Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-10-15

Son 10 get the account or El1ShaS ac-
tlvities. There is recorded the story
OF the poisoned fountain (2:19-22).
The "hoodlum" gang wv. %, 24)
which is story for boys. Note:
Elisha had nothing to do with the
bears. nor does the record say that
the bears killed the boys. Next the
story of the Widows oil (4:1-O. FL
nally, the suggestive stories of the
Shunammite woman (vv. $50, and
the feeding of the prophets and the
people wv. 3S-44).
Now we come to Elisha's most fa-
nous experience, that with Naaman of
Damascus. This city is reputed to be
the oldest in the world and is situated
about 100 miles (air line) northeast of
Samaria. This event probably oc-
Cured between 904 and s94-B. c.
|. A Ministry in the Home, w. II.
Naaman had all that heart could wish.
seemingly. Exalted, rich, a great
man, honorable and successful in his
undertakings, but he was leper."
AS such he is a type of the sinner.
Leprosy begins practically in secret,
is transmissible, may be ameliorated,
but cannot be cured by man. In his
home was one who knew the Lord,
one who observed, who loved as well
as served. This maid was true serv-
ant, for she showed her master how
to be rid of his malady. For all of his
wealth Naaman was not happy. He
knew and others would soon know his
condition. His wife could not help
him, and did not take the maids mes
sage to him. Perhaps she did not
rightly value it. But there was CO.
operation in that household evidently.
for "one went in and told his lord"
". A.. There was also cooperation
between the home and the govern
ment, for the king of Syria sent let
ter to the king of Israel ". 81. The
strength of any nation is in proper
ton to the strength, unity and 10y
atty of its homes. 1t is also in pro-
portion to the care and interest which
that government takes in it's homes.
This maid had probably been taken
captive by one of the Syrian bands"
". %, yet it was not an accident that
she thus entered into the plan Of
God. We feel sure she knew and had
been taught by Elisha, hence the as
surance of her message relative to his
power. Her faith was great.
II. A Ministerng Prophet wv. s-14).
The king of Syria thought he could
buy everything, including the desired
cure (vv. 5, g.. His letter brought
great CONSERVATION to Israel's king,
probably Jehoram. The value of the
| gifts presented, perhaps over 100000,
revealed the urgency of the case. But
| there was one in Israel who was not
disturbed, for he knew more fully the
power of Jehovah. Elisha is type
of Christ who offers not only to all
lepers but to every unfortunate one
rest" Matt. 11:2S-30). Elisha re-
sponded to the need of the nation
| ". 81, as we'll as to the need Oi
Naaman the leper, when he volun
teered to become the champion of Je
hovah ". y.
The prince came, however, filled
with sense of his Importance and
his pride stood in the way of his re
lief, hence the manner of Elisha's
treatment Waiting thus before the
prophets door Naaman is type o.
the great of this earth who shall YET
bow before Gods people lisa. 60:1-3)
and before his Son (Phil. 2:19). By
I ;ork1-
". 12) and his rage was justified, bu
he must learn that as a supplian
he cannot dictate means nor methods
The rich and cultured sinner canno
select his own way of healing, nor bt
treated any differently than the poo
and the ignorant. The river Jordan
is type of the Judgment on sin. Sil
must be judged by confession (Rom
1853, 18). Sin must be renouncet
before we can be cleansed q Cor. IL
81; l John 1:9). It was slow,
patient, a public process through
which Naaman must pass, but sucl
had been the development of lepros,
in his life. God had judged sin ol
Calvary (Rom. S:3; II Cor. 5:21; Ga
3:13) and as Naaman went down il
the Jordan he took, in figure, the sir
ner's place, even as Jesus later too
that place for US, (Matt. 3:13-15l
Though inclined to act the fool, ye
Naaman wisely hardened to his ser'
ant ". 13) and obeyed the comman
of the prophet He did not relish tn
idea of the commander in chief of tn
, most powerful army of his day ha1
ing thus to be humiliated H
thought ". III differently and .
this is suggestive of those who are tt
, day rebelling at Gods provision fo
,, their salvation. The wisdom of hi
lowly servants was amply demon
strated when after the seventh dip i
the river he looked at his hands ant
behold, his flesh was like the f1es
of little child" There was no hea
,, ing power in the water, it was Go
who wrought the miracle. Naaman
: act was a test of obedience to the wi
of God by one who was used to givin
comamnds.
9 1t gave him part in his healin
!. and it was supremely simple.
So we have a part in our salvation
the plan of which is so simple.
His cure came because he obeye
1 Jehovah: (a) He heard of one WI
L could cure ". 81; tb) he believe
". ~; tc) he forsook his ow
thoughts ". III; (d) he accepte
Gods thoughts and Methods wv |
= 14D; (e) he took the sinners plaC
II (vv. 10, 1D: (f) he became clean aft'
his obedience wv, IA, l5).
There is evidence of great NOR
effect in the life of Naaman followir
this experience wv. 1919.
He became an open reflector of tt
heather gods and professed folio,
er of Jehovah when he returned
Damascus
AS such ne became the ministerir
; prince.
= III. The Ministering Prince. "a {
s public profession (see Rom. 1919, II
4 Matt. 1O:32l (2) By peculiar reque