The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-10-21
LESSON FOR OCTOBER "a
eLlsnA's HEAVENLY DEFENDERS.


A map IL useful In teaching this
lesson. The events occurred during
the revolution which resulted In the
determination OF Jezebel and her
brood Dothan, n small walled town.
was about ten miles north and slight.
" east OF Samaria. the capital OF
Israel. and in history Is connected
with Joseph Gen 80 Damascus was
the capital OF Syria.
!. Danger. w. st3. Jehoram, king
OF Israel. cleaved to the sins OF Zero
beam and OF Ahab. his father.
Judah Jehoram. the son OF Jehoshi
pha;. married Athaliah. the daughter
OF Ahab and Jezebel General Jehu.
famous for his driving. was soon TO
become king OF Israel. The king OF
Assyria. being otherwise engaged. al.
lowed Syria. the constant enemy OF
Israel. TO make a fresh attack unhin.
dered ~ 81. Elisha. the patriot, the
man OF God" proves to be Israels
real safety Elisha has not left US
great revelations like Isaiah and
other prophets. but he knew from day
TO day Gad's will and he has power
with him so that he could warn his
people OF impending danger. He had
what the king and the people both
lacked. a vision OF God He saw the
needs and dangers. but also the re-
sources at bis command Thus he de-
livered Isreal many times ". i0) We.
too. are thus frequently delivered. let
US praise God The underlying reason
for Israel's danger was it's neglect OF
the word OF God. and the same can be
said as explaining the defeat OF the
Syrians. True patriotism combines
vision and warning The king OF
Syria. like countless other despots.
knew not friend from foe. but evident
iy he rad one retainer who told him
the truth " i2D. Some have sug-
gested that this was Naaman: per.
haps II was q captive Israelite. In
either case II suggests Gods knowi-
edge OF us (see Ps i3s:l.lo)
%. Defense. w. t4.1G II was not .
mere guerrilla detachment sent TO Do
than to capture Elisha before making
the main attack upon samaria, but Q
well-offcered army Elisha meant
more to them than did the king OF
Israel The servant OF Elisha had
risen carly and saw only the hills
surrounding Dothan. upon which was
q host with horses and chariots
round about the city ". l5l. and In
CONSERVATION he exciaims: Alas. my
master. how shall We do" Again
We are impressed with the vision OF
Elisha and the lack OF II on the serv-
ants part Elisha saw what the serv-
ant could not see: walking by faith he
was not anriEhted John IA. Phil.
4: 8. I; lisa. i2:2: Ps. Sc ~. In re-
Spouse to Elishas prayer the servants
eyes were opened. yet he was not one
whit more safe than before ". III
II Is a striking contrast here with the
Elisha OF chapter 2:l0. II is q sug-
gestion OF the Christian anointed by
the Holy Spirit and that OF the saved
sinner before that experience. Our
eyes need to be opened to see that
they that be with them" ". i6).
~. oeiiversnee. w. 1929. In the
first section we are taught the danger
OF lack OF vision. In the second sec
ton the emphasis is upon the need
OF vision. whereas In this there In
presented the use OF n vision. To
crystalline vision into experience is a
difficult task for US all. Elisha prayed
Jehovah. for whom he was acting. TO
smite the Syrians with blindness.
This was not for vengeance. but (a) to
teach the Syrians who the true God
is tb). to lead Jehoram. the king. to
20 TO Jehovah for help. and (c) to de-
liver the people from the raids of the
Syrians. This word blindness
". 49, conveys the idea OF dazzling
visual bewilderment. Authorization and
not Of total loss OF sight. thus making
II easy for Elisha to lead them as he
willed ". ls). Mentally bewildered
as a result OF their physical ailment
they failed to recognize the prophet.
lie did not deceive them, for they at
last found him" when he led them
into Samaria and once more they could
see. Within the walls OF Samaria
Elisha's prayer Is again answered.
their sight restored ". 20) and they
ind themselves at the mercy OF Is
raefs king The older and wiser man
Elisha, forbids the younger. the king.
to use his advantage (vv. 81 22). but
rather to heap Goals OF fire upon their
heads by setting before them food
from. ~; 20. 2D; within his power.
such acts could not be attributed to
fear.
There are here presented three prin-
cipal lessons.
Cd The foolishness OF seeking TO
circumvent God or OF thwarting his
purposes
90 The protecting care God is con-
stantly exercising over those who put
their trust in him. and IN his bound
less resources
CD The lesson OF making the right
use OF prayer and the answers which
we receive, and TO be magnanimous
to our enemies
God honored Elisha's PRAYER because