Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-10-21
LESSON FOR OCTOBER "a
ELIsHA's HEAVENLY DEFENDERS

LESSON TExT-II Kings 6.s-23
EN~TEXT-The angel of Jehovah
encampeth round about them that fear
him, and delivereth them.-Ps. Bat.
A map is useful in teaching this
lesson. The everts occurred during
the revolution which resulted in the
determination of Jezebel and her
brood. Dothan, a small walled town,
was about ten miles north and slight
ly east of Samaria, the capital of
Israel. and in history is connected
with Joseph (Gen 37). Damascus was
the capital of Syria.
!. Danger, w. 8-13. Jehoram, king
of Israel, cleaved to the sins of Jero-
boam and of Ahab, his father. In
Judah, Jehoram, the son of Jehosha-
PLAT, 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 fresh attack unhin-
dered ". 81. Elisha, the patriot, the
man of God" proves to be Israers
real safety. Elisha has not left us
great revelations like Isaiah and
other prophets, but he knew from day
to day Gods 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
10 oInd xyic of C1I u.
needs and dangers, but also the re-
sources at his command. Thus he de-
hvered Isreal many times w. 100. We,
too, are thus frequently delivered, let
us praise God. The underlying reason
for Israel's danger was its neglect of
the word of God, and the same can be
said as explaining the defeat of the
Syrians. True patriotism com bines
vision and warning. The king of
Syria, like countless other despots,
knew not friend from foe, but evident
ly he had one retainer who told him
the truth ". 12). Some have sug-
gested that this was Naaman; per-
haps it was captive Israelite In
either case it suggests Gods knowl-
edge of us. (See Ps 1879: 1-10.)
u. Defense, w. 1918. It was not a
mere guerrilla detachment sent to Do
than to capture Elisha before making
the main attack upon Samaria, but a
well-officered army Elisha meant
more to them than did the king of
Israel. The servant of Elisha had
risen early and saw only the hills
surrounding Dothan, upon which was
"a host with horses and chariots
round about the city" (v. 15), and in
CONSERVATION he exclaims: ALAS, my
master, how shall we do?" Again
we are impressed with the vision of
Elisha and the lack of it on the serv-
ants part. Elisha saw what the serv-
ant could not see; walking by faith he
was not affrighted John AL; Phil.
4: 6, q; lisa. 1872; Ps. $500. In re-
Spouse to Elisha's prayer the servants
eyes were opened, yet he was not one
whit more safe than before ". ~.
1t is striking contrast here with the
Elisha of chapter 2;10. 1t is a 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 us are more than
they that be with them ". 16).
III. DeIiverance, w. 1923. In the
first section we are taught the danger
of lack of vision. In the second Sec
tion the emphasis is upon the need
of a vision, whereas in this there is
presented the use of 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 CD, to lead Jehoram, the king, to
go to Jehovah for help, and (c) to de-
liver the people from the raids of the
Syrians. This word blindness"
". 18) conveys the idea OF dazzling,
visual bewilderment, hallucination and
not of total loss of sight, thus making
1t easy for Elisha to lead them as he
willed (v. 1917. Mentally bewildered
as result of their physical ailmept
they failed to recognize the prophet.
He 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 w. 20) and thew
find themselves at the mercy of Is
raels 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. IL: 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
God or of thwarting his
purposes.
(2) The protecting care God is con-
stantly exercising over those who put
their trust in him, and IN his bound