Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-10-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR OCT. "a
SECURED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
BANNER FOR ITS MANY
READERS
ACCORDING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text of the Lesson, III Kings vi, 8-17.
Memory Verses, 16, 17-Golden
Text, Ps. XXXXIV, 7-COmment-
airy Prepared by Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.

In last weeks lesson the conduct or
grand as he made 1t manifest that he
did indeed stand before the living
God, not cringing to nor fawning upon
any human greatness nor seeking any
thing from any one but the Lord alone.
His covetous lying servant could not
understand 1t and brought upon him
self the leprosy OF Naaman. Take
heed, and beware of covetousness,"
for "covetousness is idolatry" luke
xii. 10; Col. lii, 81.
The opening verses of our lesson
chapter tell OF Elisha going with the
sons of the prophets to Jordan TO OBJ
tain material 10 enlarge their dwelling,
which had become 100 strait for them
We are not told what school this was,
but probably the one at Jericho. for
that was nearest TO Jordan. and per-
hapS the same young men who search
ed In vain three days for Elijah. 1t
looks rs If there was an increase in the
number OF students. and If so ii may
have been because of the translation
truths concerning the coming of Christ
and associated events always lead to
Increase of interest in Bible study.
The lost AK recovered by bit OF tree
cast into the water. which made the
iron swim, makes me think of the tree
which made the waters OF Marah to
lose their bitterness (Ex. XIV, 25) and
Of Him who is the tree OF life, who
alone can recover the lost or sweeten
bitter waters.
In our present lesson the king of
Israel was delivered several times from
the king Of Syria because of the time
ly warnings of Elisha. so that the king
of Syria believed that he had traitor
in his army who was a friend of the
king OF Israel. He called his servants
TO inquire which of them ii was who
revealed his plans to the king Of Isra-
ell. 1t was thus that he learned that
there was no traitor among his people.
but that there was prophet In Isra-
ell who could tell his king everything.
even the words he spoke In secret
oversees S-12).
Then the king OF Syria determined
to capture Elisha and sent horses and
chariots, a great host, who came by
night and comprised the city of Do
than, where Elisha was Oversees ID. IA
In the morning Elisha's servant. see
ing this great host, was filed with
fear, and said, ALAS. my master, how
shall we do" Elisha calmly replied.
Fear not, for they that be with US
are more than they that be with
them" oversees 10. 16). Elisha could
make the words of David his own,
Though an host should encamp against
me my heart shall not fear" Cps. xvii,
-. He could say with Paul, IF God
be for us who can be against usT
(Rom. viii. 81 Oh. the rest OF such
confidence in God, the victory of such
a consciousness OF the unseen. Moses
endured as seeing Him who is invisi-
BILE. David also realized in a remark
able degree the presence of the Lord.
Our Lord Jesus when he was here
was ministered to by the angels and
said that He could have legions Of
them for the asking As Elisha en-
deavored to quiet his servant he said.
Lord, pray thee. open his eyes that
he may see." And the young man saw
the mountain full of horses and chart
OTIS of fire round about Elisha Verse
10. Oh, for such sight of unseen
realities! But then comes the word.
Blessed are they that have not seen,
yet have believed" I'VE walk by
faith, not by sight" John Xxx, %; III
Cor v, y. ! do believe that the an
gels mot our friends who have died)
are ministering to the redeemed on the
earth, the heirs Of salvation (Heb. 1,
IA. often say to my people and to
the classes that | know that l have
two congregations, those whom l see
and the invisible angels who desire to
look into the things OF which we
speak q Pet. T. ~.
AS the Syrians came to take Elisha
he said, Lord, pray Thee smite this
people with blindness" and He did so.
Then Elisha said to them, Follow me
and l will bring you to the man whom
ye seek" oversees Is, 19), for 1t was
really the king of Israel whom they
were seeking. They only wanted the
prophet because he was hindering
them from getting the king of Israel.
Having brought them to the man they
wanted, he said. Lord. open the eyes
of these men that they may see," and,
their eyes being opened, they found
themselves in Samaria In the presence
of the king of Israel. At the sugges-
ton OF Elisha he prepared great pro-
vision for them. and when they had
eaten and drunk he sent them away
to their master. So the bands OF Syria
came no more into the land of Israel
oversees 20-23).
1t was certainly hopeless TO think of
accomplishing anything against pow
er that could SO control them, and such
kindness from one who could so easily
have slain them all was too much for
them. Such treatment from a people
80 remarkably protected by a prophet