The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1911-04-06

MS duBciS CndTBt over tuee, TO keep tnt6
In all thy ways.-Psa. 9l;11. .-..-..
TIME-According to most scholars. this
event occurred in the reign of Jehoram
tB. c. 904-S9i Beecher. S6i-S49. Hastings).
Mrs. Houghton. however. holds that the
Syrian king of this story was Hazael and
the king OF Israel was Jehu.
PLACE-Dothan, a small town about
ten miles north of Samaria. situated on q
remarkable isolated BILL surrounded on
three sides by hills. Traces of walls may
still be seen all around the hilltop. Also
Samaria, the capital OF the Northern
Kingdom.
How did Elisha show himself to be
true patriot? BY using for his coun-
try his supernatural knowledge, as we
should use for our country our lesser
knowledge, and all our powers Assy-
ria was not at the time pressing upon
Syria, so that Syria could attack her
hereditary enemy to the south. But
the plans of Benhadad III. were frus.
trated over and over. Elisha was
then living in Dothan, about ten miles
lorth of Samaria. Dothan was "a small
town, of which some ruins and a well
still mark the site" The caravan route
from beyond Jordan passes, from the
Plain Of Esdraelon, close to It. Prob
ably Benhadad's route on his preda-
tory expeditions lay through this pass,
which was narrow and easily defend
ed. Therefore when the Syrians' COM
ing was revealed to Elisha and told by
him to King Jehoram, a comparatively
small body of Israelites, posted little
north Of Dothan, would effectually
check their progress.
How can We apply to ourselves Eli
shas advice, Beware that thou pass
not such placer" BY recognizing all
places Of special temptation, and being
on our guard there. Think of the
men who cannot get past any gam
bling resort to save their souls There
are certain stores and hay-lofts and
street corners and vacant lots that
are more dangerous to boys than pest
houses. There is absolutely no pos
sible safety except in avoiding them"
Boys, and men, too, beware!
How did Benhadad plan to circum-
vent Elisha? Sending spies, and learn
tllB Nicll NhC BlOphCL was llNlhS az
Dotham, he sent large body of cav
airy and chariots to capture him. To
secure such man was vital. 1t would
at once deprive Jehoram of one who
was inspired by the gods and put him at
the service Of Syria, for it would be as
sumed that he could be bribed 10 help
either side.
How did Elisha, in the knowledge
of his heavenly helpers, meet the
Syrians? Our version, the Hebrew,
implies that Elisha and his servant
boldly went down from Dothan into
the valley, and that the leaders of the
Syrians came down from the heights
on which they were encamped, to par
ley with the prophet. He prayed; for
prayer is the recourse of all the strong
est men in the time when they need to
be strongest. Prayer is a powerful
thing. for God has bound and tied him
self thereto. He prayed that blindness
might fall upon the Syrians, and at
once his prayer was granted. Not lit
eral blindness is meant, probably, for
they were able to follow Elisha to Sa-
maria, but confusion of vision or of
mind, so that they were readily de-
luded. Perhaps only the leaders were
affected.
Why did Elisha lead the Syrians ten
miles to Samaria? To show them, and
also to show the Israelites, how power
less they were before Jehovah. Elisha
made the pompous and confident inva-
ders appear ridiculous, which is the
most thorough defeat that can be
given to any enemy. Besides, one rea-
son why Elisha had led the Syrians to
the capital was that they might be
kindly treated, Toasted and sent back
to Benhadad with Goals of fire heap
ed upon their heads.
What Is the great teaching of our
lesson for modern people. The real
ity of the invisible world, and its pow
er to help and comfort. To have no
sense Of the invisible Is the ruin of
art. 1t is the ruin of all life also. Many
will believe only what their uninstruct-
ed eyes can see.
Christians should be continually up
held by the realization of their angel
ic helpers. The brave man need not
see any celestial form with spear and
helmet by his side, yet he may know
as he goes out to the battle that the
spirits Of justice everywhere are sym
pathizing with him and helping him In
unknown ways. The mother may
not discern an angel bending over the
bed on which her child is laid, but
still she may know that there are other
by its bed beside herself, spir-
Its whom God has sent to see that
none of his little ones take any harm
The soul In It's bereavement may not
look to see here again the very pres
ence and feature of the friend whom
God has taken, yet still may be sure
that even now, in such unknown ways
as soul may present itself to soul, his
friend Is with him, for encouragement
and strength. Pity we cannot now
practice Elisha's plan of ending war.
When the comet of October, 1858,
a lecturer made tour OF
uomo country villaOaa in Davopchira