The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-10-14


healeth thee-Ex. 1926.
Read carefully the intervening
Scripture following last Sundays les
son to get the account of Elisha's ac-
tivities. There is recorded the story
of the poisoned fountain (2:19-22).
The 'hoodlum" gang (vv. %, 24)
which is story for boys. Note:
Elisha had nothing to do with the
bears, nor does tho record say that
the bears killed the boys. Next the
story of the Widows oil GID. FL
nally, the suggestive stories of the
Shunammite woman (vv. $50, and
the feeding Of the prophets and the
people wv. 38-4D.
Now we come to Elisha's most IA.
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 1874 B. c.
I. A Ministry in the Home, Wv. 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 lone went in and told his lord"
". A.. There was also cooperation
between the home and the govern
ment, for the king of Syria sent a let
ter to the king of Israel ". 50. 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 its homes.
II. A Ministering Prophet (vv. 8-14).
The king of Syria thought he could
buy everything, including the desired
cure JyY. s. 81. His letter brought
great CONSERVATION to Israel's king,
probably Jenoram. The value of the
gifts presented, perhaps over $100, 900,
rexealed the urgency Of the case. But
HsaerS VAS one Lei Israel who was nor
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
crest Matt. 11:2S-30). Elisha re-
fsponded to the need of the nation
". 81, as well as to the need OF
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 a type OF
the great of this earth who shall yet
bow before Gods people elsa. 60:1-3)
and before his Son (Phil. 2:19). BY
human arguments Naaman was right
(v. 12) and his rage was justified, but
- hot
he cannot dictate means nor methods.
The rich and cultured sinner cannot
select his own way of healing, nor be
treated any differently than the poor
and the ignorant. The river Jordan
is a type of the judgment on sin. Sin
must be Judged by confession (Rom.
1879, 18). Sin must be renowned
before we can be cleansed q Cor. IL:
81; I John 1879. It was slow, a
patient, a public process through
which Naaman must pass, but such
had been the development of leprosy
in his life. God had judged sin on
Calvary (Rom. 8:3; II Cor. 5:21; Gal.
3:13) and as Naaman went down in
the Jordan he took, in figure, the sim
ner's place, even as Jesus later took
that place for us, Matt. 3:13-15).
Though inclined to act the fool, yet
Naaman wisely hardened to his serv-
ant ". 49, and obeyed the command
of the prophet.
His cure came because he obeyed
Jehovah: (a) He heard of one who
could cure ". 81; (b) he believed
". ~; (c) he forsook his own
thoughts ". III; I'D he accepted
Gods thoughts and methods wv. Is,
14); (e) he took the sinners place
wv. 10, IA; (f) he became clean after
his obedience (vv, IA, 15).
There is evidence of a great moral
effect in the life of Naaman following
this experience wv. 1919.
He became an open reflector OF the
heather gods and professed follow
err OF Jehovah when he returned to
Damascus.
AS such he became the ministering