The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-08-02
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
ELISHA HELPS, THE NEEDY

he FooQ. from baal-SnallSIa,
a place mentioned only here but
probably a part of or adjoining
Mount Ephraim came a devout
worshiper with his offering Of
first fruits. If Elisha was living
in sanctuary such as GilgaI the
first fruits would be presented
there legally EXODUS 29:9).
Otherwise the worshiper would |
carry out the spirit of the law
presenting his gifts to the prophet
rather than to the priest (Deuter-
onomy 1874, 81. At any rate the
gift consisted of 20 barley loaves
and sack of fresh grain wheat,
barley, spelt and millet being To-
cally grown. Barley flour was
cheaper than wheat flour and was
used also by the lad who had the
five loaves which he gave to
Jesus. (3) The Forecast. Con-
fronted with hungry men the
prophet told his servant to give
unto the people that they may
eat. The command was met by
a question raising doubt as to
whether the supply was adequate
just as the disciples raised SINH
lar doubt John 6:9). But the
prophet reiterated his command
and added a word from Jehovah:
"They shall eat and leave there
Of" (4) The Faith. The prophet
had faith in God. The servant
had faith in the prophet. Both |
had faith in the task assigned
them. And then as now faith is
the victory. (5) The Feast. The
obedient servant set the 20 bar
ley cakes and the limited amount |
of fresh grain before the hungry |
crowd. Each helped himself and
all were amply nourished. After
they had finished there was an
abundance left. The word of the
Lord came true. In fact the
prophet did not perform the
miracle, but simply predicted the
plenty that was available. And |
the word of the prophet came
true because it was the word of !
God.
HELP THE NEEDY
(1) Help the Widow in Her
Affliction. "My husband is dead
the creditor is come" The
husband was a good and true
servant of the Lord, He must
have been worthy of his wife |
and devoted to his children. He
gave them substantial if not ele-
giant support. Without his strong
hand about them they were in
destitute circumstances. The cold
blooded creditor was insisting up
on his paw. The sons were about
to be sold into slavery. If any
body ever needed help they did.
And there are many such cases
in the world today.
~ Help the Fatherless III
Their Distress. "My two children
to be bondmen." Theirs was a
goodly heritage. Prophets blood
ran in their veins. They were
capable of becoming good citi-
zens. Perhaps they might lead
their people in the path of ri ht.
eousness as their father had
done. But the tide was against
them. They could not survive
and be strong without sympatheic
help. The cry of the orphan is
still heard in the land. Who can
withhold the hand IF heinz
90 Help the Hungry in Their
Want. "Give unto the people,
that they may eat" To starve
to DEATHS it not terrible? To
starve to death in lands of plenty
lis appalling. To be starved in
to inefficiency and incapacity is
also deplorable. Let the world be
wholesomely fed. Let no child
cry in vain for bread. Let no
hardworking man faint for want
of proper nutrition.
az Help the Poor to indie
pendence. "Pay thy debt" The
debt seems to have been honest.
1t was recognized as a debt. 1t
must be paid. 1t is better for
the debtor to pay it than for an
outside philanthropist to meet the
obligation. The better beneficence
instead of pauperizing the poor
helps them to independence.
(5) Help in Honor of God.
"Thus saith Jehovah" 1t is the
will of God that we help the
needy. We violate his word when
we withhold from them the hand
of help. Let him therefore have
honor for all the good that we
| do. Actually he originates in
spires, and effectualizes all true
philanthropy. See that he gets
the glory.