The Yale expositor., 1911-03-09
ELISHA RESTORES
A CHILD TO LIFE
Sunday School Lesson for Mar. IL, 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TENTH Kings FILLS. Mem
DRY verses 1926.
GOLDEN TEXT-"The gift of God 10
eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord."-Rom 6:23.
TIME-Elisha began his career as
prophet about 600 Is. c. But no exact
date can be given TO the separate stories,
as II is not certain that they are arranged
chronologically.
PIACES-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 Elijahs man
tie, his familiar prophet-dress, fell
from him as he went up in the whirl-
wind, and was a confirmatory legacy
so that Elisha might appear to the
people to be 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. lie held the mantle with
which Elijah smote the waters. when
way through them had been opened
by Elijah's God. Therefore If he was
really Elijah's successor, with the
same mantle. the same spirit, the same
work to do, then God would open a
similar pathway through the river for
Elisha. Folding up the mantle. and
l 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 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 half from the town, and cast
the salt into It, saying. Thus saith
the Lord, have healed these waters y
This clearly shows that the salt was
mot the means whereby the healing
was wrought, but only as an outward
sign 10 point to the work which was
supernaturally 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 1t, they threatened to take her
debt. In her trouble she appealed to
Elisha as the head of the guild. and
rs one who had been helping others.
She had nothing left put a pot of
olive OIL
Elisha babe the woman borrow
|
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 filled with
! Al 49,
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, 1G 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. Tile
shut the door upon them twain, and
prayed"
And he went up, and lay upon the
child" lie used whatever means
we're In his power; though the means
alone could never have brought the
child TO life. So James tells the eld-
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 a 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
they are described as successive
steps.
Into every home come hours OF bit
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