The citizen., 1915-10-14


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 (2:1922D.
The 'hoodlum" gang (vv. %, 2p
which is a 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 tt:l.O. ~.
nally, the suggestive stories OF the
Shunammite woman wv. SAD.
the feeding Of the prophets and ~
people wv. 3S-+p.
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 10 situated
about 100 miles tair line) northeast of
Samaria. This event probably oc-
CURED between so4 and ss4 d. C.
.. A Ministry In the Home. w. ~.
Naaman had all that heart could wish.
man. honorable and successful in his
undertakings, but he was q leper."
As such he is type OF the sinner.
Leprosy begins practically In secret.
Is transmissible. may be smeliorated.
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 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 II. But there was CO.
operation In that household evidently,
for "one went In and told his lord"
". ~. 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
tion to the strength. unity and 10y
atty OF its homes. IL is also in pro-
portion to the care and interest which
that government takes In It's homes.
". A Ministerino Prophet wv. S-tA).
The king OF Syria thought he could
buy everything. including the desired
cure tvv. 3, %. His letter brought
great CONSERVATION to Israel's 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 rully tho
power OF Jehovah. Elisha Is type
of Christ who offers not only to all
lepers but TO every unfortunate one
rest" Matt ll2S-30). Elisha re-
sponded to the need OF the nation
(v. So, as well as to the need OF
Naaman the leper. when he volun-
teered to become the champion OF Je-
hovah ". ~.
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 Elishas
treatment. Waiting thus before the
prophets door Naaman is a type OF
the great OF this earth who shall yet
bow before Gods people lisa. 60: l-3)
and before his Son (Phil. 2:l9). BY
human arguments Naaman was right
". 12) and his rage was justified. but
he must learn that as a suppliant
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, 49,. Sin must be renounced
before we can be cleansed Il Cor. IL:
81; John l;9. II was slow, a
patient. public process through
which Naaman must pass, but sucS
had been the development OF lepros
in his life God had Judged sin on
Calvary (Rom. S:3 II Cor. 5:2l; Gal.
3:13) and as Naaman went down In
the Jordan he took. in figure. the sin
ner's place. even as Jesus later took
that place for us. Matt. 3:l3l5.
Though inclined TO act the fool, yet
Naaman wisely hardened TO his serv-
ant ". l3) and obeyed the command
OF the prophet
His cure came because he obeyed
Jehovah: (a) He heard OF one who
could cure ". 81; OBJ he believed
". A.; (c) he forsook his own
thoughts ". IL; (d) he accepted
Gods thoughts and methods wv. 13,
40; (e) he took the sinners place
(vv. 10, 1D; (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. 1870.
He became an open reflector OF the
heathen gods and a professed follow
er OF Jehovah when he returned to
Damascus
AS such he became the ministering
prince.
~. The MInistering Prince. OD BY
public profession (see Rom. 1893, 10;
Matt. 10:32) (2) BY peculiar request
which became great object lesson In
Damascus: (3) BY new purpose OF
heart which would change his fu-