The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-03-02
ELISHA RESTORES
A CHILD TO LIFE

Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TExT-u Kings Ellis. Mem
DRY verses ASS.
GOLDEN TEXT-'The gift Of God Is
| eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord Rom. e:23.
| TIME-Elisha began his career as q
prophet about 600 y. c. But no exact
date can be given TO the separate stories,
as II Is not certain that they are arranged
chronologicaliy.
PLACES-The Jordan. Jericho, Bethel.
/ some part OF Mount Carmel where Elisha
sometimes retired.
The promise OF Elijah that II Elisha
saw him ascend, then he might know
that he was to be his successor had
been fulfilled. This might be con-
firmed by the fact that Elijah's man.
tie. his familiar prophet-dress, fell
from him as he went up In the whirl-
wind, and was confirmatory legacy,
SO that Elisha might appear 10 the
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 the waters, when
way through them had been opened
by Elijahs God. Therefore II he was
really Elijah's successor. with the
same mantle, the same spirit, the same
work to do. then God would open
similar pathway through the river for
Elisha. Folding up the mantle. and
shifting the waters. as his master had
done, he exclaimed. Where is the
Lord. the God OF Elijah?" and the way
was opened, and assurance was made
doubly sure.
Coming to Jericho, where there was
a guild Of the Sons of the Prophets,
Elisha had an opportunity of using
his power OF service as a 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 a 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 a
mile and a half from the town, and cast
the salt into 1t, saying. Thus saith
the Lord. have healed these waters"
This clearly shows that the salt was
mot the means whereby the healing
was wrought, but only as an outward
sign TO point to the work which was
systematically performed"
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 in debt. or she had run In
debt. perhaps through her husbands
sickness. Her creditors demanded
their money, and, as she could not |
pay II, they threatened to take her |
two sons fer slaves, to work out the |
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 pot OF
olive oil.
Elisha babe the woman borrow |
empty vessels from her neighbors. |
and bringing them into her house. |
with closed doors, to pour out from |
her own jar OF oil till 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 was
paid, and her children saved from
slavery. According to her faith II 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 a
woman there. she caught him by
the feet. GehaZi came near to thrust
her away" Deeming her Importantly
excessive, or such liberties beneath
his masters dignity.
Elisha went with the Shunammite
to her house, and found the child dead
upon the bed In his chamber. HE
shut the door upon them twain. and
prayed"
And he went up. and lay upon the
child" lie used whatever means
were In his power, though the means
alone could never have brought the
child TO life. So James tells the ED
Crs who pray with the sick. to also
anoint him with oil, one of the COM
moner remedies of the day. There
were faint signs Of life
Then came another season OF ag-
onizing prayer. while the prophet
walked to and fro. This was new
experience OF what the Lord might do
through him. and he could not know
the Lords will at once. The child
sneezed seven times. and
opened his eyes" These were the
first acts OF restored respiration, and
thav ara Aacnrthad