The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-10-14

healeth thee.-Ex. I5:26.
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:ls2IJ.
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
nRlly. the suggestive stories OF the
Shunammite woman wv. s-3O, and
the feeding of the prophets and the
people wv. 3S.4D.
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 9O4 and s94 D. c.
!. A Ministry In the Home, w. ~.
Naaman had all that heart could wish.
seemingly. Exalted, rich, a great
man, honorable and successful in his
undertakings, but he was a 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
". q. 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 vas 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.
u. A Ministering 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 lsraels 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 a type
OF Christ who offers not only to all
lepers but to every unfortunate one
rest" Matt. 1l:2S-S0). Elisha re
sponded to the need Of the nation
(v. 81, as well as to the need ol
Naaman the leper, when he volun
tesred to become the champion OF Je
hovah ". ~.
The prince came, however. filleC
with a sense of his importance anC
his pride stood in the way of his re
lief, hence the manner of Elisha
treatment. Waiting thus before thu
prophets door Naaman is a type o
the great OF this earth who shall ye
bow before Gods people lisa. 60:l-3
and before his Son Phil. 2:l9). b.
human arguments Naaman was righ
". 12) and his rage was justified, bu
he must learn that as supplian
he cannot dictate means nor methods
The rich and cultured sinner canno
select his own way of healing, nor b
treated any differently than the poo
and the ignorant. The river Jordal
is a type of the judgment on sin Si
must be judged by confession from
1853, lS). Sin must be renounce
before we can be cleansed Il Cor. II
81; John l:9l. 1t was a slow,
patient, public process throug
which Naaman must pass. but sue
had been the development of lepros
, in his life. God had judged sin o
J Calvary from. S:3: II Cor. 5.2l; Ga
, 3:13) and as Naaman went down
the Jordan he took. In figure, the sil
+ ner's place, even as Jesus later too
that place for us. Matt. 3:l3-l5
:. Though inclined to act the fool, "
r Naaman wisely hardened to his ser
J. ant ". l3) and obeyed the comman
Of the prophet. He did not relish II
idea of the commander in chief of II
8 most powerful army OF his day ha
r ing thus to he humiliated.
II Thought" ". ~ differently and
II this is suggestive OF those who are {
r. day rebelling at Gods provision Il
.. their salvation. The wisdom OF b
A. lowly servants was amply demo
|. strated when after the seventh dip
the river he looked at his hands an
behold. his flesh was like the ie'
OF a little child" There was no he'
Is Ing power in the water. It was G'
q who wrought the miracle. Naamar
act was test OF obedience to the W
of God by one who was used to givil
,omamnds
r Il gave him a part iE his healii
g. | - 4. ,yoa eunrema!v simnla