The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1922-02-09
lesson FOR FEBRUARY II
ELISHA AND THE SHUNAMMITE
WOMAN
LESSON TENTH KINGS 4:s-37

M LESSON TEXT-II Kings 1887.
GOLDEN TEXT-Veriiy, verify, / say
nnto you, the hour is coming, and now is,
when the dead shall hear the voice of the
Son of God; and they that hear shah
live.-John SIS.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-John II.
1-4e
u PRIMARY TOPIC - Elisha Brings a
"a Boy to Life.
y JUNIOR TOPIG-How Elisha Brought
S a Boy to Life.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
elisha Helping in a Home.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Our Ministry of Comfort and Help.
1. The shunammite's Hospitality to
Elisha wv. SID.
l. Its occasion ". s.. A wealthy
woman of Shunem, OBSERVE AT
Elisha passed continually by he. Use
in his journeys, was moved with com
passion toward him. She determined
according to her ability to supply his
needs.
2. Its nature wv. SID. "She
constrained him to eat bread" (vv s.
-. AS a result of her earnest en-
treaty, as often as he passed by her
house he turned in to eat bread she
received prophet in the name of
prophet.
u. Elisha EndesVors to Repay Her
Kindness wv. 1910.
l. He offers to ask a favor from the
king or head of the army ". 49,. This
offer implies that Elisha had influence
at 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. Her
answer also shows that her motive
in extending generosity to the prophet
was entirely unselfSh, purely because
he was Gods propher.
2. Elisha announces the giving of
a son to her wv. 16, 10. Through
inquiry of Gehazi it was discovered
that this woman was Childless. so
the prophet made known to her that
in about a year from that time she
should experience the JOY of a mother
III. The Coming of Sorrow to the
Shunammite's Home wv. 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.
plained 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 TIE man of
God. Faith prompted her to do this.
She did not make preparation for
burial, but for restoration TO life
(Heb. IL :35).
w. The Mother Goes to Elisha
(Vv. 22-2S).
When one is in trouble or sorrow
ihe best place to go is 10 the man at
God who is able to give counsel and
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.
l. She took hold of Eiisha's feet
". 30. This was the eastern way OF
enforcing a petition. She passed by
GehaZi She would not be content u =
the servant when the master coula K
reached.
.. She chided the prophet ". 2S).
ibid desire a SUn?' This implies
that 1t would have been better not to
have had q child than to have lost |
him so soon.
v. The Child Restored wv. 29-37). |
l. Gehazis fruitless errand wv. % |
81. He hurried away and placed the |
prophets staHf upon the child's face, |!
but it did not revive. Perhaps the
fault lay in Gehazi-his lack of faith. |
The woman seemed to perceive his !
lack she would not trust him. She |
would not go until Elisha was will !
Ing to 20 along This fruitleSs errand |
of Gehazi shows the worthlessness OF
the forms Of religion when used by |
those who have no faith in them.
y. Elsha's efficient service wv. 81 |
S7). He went to the house where |
the dead child was. % He prayed
". 33). He knew that no one but God |
could help, 50 he closed the door,
shutting all others out. Our service |
to men should be preceded by prayer. |
o. He stretched himself upon the /
child ". By. He brought his warm
body into touch with the cold body !
OF the child. God blesses and saves
through the warm touch of those who !
are In touch with Him. After we pray
We should get into actual touch with ;
those dead in trespasSes and sin. Gods
method Of saving the world Is through
tie ministry Of saved men and
women.