The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-03-30

The miracles Of Elisha we're nearly
all miracles of kindly helpfulness.
What were some OF these? Those i'm.
medlately preceding and following our
lesson: healing the unhealthful wa.
ters of a spring; bringing water into a
dry valley for the aid Of the three
kings; paying a poor Widows debts
by increasing her oil supply; restoring
10 life the son OF the Shunammite
woman; making healthful some pot
tage into which a poisonous plant had
been put; feeding a hundred men with
20 barley cakes and Il few ears OF
corn-this and the preceding being In
time OF famine; healing Naaman;
making a lost AK head return to the
surface Of the water.
Who was Naaman? He was com.
mander.in.chief under the king Of Sy.
ria, Benhadad II. Benhadad, who had
been wont In his youth and middle
age to lead his armies into the deld in
person, seems now in his old age 20
have found II necessary to entrust tho
command to a general Naaman had
gained renown by freeing his country
from n powerful foe, probably Assyria,
for the black obellsk mentions wars
of the Assyriars under Shalmanezer
II. again Israel and Benhadad.
Honored and powerful, what was the
flaw in Naamans fortune? lie was a
leper Leprosy is Of slow develop
ment, and as NaGman retained his
rilltary command his malady cannot
have reached very advanced stage.
It is not likely, in any case, that tho
Syrians observed the same strict rules
regarding It as the Jews, Leprosy
however is terrible disease. fifty
used throughout tho Bible as the sym
Dol OF sin and death. The disease Is
contagious. II is most loathsome. II
is lncurable, at least In the present
state OF our knoEledge. Sin is cur
able. but not by uv.n.
Naaman was a great man, with a
great need; and God prepared a great
deliverance for him, as he has a great
deliverance for all the great needs
OF his children. But It was brought
about by four very simple agencies.
Only inferior artists make a parade OF
complicated processes; the most skill
full workers use few tools and unpre-
tentious methods, and God Is the most
shllful OF all artists.
Why did Elisha bid Naaman TO wash
seven times in the river Jordan? To
test and strengthen his faith. The
Journey would give him time for medi
tation. for the nearest point OF the
Jordan was % miles in straight line
but much farther in distance to be
Travelled. from the winding OF the ra
vines down which II must Se reached
| Moreover. tho simplicity OF the act
would turn Naaman's thoughts away
from outward forms to the true God
/ He would be sure that the water itseli
did not accomplish the cure, else there
would be no lepers in Israel. And he
would not. at the distance OF 20 miles
be likely to ascribe the cure to the
prophet.
Why was Naaman angry at this
message? How was he TO tell that
this man OF God did not design "a
mock him by sending him on fools
errand. so that he would come back as
a laughing.stock both to the lsraelites
and TO his own people? Naaman had
expected the prophet himself to come
forth respectfully and wave his hand
over the place" and 10 through some
mystic ceremony. The sting lay In
the fact that the prophet himself tool
no part in the cure; that, instead o.
being proud to have so august pi
tIent. he had calmly handed him oye'
10 one OF his assistant physicians-tc
the medical skill OF the waters OF Jor
dan.
As Naaman went away in a rag'
how was he put In more sensible
frame Of mind? BY one OF his serv
nnts: Naaman seems to have ha'
great fortune In his servants. My ia
ther. said the servant with respectful
affection. II the prophet had bid the'
do some great thing. wouldst thou no
have done It? Yes! OF course h,
would. and the greater the better.
What was the result OF Naamant
obedience? The result that alway'
comes when men obey Gods com
mapds, he was instantly and com
pletely cleansed from his leprosy.
II is shame that this beautiful
story must close with a recital OF Naa
i4an's perfdy. We may be sure tina
It would never have been inserted
the tale we're not true one. Gehaz
Is the Old Testament Judas. Gehaz
misrepresented the true religion u
Nanman and through him to the en-
tire Syrian nation. His punishment
WINS not 100 great. Gehazi had takeI
Naaman's gift; he should take with l
bis maladv. He would entail the on'
upon his heirs he should entail TIT
other.
The story of Naaman has been salt
70 be the best illustration In the Ol'
Testament OF salvation from sin. How
is this? It indicates the hideousnes
of sin. Sin is like leprosy, eating
insidious. defling, mutllating, disiig
uripg. II is the disease most to b.
dreaded. It indicates the universali;!
of sin. No rank is exempt from th'
curse and no condition Of life. II pic
lures false views regarding salvation
from sin. Men seek the wrong meant
Of salvation. as Naaman was sent t
Jehoram instead OF Elisha. Men en-
tertain their own ideas OF salvation