Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-22
PREACHER WHO
CAPTURED ARMY
Old Intelligence Department
Surpassed Secret Service
of Present War
The International Sunday School Les
son For October "a Is "Elisha's
Heavenly Defenders"
tBy William T. Ellis)

Spies and secret agents have bulked
large in the present war; but the Sun
day School lesson which we are now
studying tells a more dramatic tale
of an intelligence department" than
any % them. Also II nnrrates a cap
ture more spectacular than any Incl
dent of the days word war Most i'm
portant of all. the lesson is a timely
reminder that when conditions seem
hopeless. when force and evil appear
to be having their ruthless way, God
still has unexpected resources, which
turn seeming evil into great good. In
this day, when there is added to a
world war the worst persecution or
Christians that has been witnessed for
a thousand years. with atrocities rival
ing those of Nero and Diocletian, the
comfort of this Old Testament story
is precious.
The Bible episode which forms the
lesson deals with the invasions OF
Israel by the King of Syria, and how
they were thwarted by the watchful-
ness and knowledge of the Prophet
Elisha. until at last, in a climax, the
man of God. with his heavenly help
ers, led the whole Syrian army cap
tive.
Who Is the Spy?
Somebody was revealing all the
military secrets of Syria concerning
Israel. Whenever the king planned
a foray into the territory of the
Jews, he found that they were fore
warned of it. So he suspected a spy
in his councils. He was in the
plight of more than one of the great
military commanders of our own day,
whose plans have been revealed pre-
maturely by the secret service of the
enemy. Baffled again and again, the
King of Syria demanded that the spy
be pointed out.
lieutenants reported that the in
former was no spy at all, but Elisha,
the prophet and seer, who was able to
understand even the secret whispered
In the kings harem. Knowing no
other argument than force, the Syrian
king Joined that large company of men
in all ages who have sought to COM
bat spiritual things by material might,
ana he ordered an army sent against
Elisha in the little town of Dothan.
Hunting the Preacher With Chariots
Then followed a great spectacle
a host of soldiers, with horses and
chariots, sent out to hunt down one
lone man of God! That was a COM
pliment worth having, Brother Elisha.
Preacher, when the liquor men de-
fame you and try to blow up your
house or waylay you on a dark night
count 1t far more of a tribute than
anything the mothers in Israel may
say about your. sermons. Let us not
pity the man who has made the forces
or unrighteousness his active enemy:
pity, rather. the Christian minister
who has never raised a growl or a
yelp from the evil pack. Elisha was
unrunled by the army he knew to be
advancing.
Not so his servant. When that
young man arose early one morning
ana, with the sleep scarcely out OF
MS eyes, saw the city of Dothan en-
tirely surrounded by Syrian soldiers.
he collapsed in panic. ALAS, my mas
ter. how shall we doi'
Right in the midst of alarms, with
the Syrian cohorts on every hand
Elisha took time to preach to his
helper a sermon-the sermon which
most OF us need to hear. Fear not:
Tor they that be with us are more
than they that be with them" The
prophets servant was in the plight
or many person to-day who seems
wholly surrounded by evil men. and
VINO can scarcely believe that God
has a majority anywhere.
Eyes and No Eyes
Poor eyesight was the cause.
Elisha's servant suffered from that
commonest of all defects of vision. in
ability to see spiritual realities, and
In their due proportion. Because we
cannot see Alright we spend our lives
in pursuit of second-rate gains ana
second-rate pleasures: and we fiji
our hours with second-rate deeIs
second-rate books. and second-rate