The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-10-22

the capital OF Syria.
1. Danger, w. 9t3. Jehoram. king
Of Israel. cleaved to the sins Of Jero-
beam and Of Ahab, his father. In
Judah. Jehoram, the son OF Jehosha-
PLAT. married Athaliah. the daughter
Of Ahab and Jexebel. General Jehu.
famous for his driving. was soon to
become king OF Israel. The king Of
Assyria, being otherwise engaged, Al
lowed Syria, the constant enemy Of
Israel, to make a fresh attack unhin-
dered ". 81. Elisha, the patriot. the
man Of God" proves tt be Israers
real safety. Elisha has not left us
great revelations like Isaiah and
other prophets, but he knew from day
to day Gods will. and he has power
with him SO that he could warn his
people Of impending danger. He had
what the king and the people both
lacked. q vision Of God. He saw the
needs and dangers, but also the re-
sources at his command. Thus he de-
Hvered Isreal many times ". 10). We.
too. are thus frequently delivered, let
us praise God. The underlying reason
for Israel's danger was it's neglect Of
the word OF God, and the same can be
said as explaining the defeat Of the
Syrians. True patriotism combines
vision and warning. The king Of
Syria. like countless other despots,
knew not friend from foe. but evident
~ he had one retainer who told him
the truth ". 12). Some have sug-
gested that this was Naaman: per-
haps 1t was q captive Israelite. In
either case it suggests Gods knowl-
edge Of us. (See Ps. 139:1-10.)
u. Defense, w. 14-18. It was not q
mere guerrilla detachment sent to Do
than to capture Elisha before making
the main attack upon Samaria. but q
well-oficered army. Elisha meant
more to them than did the king of
Israel. The servant Of Elisha had
risen early and saw only the hills
surrounding Dothan, upon which was
"a host with horses and chariots
round about the city" ". 15), and In
CONSERVATION he exclaims: 'Alas, my
master, how shall we dot" Again
we are impressed with the vision of
Elisha and the lack OF It on the serv-
ants part. Elisha saw what the ,serv-
ant could not see; walking by faith he
was not afrighted (John 1871: Phil.
4: 6. z; lisa. 1872; Ps. $3.50. In re-
sponse to Elisha's prayer the servants
eye we're opened, yet he was not one
whit more safe than before ". ~.
It is a striking contrast here with the
Elisha Of chapter 2:10. It is q sug-
gestion OF the Christian anointed by
the Holy Spirit and that Of the saved
sinner before that experience. Our
eye need to be opened to see that
they that be with us are more than
they that be with them" ". ICY. We
need to sec Gods love, power and wis
dom in nature, providence and grace.
There is nothing incredible or un
scientific in this experience. It is q
rational and a glorious belief that
Providence is working In our behalf
through the unseen power of the Holy
Spirit. the power Of prayer and the
answers thereto. The unseen IL glo-
rfously real.
I'LL. Oeliverance, W.. 1923. In the
first section we are taught the danger
OF a lack Of vision. In the second sec
ton the emphasis is upon the need
Of a vision. whereas In this there is
presented the use of q vision. To
crystalline vision into experience is a
difficult task for us all. Elisha prayed
Jehovah, for whom he was acting. to
smite the Syrians with blindness.
This vas not for vengeance. but (a) to
teach the Syrians who the true God
Is (b), TO lead Jehoram. the king, to
go to Jehovah Tor help. and (c) to de-
liver the people from the raids Of the
Syrians. This word blindness"
". 49, conveys the idea OF dazzling,
visual bewildermept. Authorization and
not Of total loss of sight. thus making
1t easy for Elisha to lead them a. he
willed ". 1917. Mentally bewildered
as . result OF their physical ailment
they failed to recognize the prophet.
He did not deceive them. for they at
last "found him" when he led them
into Samaria and once more they could
see. Within the wallis Of Samarfa
E1isha's prayer Is again answered.
their sight restored ". 2O) and they
ind themselves at the mercy Of L.
rael's king. The older and wiser man
Elisha, forbids the younger, the king.
to his advantage wv. 81 2z). but
rather to heap Goals Of fire upon their
heads by setting before them food
from u: 20. 21); within his power,
such acts could not be attributed to
fear. -Great provision" was made and
after their departure we read, $50,
the bands OF Syria came no more into
the land Of Israel" ". 23). Elisha
taught the Syrians the lesson Of the
power OF Jehovah. and the dangerous
position Of those who refuse 10 . In
him what he really Il.
There are here presented three prin-
cipal lessons.
III The ~foolishness OF seeking 60
clrcumvent God or Of thwarting his
purposes.
10 The protecting care Gods con-
stantly exercising oyer those Who put
their TRUST 81 him. and IN his bound
Les resources.
% The lessen Of making the rixht
uoe of prayer and the answers which
- receive. and - - masnan uso1s
- - onomtee.
0A-N ~