The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1922-02-16
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 19
ELISHA AND NAAMAN THE
SYRIAN

LESSON TEXT-II Kings SILL
GOLDEN TEXT-Bless the Lord, o my
soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who
forgiveth all thine iniquties; who healeth
all thy diseases-Ps. 1881, 3
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Luke 4:16-
30; 5:lS-ls.
PRIMARY ToPIC-A Little Girl Help
ing.
JUNIOR ToPIC-A Young Girls serv-
ice.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOPIC
Elisha Helping . Foreigner.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
How to Overcome National and Racial
Prejudices
!. Naaman's Fatal Defect ". u.
He was a great man. but a leper.
He was held In high esteem by the
king, because through him the Syri-
ans had been delivered from their enc
mics. He was not only a capable
general, but was a very brave man
vaiorOus. Every unregenerate man,
regardless Of his gifts and possessions,
has this one fatal defect He may be
a mighty warrior, a great orator. a
gifted writer, a man Of profound learn
ing, an honorable statesman, but il he
is an unbeIlever In Christ, he is a lost
snner-a leper. Lteprosy is type OF
sin. Note it's characteristics
LOathsome, hereditary, infectious,
separating. destructive. deceitful. In
durable by man.
a., The Faithful Witness wv. 2-4).
This was a Jewish maid who had
been captured by marauding Syrian
troops who made frequent incursiOns
into Israels land for the purpose OF
plumber. Daniel at a later date was
carried away captive, and he likewise
was used of God to bless many. Jo-
seph is another example of one who
was put into a hard place, but became
blessing to others, even to the saw
ing of his brothers, who sold him. This
Jewish maid pointed out to this great
man the One who could heal him.
Many are the persons who have been
pointed to Christ as the Healer Of
souls by children.
III. Naaman Seeking the Healer wv.
5-9).
L. He goes with q letter Of intro
ductlOn and great gifts ". 81. In the
East valuable gifts are taken along
wheA In quest Of some favor. In this
case the value was perhaps $4,000.
2. He goes to the wrong place wv.
8, -. The maid did not suggest that
If NaamaR would be with the king he
would be recovered of his leprOsy, but
with the prophet of God. We should
be very careful that we 60 to the
right place with our troubles and sins.
Neither the kings power nor Naaman's
money could avail anything In this
case. The prophet of God can bring
greater blessing than kings and rich
men.
3. Naaman at the door Of Elisha
(vv. 8, %. Elisha, upon learning of
the kings embarrassment, sent to him,
saying. Let him come now to me-"
Naaman appeared before Elisha's door
In great spiendOr. He did not come
as a suPpiiant, but as one who could
pay a gOOdly sum for healing.
w. Naaman Healed wv. 1919.
EllSha's message ". 10Y. Go
wash In Jordan seven times.
2. Naaman's anger wv. IL, 12) He
thought that Elisha should have shown
Difference to him. People today think
that their rank and wealth entltIs
them to different treatment by God.
They turn away from the humble way
Of the Gross. Gods method Of saliva
tion, Rich and poor. high and lew
are alike La Gods sight. ReasOnings
of the flesh must be sUpplanted by the
obedience " faith
8. NaRman's obedience wv. 13, 14).
Through the earnest entreaty Of his
servants his pride and prejudice were
overcome, and he did what the prOph-
ct commanded. The result OF his ODE
dience was that his flesh came again
us the flesh of a little child"
4. Naaman acknowledges Jehovah
". 15). After his cleansing he came
again to the prophet and said, "Now
/ know that there is no God IN all the
earth, but in Israel" The vital point
of teaching In this lesson is how near
The three enemies which almost kept
him from being healed were; ~ Pride
". IL. He was nsuited because the
man of God did not come out to such
a distinguished man as he was (2)
PrecOnceiVed opinion ". ~. 81
thought" Many sinners procrastinate
because they have precODceived opin-
ions as TO how God ought to save (3l
Prejudice ". 12). Rivers OF Damas
Gus are better than Jordan. Count
less thousands are lost by these enc
mics. God has provided only one way
to save men frSm their sIns-the way
Of the Oross
The Dove and Jesus.
III