The Green Forest tribune., 1915-10-15

GOLDEN TEXT-I am Jehovah that healeth thee.-Ex. 15:26.
 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. 23, 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-D. Fi- nally, the suggestive stories of the Shunammite woman (vv. 8-37), and the feeding of the prophets and the people (yv. 3S-44).
 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 Samaria. This event probably oc- cured between 904 and S94 B. C..
 l. A Ministry in the Home, w. 1-7. Naaman had all that heart could wish. seemingly. Exalted, rich, 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 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 1t. But there was CO operation in that household evidently, for ''one went in and told his lord" (v. 4). There was also cooperation between the home and the govern ment, for the king of Syria sent let ter to the king of Israel (v. 5). The strength of any nation is in propor. tion to the strength, unity and loy- alty of it's homes. It 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" (v. 9, 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.
 II. A Ministering Prophet (vv. s-14). The king of Syria thought he could buy everything, including the desired cure (yv. 5, 6). His letter brought great consternation to Israel's king, probably Jehoram The value of the gifts presented, perhaps over $100.000, revealed the urgency of the case. But there was one in Israel who was not power of Jehovah. Elisha is a type of Christ who offers not only to all lepers but to every unfortunate one rest (Matt. 11:28-30). Elisha re- sponded to the need of the nation (v. 8), as well as to the need of Naaman the leper, when he volun- teered to become the champion of Je- hovah (v. D.
 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 Efishas WoifinO th,1c hnf0 prophets door Naaman is a type of the great of this earth who shall yet bow before Gods people Qsa 60: 1-3) and before his Son (Phil. 2:19). By human arguments Naaman was right (v. 12) and his rage was justified, but he must learn that as 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 type of the judgment on sin. Sin must be judged by confession (Rom. 15:9. 1S). Sin must be renounced before we can be cleansed q Cor. II: 31: John 1:9). It was slow, patient, puDHc process through which Naaman must pass. but such had been the development of leprosy in his life. God had judged sin on Calvary (Rom. 83; II Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13) and as Naaman 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 (v. 13) and obeyed the command of the prophet. He did not relish the idea of the commander in chief of the most powerful army of his day hav- ing thus to be humiliated. He thought" tv. ID differently and n this is suggestive of those who are to- day rebelling at Gods provision for their salvation. The wisdom of his lowly servants was amply demon strated when after the seventh dip in the river he looked at his hands and. behold. his flesh was like the flesh of a little child" There was no heal. ;v, hn cd