Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-10-14

tSuLiN1lu
The "hoodlum" gang wv. 30, 24)
which is a story for boys. Note:
Elisha had nothing to do with the
bears, o does the record say that
h bears killed the boys. Next the
story OF the Widows oil (4:l-7). Fl.
nally, the suggestive stories of the
Shunammite woman wv. $50, and
the feeding Of the prophets and the
people wv. 3S-i4).
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 situated
about 100 miles (air line) northeast of
Samaria. This event probably oc-
CURED between 904 and S94 B. c.
I. A Ministry in the Home, w.. II.
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 web
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 it. 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 a 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 its homes.
This maid had probably been taken
captive by one of the Syrian bands"
". y, yet it was 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 t 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 wv. 5, g.. His letter brought
great CONSERVATION to Israel's king,
probably Jehoram. The value of the
gifts presented, perhaps over 500, 900,
revealed the urgency Of the case. But
there was n 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. 11:2S-30). Elisha re-
sponded to the need OF the nation
". 81, as we'll as to the need OF
Naaman the leper, when he volun.
teered to become the champion of Je-
hovah ". y.
The prince came, however, filled
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 Naaman is a type OF
the great of this earth who shall yet
bow before Gods people lisa. 60:1-3)
and before his Son (Phil. 2:19). 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
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 from.
1859, 18). Sin must be renowned
before we can be cleansed Il Cor. IL:
/ John 1:9). It was a slow, a
a public process through
which Naaman must pass. but such
had been the development of leprosy
his life. God had judged sin on
Calvary from. 8:3; II Cor. 5:21: Gal.
':13) and as Naaman went down In
he Jordan he took, in figure, the sim
ler's place, wen as Jesus later took
that place for US, Matt. 3:13-15).
Though inclined to act the fool. yet
wisely hardened to his serv-
int ". 13) and obeyed the command
% fhn prnrhot Hn MA mt .aitaH A.
dea OF the commander In chief Of the
most powerful army Of his day hav-
ng thus to be Inundated. He
thought" ". 11) differently and N
his is suggestive OF those who are to-
lay rebelling at Gods provision for
heir salvation. The wisdom Of his
pwly servants was amply demon
trated when after the seventh dip In
he river he looked at hts hands and,
his flesh was like the flesh
Z a little child" There was no heal.
ng power in the water. II was God
rho wrought the miracle. Naaman's
ct raj a test Of obedience to the will
I God by n who was used TO giving
It gave him a part in his healing
nd Il vas supremely simple.
SO we have a part in our salvation,
lie plan of which is so simple. ,
His cure came because he obeyed .
fa) He heard CT one who ,
ouId cure ". 81; (b) he believed ,
Y. ~; (c) he forsook his own /,
". ~; td) he accepted :
DDS thoughts and methods wv. Is. :
y: icy he took the sinners place .
". 10, ~: ~ he became clean after i
Is obedience wv, IA, 'l5). ,