The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-10-15

hoiI'iIN I'm - am JeHONdu
that healeth thee.-EX. 10 :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 (2:19-22).
The ''hoodlum" gang (vv. %, pa
which is II 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 Sid.
Finally the suggestive stories Of the
Shunammito woman wv. $50, and
the feeding of the prophets and the
people tvv. 3S-44).
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 stu
ated about 100 miles (air line) north
east of Samara. This eXent prob
ably occurred between 904 and S94
Il. c.
1. A Ministry in the Home, w.
IL. 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 type of the
sinner. Leprosy begins practically in
secret. is transmissible, may be anne
liorated. 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 a
true servant, for she showed her mas
ter how to be rid Of his malady. For
all of his wealth Namaan was not
happy. He knew and others would
soon know his condition. His wife
could not help him, and did not take
the maids message to him. Perhaps
she did not rightly value it. But
there was cooperation in that house
hold evidently. for zone went in and
told his lord" ". ~. There was al
so cooperation between the home and
the government, for the king of Syria
sent letter to the king of Israel ".
81. The strength of any nation is in
proportion TO the strength. unity and
loyalty of its homes. 1t is also in
proportion to the care and interest
which that government takes in its
homes.
ii. A Ministering Prophet wv.
8-1G. The king of Syria thought he
could buy everything, including the
desired cure (vv. .. 81. His letter
brought great CONSERVATION to Israeli
king, probably Jehoram. The value
Of the gifts presented, perhaps over
$100,000 revealed the urgency of the
case. But there was one i'm Israel
Uhn ynS NOT bictu,hn1 FOR ha Enaxuy
more fully the power of Jehovah
Elisha is a type of Christ who offers
not only to all lcpers but to every un-
fortunate one rest" Matt. ] :2S-
30). Elisha responded to the need Of
the nation ". 81. as well as to til,
need of Namaan the leper, when he
volunteered to become the champion
of Jehovah " -.
The prince came. however filed
with a 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 Namaan is type Of
the great of this earth who shall yet
bow before Gods people lisa. 60 :1-3)
and before his Son G'hil. 2:1O. BY
human arguments Namaan was right
". IL and his rage was justified, but
he must learn that rs a Suppiiant 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 type Of the judgment OH sin. Sin
must be judged by confession (Rom.
before we can be cleanSed Il Cor II
81; / John l 20. 1t was a slow, a
1870, 49,. Sin must be renowned
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. S:3 III Cor 5:21; Gal.
3 49, and as Namaan went down in
the Jordan he took. in figure, the sin
ners 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 ". 13) 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
". A.; (c) he forsook his own
thoughts ". ID; I'D he accepted
Gods thoughts and methods wv. 10,
14); (e) he took the sinners place
wv. 10, 10; () he became clean
after his obedience wv. IA, 49,.
There is evidence of great moral
effect i'm the life Of Namaan following
this experience (vv. 1910.
He became an open reflector of the
heather gods and professed follow
er of Jehovah when he returned to
Damascus.
As such he became the ministering
prince.
III. The Ministering Prince. "a
BY public profession tsee Rom. 1919.
10; Matt. 1922; (2) BY peculiar
request which became n great object
lesson In Damascus; CD BY a new
IF heart which would change