The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-02-09
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Prepared especially for The Republi-
can by DR.. U. S. Wright.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY u.
ELISHA AND THE SHUNAMMITE
WOMAN.
II Kings 1887.
Verify, verify | say unto you, the
EOur cOmeth, and now is, when the
dead shall hear the voice of the
Son of God; and they that hear
shall live.-JOhn 5:25.
THE PROPHET OF THE
PEOPLE.
Elijah may have been the prophet
of God, but Elisha was that of the
people. At home in the desert, stop
ping for a chance hour in a Bedouin
tent, appearing in civilization like an
avenging angel or falling star, Eli
jah knew nothing of the joy of the
hearth. In his last days after the
Sinai experience he had what he had
never had before, human friend, but
it was too late to change his life. In
contrast Elisha was one of the COM
mon farmers Of the Jordan valley
who ploughed in company with others
and dwelt amidst the village homes
when the days work was done. And
he was a welcome visitor in the pal
ace of the king where Elijah had
never gone. The effect of the older
mans work must have been appar-
ent, for in spite of Jezebel her son
found Elisha good company and a wise
counselor. Among the young men
of the schools of the prophets he was
so popular that when a camping trip
and logging bee was planned they in
sisted upon his going with them. So
companionable was he that after d
few stops in that house in Shunem
they built him a room of his own
where he might rest whenever he
chose to stop in his continuous travel
among the people Of the land. And
in the hour when his appreciation of
the hospitality led to his offer of his
influence he learned from a servant
what would be the choichest blessing
the family could have. Equally open
to youth or age, men or women, prince
or peasant, king or slave, he was SUI
premely man Of the people who
heard the sorrows of all and shared
them in such effective fashion that
they disappeared under his friendly
ministry. And this was the glory of
Him who chose to be called the Son
of Man who like this earlier follower
of the ministrant God went about do
ing good.
A WOMAN BUILDER.
The woman of Shunem is a re.
markable character. ANY one who
could build a room that would endur.
for nearly three thousand years has
the right to a union card. Her proph.
cts chamber persists today in many
a home where the preachers Room"
is as much fixture as the kitchen.
But she builded her own home as well
into haven Of content. Elishas
offer to bring them to court or t.
camp only served to reveal the beau
ties Of their own quieter life and the
worth of her neighbors, for she was
content to dwell among her own peo-
Pile Her husband had absolute conf
dence in her. When she suggested the
room upon the roof where Elisha
might stop, it was speedily built
When the boy was taken sick he said
Garry him to his mother sure thai
his every need would be met. When
she wanted to take one Of the work
ers out Of the field he merely Won
dered why, and let her have the man.
They worked together, whether the
will was hers or his. There was a
prompt decisiveness that marked her
for leadership. And there was cour-
age in carrying it out that adds an
other element of good to her charac-
ter. And with it all went an unswerv-
ing faith in God that could say in the
face of the death of her dearest hope,
at is we'll" If one is judged by his
friends, then Elisha gets a high rat
ing from this woman who was among
them.
WHEN THE HEAD IS BOWED.
Into that joyous home came the
dread presence that darlens all our
own. Grown to the busy period of
straying feet and eager interest in all
that is going on, the boy must follow
daddy" to the harvest field where
the hot sun smote fercely and sent
him like a wilted flower to that haven
of comfort, a mothers lap. There was
no doctor to summon and her simple
remedies brought no relief, so that
as noon came came also stiffness Of
and laughing lips and restless limbs
and her tear-Wet eyes looked down