
filling of a childless home with glad
ness by the gift of no doubt longed
for child and the restoration Of a
deeper JOY by giving him back from
the dead.
\ great woman of Shunem felt con-
strained as she saw Elisha pass her
house from time to time to ask him In
to eat bread, and it became his habit
to do this Later she suggested to her
husband that they provide him room
with bed, table a stool and CAN
dlestick, and he seems gratefully to
have accepted their kindness. Then
the question arose in his mind, How
can i'm any way recompense this low
ing kindness? On inquiry he found
that she needed no favor from any
one, but ut the reminder from Gchazi
that they had no children he asked the
Lord for this favor for her. and, receiv-
ing the assurance that it would be so,
he communicated to her the fact. which
she at first received very unbelievingly
(verse 1G), but as Elisha had assured
her so it came to pass.
We think of Sarah and her unbeliev
ing laughter. and yet in her case il
came to pass. for SIS anything too hard
for the Lord?" Gen. xviii. 9i4) We
look onward to Elizabeth and Zacha
rias and note the unbelief of the lat.
ter luke i, 1920. and yet in theil
| case it came to pass also. So we are
taught to BE not afraid, only believe
| (Mark Y. SO. and rely on Jer. xxxiii, 3
| 1t may have been that the child he
| came too much of an idOlwe do moi
knOw--but one day in the field with thu
reapers he complained of his head. was
carried home and died on his mother:
knees at noon She laid the little body
on EliSha's bed, shut the door. anf
without telling her husband why sh'
made all possible speed to the man o.
God, who was then at Mount Carmel
Seeing her afar off, he sent his Servan
! Gehazi to inquire of her if it was wei
/ with her and her husband and TIL
child. Her reply was, 1T is WELL" bu
she hurried on till she came to Elisha
and she held him by his feet. and will
the very words which Elisha himsel
used to Elijah she chung to him unit
he arose and went with her (verse &c
with chapter ii. 2, 4. g..
Gellazi preceded them and laid tn
staff. of Elisha upon the child. bu
there was no effect upon the child. IL
response, neither voice nor hearing
When Elisha came he went IN ant
shut the door and prayed unto til
Lord and then stretched himself upo
the child, mouth to mouth. eyes to eyes
hands to hands, and the flesh of til
child waxed warm. After walking t
and fro in the house he again stretch
cd himself upon the child. and til
child sneezed seven times and opene
. his eyes The mother was called. an
with gratitude that cannot be describe
she took up her son and went out.
The next verses describe deliver
ance from death that might have take
away many. and the chapter close
with a miraculous multiplication 9
bread-life given, life restored. lif
saved. life sustained. completing min
Instances thus far of the power of Go
seen through Elisha Elisha was I
this woman a man of God. n holy ma
of God verses 8, 16, 81, Do 81. 27); nt
SO Gehazi. She saw something of Go
in Elisha. He was to her in Gods stea,
We are here in Christ's stead. and PEI
pie should see something of Him in u
fQl Cor. iv. II; V, 2O. Let the woman
J pressing on to Elisha remind us til;
!, we must come to God Himself tllrous
. Jesus Christ alone and not through an
!. mortal man.
Ordinances may be as useless q
Elisha's staff 1t is life that is nee,
ed, though there may be life associate
t with ordinances in the hands of SOM
| but not through such as Gehazi.
Compare the story of Elijah bringin
: a boy to life in Kings. xvii. 1922. an
note the parallels of the prophet alor
: with the child, the child in the propl
. cts bed. the prayer, stretching himse
i upon the child. May we earnestl
|. covet such lives of nearness to God !:
v these men lived and be used of Him I
| bring life to many dead souls. Thel
e must be the "alone with God" the b
lieying prayer, the persistent waitin
upon God. the close personal touch
life itself, not Of rod or staff. eve
though it be that of prophet.
/ Sturgeon used to say that tn
: stretching of oneself to child W;
the hardest kinda stretching dow
ward to make yourself as far as poss
Die one with the child: seeing. spea
ing and handling things as the chi