Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-02-09


GOLDEN TEXT-Verily, verify, / say
unto you. the hour is coming, and now is,
when the dead shall hear the voice of the
Son of God; and they that hear shall
liye.-John SIS.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-John IL:
Lao
PRIMARY TOPIC - Elisha Brings a
Boy to Life.
JUNIOR TOPIC-How Elisha Brought
Boy to Life.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Elisha Helping in a Home.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Our Ministry Of Comfort and Help.
1. The Shunammite's Hospitality to
Elisha (vv. SID.
J.. Its occasion ". 81. A wealthy
woman of Shunem, observing that
Elisha passed continually by her house
in his Journeys, was moved with com
passion toward him. She determined
according to her ability to supply his
needs
2. Its nature wv. SID. ".she
constrained him to eat bread" (vv. 81
D.. AS a result Of her earnest en-
treaty, as often as he passed by her
house he turned in to eat bread. She
received a prophet in the name of a
prophet.
II. Elisha Endeayors to Repay Her
Kindness wv. 12-17.
/. He offers to ask favor from the
king or head of the army ". 13). This
offer implies that Elisha had influence
at the royal court. The woman's re-
ply shows her truly to be a great
woman. She did not desire to change
the calm and quiet Of her home for a
place even in the royal court. Her
answer also shows that her motive
In extending generosity to the prophet
was entirely unselfish, purely because
he was Gods prophet.
2. Elisha announces the giving of
son to her wv. 16, 10. Through
inquiry of Gehazi 1t was discovered
that this woman was childless. So
the prophet made known to her that
In about a year from that time she
should experience the JOY of a mother.
III. The Coming of Sorrow to the
shunammite's Home (vF. 1920.
The child which brought JOY to
her home was suddenly taken away.
How many homes are like this! Scarce
ly do we begin to enjoy life until
death enters and snatches away some
loved one. The cause of his death was
probably sunstroke, for the heat OF
the sun at harvest time in this country
is very is&ense. When the boy com.
planned of his head, the father sent
him home to. his mother. BY noon
the child died and the mother laid
him upon the bed Of the man Of
God. Faith prompted her to do this.
She did not make preparation for
burial, but for restoration to life
(Heb. II :35).
w. The Mother Goes to Elisha
wv. 22-2S).
When one is in trouble or sorrow
the best place to go is to the man OF
God who is able to give counsel and
comfort. Happy is the one who in the
days of prosperity and sunshine has
so related himself to God and His
prophets that he can have help and
sympathy in time of trouble.
/. she took hold of Elishas feet
". 27). This was the eastern way OF
enforcing petition. She passed by
Gehazi. She would not be content with
the servant when the master could be
reached.
.. She chided the prophet (v. 2S).
.Did 1 desire a soh?" This implies
that it would have been better not to
have had a child than to have lost
him so soon.
v. The Child Restored wv. 29-3O.
1. Gehazi's fruitless errand wv. %
BY. He hurried away and placed the
prophets staff upon the child's face
but it did not revive. Perhaps the
fault lay in Gehazi-his lack of faith.
The woman seemed to perceive his
lack she would not trust him. She
would not go until Elisha was will
ing to go along. This fruitless errand
of Gehazi shows the worthlessness of
the forms of religion when used by
those who have no faith in them.
2. ElishaS efficient service wv. 3D.
30. lie went to the house where
the dead child was. (1) He prayed
(v. 33).. He knew that no one but God
could help, so he closed the door,
shutting all others out. Our service
to men should be preceded by prayer.
(2) He stretched himself upon the
child ". 34). He brought his warm
body into touch with the cold body
of the child. God blesses and saves
through the warm touch of those who
are in touch with Him. After we pray
we should get into actual touch with
those dead in trespasses and sin. Gods
method Of saving the world Is through
the ministry Of saved men and
women
A Daily Prayer.