Evening star., 1922-03-25
Sunday School Lesson

menced his ministry, but he had to
famine, when God sustained him at
the Brook Cherith and then in the
nome of the widow of Zarepath. lie
had tested Gods Willingness to an
swer his petitions by seeking the res
toration of the life of the widows SON
a1ter there was no breath left in his
body He witnessed Gods answer
by hre, which proved to the multi
tude at Carmel that Jehovah was God
put when beneath the juniper tree
the weary. worn-out prophet cried
.nat @ ne might die. there came a far
aiHerent reply. Elijah thought that
ne had failed. He had seen the won
uerlui revival of religion checked by
tne attitude of the court that was
controlled by Jezebel, who hated Je-
nova and His servants. He counted
.nat ne mad failed. But when at Ho-
rep Jehovah taught Elijah the bless
inss OF adversely, revealing to him
the great work would take time ana
dlHerent method. then Elijah be-
came again the man of the hour, fear
iess even when he faced death. lie
took up his work, called Elisha to he
mis- successor, trained him and 9th
ers 10 assist in seeking to help save
lsraei. When his end came Cod
called Elijah home SO that he did NOT
taste death. 0'
Elisha left the plow. when called of
Elijah to follow the great nronbe,
yet he lived in intimate relafionshi,,
with the King and the national lead
ers. HIS headquarters were at the ma
lion's capital. He demonstrated his
power as a statesman, soldier and
servant OF God. He went about among
the people doing good revealing as
IN the case of the restoration of tn.
Shunammite'S son. the power of ,I.
hoVah. He guided the king and gen,
erals In making defenses, trying 10
innuence them SO that they coula
d;s save ne benefit of Gods favorable
disposition toward Israel. In his
treatment of Naaman, the brilliant
syrian general, whose strategic abil-
ity had won him Syria's hiehos,
honors, but who was a leper, Elisha
showed dignity and poise. His abiI-
compensated for in gold when by
Indifference to it he could influence
Naaman along right lines His sery-
ant did not understand the prophets
desire to glorify Jehovah among thu
neathen, so sought by lying a por-
ht tion aor himself. which brought upon
MIN as punishment the very affiic-
tlon of leprosy that Naaman had beer
cured of by obeying the pronbet.s
directions. Elisha sought to unite
the two nations by his Kindness Ia
Naaman.
Elisha showed not only his conf
dence in God when the King of SYRIA
surrounded Dothan SO that he might
capture Elisha. whose warnings had
pointed out his plan of attack ,Ipon
israel. but craftsmanship in the man
ner In WHICH he acted toward his
enemies, when he captured them
through Gods aid His generors
treatment of them brought an end
forever of the warfare between the
Two nations, that suggests that the
way to end strife between nations is
through a broad-minded sympathy
ana q spirit of generosity in the hour
OF one another's peril. The nation
that is always seeking to get the
advantage of another will reap what
II sows. Jonah had not learned that
sickness. sin and salvation have no
racial barriers when he was ordered
70 preach Gods message of danger to
Nineveh, heather city. When they
repented Jehovah showed mercey. as
he Will to every sinner who repents
and seeks forgiveness from Him in
the name of the Lord Jesus.
israel refused to listen to the
prophets whom God in His mercy sent
TO them. Their prosperity iroved 10
Possess the seeds Of their destruc-
ton. Amos pointed out II air social
vices. that can be seen today n MANY
OF our modern cities. They reveal
that in spite of our boasted material
y. oS VIC, lOO, ike lSr2el or an
cient days, may have sacrificed our
moral purity for material power We
are called upon to fight against the
same national social sins of intem-
perance, iniquity and idleness which
the champions of Jehovah fought to
save lrael If We are to survive then
We must possess the righteousness
that eXalteth the nation and stamp
out the sin that is reproach to any
nation.
The prophets opposed the entangling
alliances with foreign nations be.
cause of their communicating relici-
Gus influence upon the life of Israel.
The licentious. cruel, debasing and
demoralizing influences of heather
religions and practices we have seen
In our quarters study of the history
OF Israel The principles of the ma
tlon'S success, that the prophets
pointed out in their patriotic effort
to Save Israel have not changed, al
though the application of them to
the changed conditions has changed.
The nation that will not serve God
Is doomed to perish. The everything
God. whose consuming fire and quick
ening power over death We have
studied. is today righteous in all
his ways, and gracious in all his
works." SO that We can determine
our course as individuals and a ma
tion with absolute certainty of the
outcome. If We have sinned and con-
tinue therein we will be destroyed.
like Israel. If we repent and seek
to do His will we can enjoy His
with love, liberty and labor, that will
end in triumph over the powers OF
death. America is no exception. We
must serve God or perish.