Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-11
By William T. Ellis


A tale as tangled As life itsclf, and
as meaningful, is this romantic frae-
ment from the ancient Hebrew liter
ature. Fairly jostling one another, so
crowded is the narrative, are a great
Syrian general, Naaman, smitten with
leprosy two kings; Hebrew maiden,
captive slave in the generals house
hold; lsrael's prophet, Elijah; his
grating disciple, Gehazi; and various
minor characters, or supernumeries.
The lesson is drama, all ready made
for acting.
As tastes prefer, the background
may be presented in the form of the
parallel historian narrative from the
Moabltc stone, contemporary in
scrlptlon of Ilebrew-Syrian relations;
or 1t may be set forth in terms of the
resurgent Syria OF today in conflict
with the Zionists Of Palestine. Still,
as of old, the Jordan River flows mud
dy from the Lake of Galilce TO the
Dead Sea; and the rivers of Damascus
ripple clear and melodiously thru the
very center of the old city Were there
space, would write of the wondrous
waters OF Damascus, as | recently saw
them, and of the River Jordan, as /
have crossed and rccrossed it at num-
orous points. 1t is of real places as
of real people that the Bible story
tells.
A Great Man-But!
High in the favor of the KIM 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 H lepcr,' His terse.
vivid biography calls up the "buts"l
of life. This man in the public eve
is n millionaire-'but' his son is
wastrel--his wife an invalid. his
own soul cankered with bitter remorse.
Here is another man, learned and ia
mous-"but' sour, self-centered, un-
loved. Yonder woman Is beautiful
but shallow. vain, faithless. See
this mighty public man, whose name
the nation knows-''but'' he is strick-
en-, like Naamnn, with an incurablc !,
malady.
If we knew all about those whom !
We sometimes envy, We would often !
pity them. Naaman is caution to |
conteniment, n hint to humility.
Down, But High.
Often there is more happiness in the
cottage than in the castle The kitchen
sometimes knows song that the par
lor cannot sing. Sorrow and fear !
dwelt in the masters chamber Of
Naaman's house: but simplc-hearted !
trust in Jehovah, and friendlinc.s
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
hitter-yet she was not cmbittered. .
AS tho Salvation Army phrase has it
she was clown but not OUT. Indeed,
her low estate revealed the exaltatiou
# her character Down, she rose high,
The beauty of her character, so gem
erous, so magnanimous, shonc the
brighter against The heather back
ground. No clearer illustration could
he given of tho truth that it is not
whore 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 ou 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, tha. there WAS
in Israel prophet who could heal
'cTosy
Docs King Control Prophet
Reputation is curious A'ng:
Elisha seems to have been better
known to the namelcss Hebrew slave
girl in Naaman's household than to
the king of Israel himself At least.
he moro naturally came 10 her mind
in time Of need than TO tho recollec-
tion of King Jchcram. When the
King of Syria, eager for the healing
Of his favoritc, Naaman, sent roval
message, accompanied by royal gifts,
to the King of Israel, the latter seemed
not TO have thought of Elisha. After
the fashion of potentates, King Ben
TIadad assumed that the King ruled
all; and that prophets were merely re-
tanners of the court, vino did as they
were told by their sovereign.
That notion did not die with the
King Of Syria, II has caused strug-
giles between church and state, be-
tween the pulpit and the pew, between
the rich layman and the true preacher
FOR long, long ages. There is many n