The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-02-16
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 10
ELISHA AND NAAMAN THE
SYRIAN

SYRIAN
LESSON TEXT--II Kings 5:l-27.
GOLDEN TEXT-Bless the Lord, o my
soul. and forget not all his benefits: Who
forgiveth all thine niquities: who healeth
all thy diseascs.-Ps. 1882, 3.
REFERENCE MATERIAI.-Luke 4:16-
30; 5:l2-16
PRIMARY ToPIC-A Little Girl Help
Ing.
JUNIOR ToPIc-A Young Girls serv-
Ice.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Elisha Helping a Foreigner.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
How to Overcome National and Racial
Prctudices.
|. Naaman's Fatal Defect ". ~.
lie was great man, but leper.
He was held IN high esteem by the
king, because through him the SySi-
ans had been delivered from their enc
mics. He was not only a capable
general, but was very brave man
valorous. Every unregenerate man,
regardless Of his gifts and possessions,
has this one fatal defect. He may be
mighty warrior, great orator, a
gifted writer, a man of profound learn
Ing, an honorable statesman, but ii ie
is an unbeliever In Christ, he Is a lost
sinner-a leper Leprosy is type Of
sin. Note Its characteristics
Loathsome, hereditary, infectious,
separating. destructive, deceitful, in.
curable by man.
u. The Faithful Witness wv. 2-4).
This was Jewish maid who had
been captured by marnuding- Syrian
troops who made frequent incursions
into 1srael's land for the purpose of
plumber. Daniel at later date was
carried away captive, and he likewise
wns used Of God to bless many. Jo-
seph is another example Of one who
was put into Il hard place, but became
Il 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.
5-3).
l. He goes with letter of intro
duction and great gifts ". 81. In the
East valuable gifts are taken along
when in quest Of some favor. In this
case the value was perhaps $4,000.
2. He goes to the wrong place wv.
6, .. The maid did not suggest that
If Naaman 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. 90 to the
right place with our troubles and sins.
Neither the kings power nor Naaman'a
money could avail anything in this
case The prophet Of God can bring
greater blessing than kings and rich
men. ,,.HS ,l.f.t.
3. Naaman at the door Of Elisha
(vv. 8, 9) Elisha, upon learning Of
the kings embarrassment sent to him,
saying, "Let him come now to me-"
Naaman appeared before Ellsha's door
in great splendor. He did not come
as a suppliant, hut as one who could
pay a goolly sum for healing. a
Nv. Naan1an Healed wv. 1O-15). +.
l. Elisha's message ". 1O). Go
wash in Jordan seven tines
2. Naaman's anger (yy. H.; 12). He,
thought. that Elisha should have shown
Difference to him. People today think
that their rank and wealth entitle
them to different treatment by God.
They turn away from the humble way
Of the Cross, Gods method.,of SALIVA
lion Rich and poor, high and lew
are alike in Gods sight. Reasonings
of the flesh must be supplanted by the
obedience Of fnith.
3. Nnamap's obedience wv. 13, ny.
Through the earnest cntreaty of his
servants his pride and prejudice were
overcome, and he did what the proph.
ct commanded. The result of his obe-
dience was that his flesh 'came again
as the flesh OF a little child"
4. Naaman acknowledges Jehovah
". l5). After his cleansing he came
again to the prophet and said, "Now
| know that there Is no God in all the
earth, but Ia Israel" The vital point
Of teaching In this lesson Is how near.
~ Naamnn missed being healed.
The three enemies which almost kent
him from being healed were: (1) Pride
". 1D. He was insultcd because the
man of God did not come out to such
distinguished man rs he was. (2)
Prec0nceived opinion ". 11). II
thought" Many sinners procrastinate
because they have preconceived opin.
ions as to how God ought to save. (3)
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