Middletown transcript., 1922-02-11
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY IL
ELISHA AND THE SHUNAMMiTE
WOMAN

WOMAN
LESSON TEXT-iI Kings 4:s-37.
GOLDEN TEXT-Verily. verify, l 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 shaiI
live.-John 5:25. 4
REFERENCE MATERIAI~John IL:
lao
PRIMARY TOPIC Elisha Brings a
Boy to Life.
JUNIOR TOPIC-How Elisha Brought
q Boy to Life.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Elisha Helping in a Home.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Our Ministry of Comfort and Help.
I. The shunammite's Hospitality to
Elisha wv. SID.
/. 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.
.. Its nature wv. S-1U. "She
constrained him to eat bread wv. o.
81. AS a result of her earnest en-
house he turned in to eat bread. She
received prophet in the name OF
prophet. t2) She fitted up room for
him wv. 10, ~. She equipped this
room with the necessary furniture to
make it comfortable for the prophet
a bed, chair, table and candle. When
ever he saw TIT to occupy this room
| it was at his disposal.
II. Elisha Endeavors to Repay Her
Kindness wv. 12-1T.
/. He offers to ask favor from the
king or head of the army ". 13). THIS
offer implies that Elisha had influence
mt the royal court. The woman's re-
ply shows her truly to be great
woman. She did not desire to change
the calm and quiet of her home for
place even in the royal court. Hell
answer also shows that her motive
IN extending generosity to the prophet
was entirely unseltish, purely because
he was Gods prophet.
2. Elisha announces the giving OF
son to her wv. 16, 1O. Through
inquiry of Gehazi 1t was discovered
that this woman was childless. So
the prophet made known to her thai
in about year from that time she
should experience the joy of mother
III. The Coming Of Sorrow to tho
Shunammite's Home (vv. 1S-2D.
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 intense. 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 IL :35).
~. 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 anG
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 Elsha's feet
(v. 21). This was the eastern way OF
enforcing Il petition. She passed by
Gehazi. She would not be content witt
the servant when the master could be
reached.
2. She chded the prophet ". 2S)
Did | desire SOM" This implie.
that it would have been better not tt
} have had child than to have los
him so soon.
. v, The Child Restored wv. 29-37)
, l. Gelazis fruitess errand wv. 70
81. He hurried away and placed thu
prophets staff upon the child's face
, but it did not revive. Perhaps th'
I fault lay in Gehazi-hs lack of faith
, The woman seemed to perceive hi
lack she would not trust him. Sh
4 would not go until Elisha was will
ing to go along. This fruitless erran,
of Gehazi shows the worthlessness 0
: the forms of religion when used b.
. those who have no faith in them.
, .. Elishu's efficient service wv. 80
Y 81. He went to the house wher
4 the dead child was. ID He praye
4 ". 33). He knew that no one but Go
n could help, so he closed the dool
i shutting all others out. Our servic
to men should be preceded by prayer
t2) He stretched himself upon tn
child ". 34). He brought his war;
> body into touch with the cold bod
Of the child. God blesses and save
= through the warm touch of those wh
are in touch with Him. After we pra
We should get into actual touch wit
those dead in trespasses and sin. God
Il method of saving the world Is throug
the ministry of saved men an
" women.