The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-17
International
SundaySchooILesson
BIZ WILLIAM T. ELLIS.


A Heathep's Faitf-An Israelite's Per-
/ fidy.
A tale as tangled as life itself, and
as meaningful. is this romantic frag-
ment from the ancient Hebrew liter
allure. Fairly jostling one another.
/ SO crowded is the narrative, are a
great Syrian general, Mailman, sInitten1
with leprosy; two kings; a Hebrew
maiden, a captive slave in the gem
i erals household; IsraePs prophet,
Elijah; his grating disciple, Gehazl;
and various minor characters, or SUI
,pernumeries. The lesson is drama,
IAN ready-made for acting.
AS tastes prefer. the background
may be presented in the form of the
parallel historian narrative from the
| Moabite stone, a contemporary in
lscription of HebreW-Syrian relations;
| or it may be set forth-in terms of the
resurgent Syria of today, in conflict
with Zionists of Palestine. Still, as OF
old, the Jordan river flows muddy
from the Lake. of Galilee to the Dead
sea; and the rivers of Damascus ripple
clear and melodiously thru the very
center OF the old city. Were there
space. I would write of the wOndrous
waters of Damascus, as recently saw
them, and of the River Jordan, as I
crossed and recrossed it at numerous
/ points. It is of real places as of real
people that the Bible story tells.
A Great Man-But!
High in the favor of the King of
Syria was Naaman, mighty warrior
and popular leader. He had honor
and fame and wealth and family;
seemingly all that heart could wish
but he was a lepert" His terse,
vivid biography calls up the butts"
/ of life. This man in the public eye
is a millionaire-"but' his son is a
wastrel-his wife an invalid, his own
I h InifI
Here is another man, learned and
famous-"but' sour. self-centered, I'M
loved Yonder woman is be2satiful-
| but" shallow. vain, faithless. See
this mighty public man, whose name
the nation knows-''bukn~ he is strick-
en-, like Naaman, with an incurable
imaIady. =
If we knew all about those whom
we sometimes envy, we would often
pity them. Naaman is a caution to
contentment, hint to humility.
Down, But High.
Often there is more happiness in
the cottage than in the castle. The
! kitchen sometimes knows a song that
| the parlor cannot sing. Sorrow and
fear dWelt in the masters chamber
| of Naaman's house; but simple heart
| ed trust in Jehovah, and friendliness
even for her owners, marked the little
Hebrew maiden, who had been carried
captive IN one of the Syrian raids into
Israel. She had been borne off, just
as the Turks nowadays bear away
/ Christ girls in Cecilia. Her lot was
| bitter-yet she was not embittered
As the Salvation Army phrase has it
she was down, but not out" Indeed,
her low estate revealed the exaltation
| of her character. Down, she rose
high. The beauty of her character,
shone the brighter against the heath
| en- background. No clearer iIlustra-
| ton could be given of the truth that
| it is not where we are, but what we
| are. that really matters.
This little captive maiden was the
| essential link in the chain of events
she was the keystone of the whole
arch. God counted on her to make
effective His wonders thru Elisha.
There is no place too lowly for the
highest service. This girls friendly
wish for the healing of the master,
whose slave she was, caused word of
hope to reach Naaman, that there was
IN Israel a prophet who could heal
| leprosy.
Does King Control Prophet?
Reputation is a curious thing; Eli
sha seems to have been better known
| to the nameless Hebrew slave girl in
Naaman's household than to the king
OF Israel himself. At least, he more
| naturally came to her mind in a time
Of need than to the recollection of
/ klng OF Jehoram. When the King of
/ les eager 1OE the meaning or ms
I1aVor1te, Naaman, sent a royal mes
sage, accompanied by royal gifts. to
| the King of Israeli the latter seemed
not to have thought of Elisha. After
the fashion of potentates, King Ben
Habad assumed that the King ruled
all; and that prophets were merely re-
tanners of the court, who did as they
l We're told by their sovereign.
| That notion did not die with the
: King OF Syria. 1t has caused struggles
between church and state, between the
| pulpit and the pew, between the rich
i layman and the true preacher, for
| long, long ages. There is many a
| bumptious board of stewards or trus-
tees today that has inherited Ben
aadads opinion that world might
| should control spiritual power
There seems special significance in
the words with which~E1isha, con-
! cerned by his kings fear over the
royal Syrian letter, said, Let him
come now to me; and he shall know
| that there is a prophet in Israel" In
| other words, There may be calls too
great for the king, but the prophet of
Jehovah is above kings. There is a
power higher than that welded by
the sceptre. What the king cannot do.
Naaman to me-
Why the Captain Got Mad.
From the royal palace of Israel,
where he had been received in full
some state, Captain Naaman was sent,
with outriders and attendant horse
men and chariots to the humble home
| of Elisha Can't you ina CINE the
commotion in the neighborhood as all
this fuss and feathers moved from the
palace to the preachers abode? This
| proud Syrian warrior was rather ar
rogant, as he called in condescension;
/ but, he was met with a dignity that
was more Impressive. Naaman ex-
peeted to be received with obsequious-
| neSs. and he knew not what sort of
hocus-poeus of miracle-working stage
play. instead, as if to rebuke his
pride. the prophet did not deign to go
| to the door himself, but sent his one
| servant, or disciple, Gehazi, with the
| simple message that the leper should
| go and battle seven times in the River
| Jordan. In Elisha's eyes. Naaman was
only leper needing cleansing.
At that, the Syrian warrior blew
| up" His anger was unFestrained: all
| the ragamuffians of the street could