The Penn's Grove record., 1922-02-24

49,
GOLDEN TEXT-The angel OF the Lord
~encampeth round about them that fear
Him, and delivereth them.-Ps. S:7.
REFERENCE MATERIAL~Dan. 61-2'
Heb. liza; 1I.27.
PRIMARY TOPTC-God Takes Care Of
Elisha.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Elisha and the Armies
of Jehovah.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Our Unseen Defenders.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
What Faith in the Unseen Can Do for
Us.
1. The Syrian King sorely Troubled
wv. 8-12).
1. The Kings plan. ". 81. His
method was a kind Of guerrilla warfare
armed bands made incursions into
the enemy's territory. He determined
as to where camps should be located
so as to intercept Israel's army. His
plan was clever. but his great mis-
take was that he left God out Of his
calculations. There is one place
where all plans and movements are
known (Heb. 4:13).
2. The enemy's movements dis
closed ". 81. The man Of God, know
Ing the enemy's movements, was able
to tell the king about them. Elisha's
advice was more than a match for
the willy plans Of the shrewd Ben
hadad. Israel's safety lay more in
the man of God than in their warriors.
3. The king of Israel needed Elisha's
word ". 10Y. This was true wisdom.
By obeying the prophets words he
saved himself and army many times.
Those who are truly wise heed the d.
vine warnings.
wv. IL, 12). In his perplexity he as
sembled his servants and demanded
that the traitor be made known. He
believed that some were playing into
the hands Of the enemy; therefore
he would put an end to the treachery.
This was denied, and one of his SER
ANTS declared that the kings move
ments were reported by Elisha the
prophet, even telling to the king Of
Israel what Ben-hadad spake in his
bedchamber. Ben-hadad was worried
not because of his sins, but because
his plans m~iscarried.
u. The Syrian King Tries to Trap
Elisha wv. 1919.
1. He sent an army to capture him
wv. 10, 14). Upon learning that
Elisha was making known his ac-
lions, he determined TO put an end to
the matter by trapping him and making
him a prisoner. How foolish to put
human cunning against divine wis
dom. Horses and chariots are useless
when God is against us. Gods pur-
poses cannOt be thwarted. If God be
for us, who can be against us?
2. Elisha's servant frightened ".
l5). When he awoke one morning
he saw that an armed host was en-
camping about the city. Viewed from
the human standpoint, we do not
wonder that he was affrighted.
8. Elisha's encouragement ". 16).
He assured his servant that, though
they were surrounded by the Syrian
army, there was a mightier host
of heavenly defenders round about
them. Elisha did not shut his eyes
to the real danger, but looked to the
helpers of God watching about them.
4. Elisha's prayer ". 10. He asked
that the Lord would open the eyes of
his servant so as to see spiritual
things. When the Lord opened the
eyes of the young man he saw that
1.-The mountain was full of horses and
chariots of fire round about Elisha"
Round about us all the while are
angels guarding us from danger.
5. The Syrians smitten with blind
ness ". 1S). The same God who
opened the eyes of the young man,
blinded the eyes of the Syrians. God
deals with men according to their
moral attitude. When men will not
have the light, God sends darkness.
III. The Syrian Army Trapped
wv. 1929.
The would-be trappers are now
trapped.
1. Army led by the man sought by
them (vv. 10, 20). Elisha led them
to Samaria and asked the Lord TO
open their eyes. When their eyes were
open they saw the man whom they
sought, but not at the place where they
sought him. Instead of seeing him at
Dothan as they expected. they saw
him in Samaria.
2. The generous treatment OF the
Syrians wv. 21-2S]. The king Of Israel
wanted to smite the captives, but
Elisha forbade him and ordered instead
that they should be fed and sent back
to their master.
8. Peace between the nations ". 23).
The mercy shown to the Syrians had
such a profound effect upon them that
they came no more to make war upon
Israel. What a fine thing If we could
have such humanity shown today!