The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-02-16
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sll1nldayScf,ool
' Lesson '
(by kL,. A.. riI1N aIEtt, 10. ID.
Teacher OF English Bible Ia the Moody
Bible Institute of CbicagoJ
Copyright iggL Western Newspaper Unles
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY rs
eLlsHNs HEAVENLY DEFENDERS

LESSON TExT-fI Kings ss-23
GOLDEN TENT-The angel OF tho LORD
encampoth round about them that fear
HIM. and deIivereth them.-rs. SCI
REFERENCE MATEItIAI.-DRn. s.i-7.
Heb l.i, li:2.
PRIMARY roPN-God Takes Care Of
Elisha.
JUNIOR TOPIC Elisha and the Armies
Of Jehovah
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOPIC
Our Unseen Defenders
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
What Path In the Unseen Can Do for
Us
I. The Syrian King sorsIy Troubled
(vv. SID.
I. The Kings plan. ". ~. His
method was n Kind Of guerrilla warfare
armed bands mnde incursions into
the cnemys territory. lie determined
as to where camps should he located
80 as to intercept lsrael's army. Ills
plan was clever. but his great mis-
take was that he left God out OF his
calculations. There In one place
where all plans and movements are
known (Ileb. i:l3).
2 The cnemys movements dis
closed ". 81. The man of God, know
ing the enemy's movements, was able
10 tell the king about them. Elisha's
advice was more than match for
the willy plans Of the shrewd hen
hadad lsruel's safety lay more In
the man OF God than In their warriors.
2. The king Of Israel needed Elisha's
word w. l0). 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.
(yv. IL, l2) In his perplexity be as-
sembled his servants and demanded
that the traitor be made known. lie
believed that some were playing into
the hands Of the enemy therefore
he would put IN end 10 the treachery.
This was denied, and one Of his ser
wants declared that the kings move
ments were reported by Elisha the
prophet, even telling TO the King II
Israel what Ben-hadad spake Ia his
bcdchnmber. Beu.hadad was worried
not because Of his sins, but because
his plans miscarried
~. The Syrian King Tries 70 Trap
Elisha wv. 1919.
|. He sent an army to capture him
wv. IL. 10 Upon learning that
Elisha was making known his ac-
lions. he determined TO put an end To
the matter 10y 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. II God lie
for US, who can De- against usl
.. El,shn'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 anrghtci.
g. Ellsha's encouragement V i6).
lie assured hls servant that. though
they we're surrounded by the syrian
army, there was mightier host
Of heavenly defenders round about
TO the real danger. but looked to the
helpers Of God watching about them.
4. Ellsha's prayer ". ~. lie asked
that the Lord woIld open the eyes ~
his servant So as 10 see spiritual
things. when the Lord opened the
eyes OF the young man he saw that
the mountain was full Of horses and
chariots Of iire round about Elisha"
Round about us all the while are
angels guarding MS from danger
8. The Syrians smitten with blind
ness ". lS). The same God who
opened the eyes ~ the young man.
blinded the eyes Of the Syrians. God
deals with men according to their
moral attitude. when men viii not
have the light, God sends darkness
~. The Syrian Army Trapped
wv. 1923.
The would-be trnppers are now
trapped.
them (vv. 10. 2O). Elisha led them
TO Samaria and asked the Lord to
open their eyes. when their eyes we're
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 Sannrla.
2. The generous treatment OF the
Syrians wv. 2l-23). The king of Israel
wanted 10 smlte the captlves, but
Elisha forbade him and ordered instead
that they should be fed and sent back
10 their master.
3. Peace between the nations ". 23).
The mercy shown TO the Syrians had
such a profound effect upon them that
they came 10 more TO make war upon
Israel. what fine thing II we could
have such humanity shown todayi
Give Thanks TO God