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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
October 1924
ELEMENTARY
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V. 1. Naaman,— The name is Hebrew as well as Syrian, and means “ pleasant,” “ beautiful.” The leprosy of sin tarnishes every worldly honor, blights the loveliest scene, dims the brightest prospects, moderates every joy, poisons
Mrs. 8. W. Barrett
Scripture: II Kings 5:1-19. Memory-Verses: I John 1:7; Isaiah.l:.18; Psa. 51:10. Have you had the measles? Did you break out with little red blotches? They were a sign that you had the disease of measles, weren’t they? Do you know Sin is a diseasè, and the wrong things we do and say are the little red blotches
every cup.— Sel. He, therefore, was probably general-in-chief of the armies of the confederacy that held back Shal- manezer for so many years. He was doubtless; the brains of the confederacy and it went to pieces when he lost
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARIES V. V. Morgan
power, at the death of Benhadad or earlier.'— W. J. Beecher. ,V. 2. Troops of Syrians entered the territory of Israel upon marauding expeditions to secure whatever plunder they were able.;—Pract. Com, Like Joseph in Egypt', and Daniel in Babylon, this captive girl becomes the instrument of making Jehovah known among the heathen.—Whedon. V. 3. God ever uses the weak things to confound the mighty (1 Cor. 1:26-29). Her seeming misfortune was, in reality, an opportunity for service, and has won for her enduring fame. She had a forgiving and loving heart; She could not heal her master, but she could point him to the one who could. God used many persons in the healing of the leper, just as He uses many in the salvation of the sinner; but the “ little maid” was the first link in the chain. She testified for her God. She did it while at her work. She couldn’t preach, but she could say a word to those with whom her work brought her in contact. Her faith was great. She had seen no leper healed (Luke 4:27), but she had no doubt of Jehovah’s healing power.—Torrey. V. 5. The money was probably weighed, and “ talents,” and “ pieces” or shekels, were standards of weight. A sil ver talent was worth $1,944, in all $19,440. A gold shekel was worth $9.75, in all $58,500.’’—Bible Treasury. The word “ raiment” means costly robes, suitable for festive occasions. The Oriental custom of iiicluding clothes among gifts of honor still continues. This very large present was quite in keeping with Naaman’s position, and was not too great for the object in view, namely his deliverance from a malady which would be certainly, even if slowly, fatal;— . Peloubet. V. 6. The Syrian king imagined that Jehoram would know of Course all about such a wonderful man as Elisha, and would keep him in his employ.— Sel. V. 7. Jehoram lived in perpetual terror of his powerful and encroaching neighbor. Nothing was said in the letter, about the Man of God, and it never occurred to him to seek his help. We learn from 2 Kings 3:13, 14 that King Jehoram was too close a follower of his mother Jezebel to . be on friendly terms with a prophet of the Lord. He seems to have almost insulted the prophet, who would hardly speak to him. The king had not been accustomed to con sult with the prophet as he should, and when his hour of trouble came, he did not know where to go; an experience often repeated by those who are not accustomed to pray and search the Scriptures.—Peloubet. “ He seeketh a quarrel against me.” This suspicion was natural. These parties were in the habit of picking quarrels one with another. By this they made fruitless all their gal lant fighting against Assyria.— S. S. Times. V. 11. The Gospel says, “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved;” and we are disgusted with the conditions. The answer to all our prejudices is,—-that it is .God’s appointed way. The conditions; are, believe and live: and the authority is, “ he that believeth shall be saved, and be. that: beiieveth not shall be damned.’?;, : Our pre judices may recoil, and We may turn away in wrath; but we turn our face from the sun only to see our shadow.— Study and Pulpit. V. 12. The Abana flowed pure as Crystal from the snowy Lebanon, through the very streets of the city, amidst wide gardens whose, fame was spread through all lands.— Geikie. The Pharpar has the clearest water possible, and singularly bright in color;, in the morning a full,' deep emerald green, in the evening a sapphire blue.— Peloubet. “ Is there not another way?” (A ). Sihners dislike the plan of the Gospel. 1. Self-abandonment. ; Salvation by faith. (B). They dislike its object. 1. Salvation from sin. 2. The renewal of the heart. (C). They dislike the means to be used. 1 Self-denial. 2. Humility.: 3. Earnestness. 4. Publicity.—Horn. Com.
disease, Sin, in us. The Lord Jesus came from Heaven, died on the cross and rose again that we might be healed of the disease of Sin. God says, “ The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” I John 1:7. Today our Bible story is: How a Little Girl Told Her Master That God Would Heal His Disease. Captain Naaman lived far away in the country of Syria, ruled by a king who taught his people to worship idols and the heathen god, Rimmon. He had a lovely wife, a beautiful home and plenty of money, but he was very unhappy because he had the dreadful disease, leprosy. His skin was covered with ugly, red sores that could that tell us we have that old
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not be healed. Prayers to heathen gods and to idols were of no use, and there was no medicine which would cure him. A little slave girl lived in Captain Naaman’s home, who loved her master and mistress and longed to help them. This little maid loved the true God for she had been brought up in the city of Samaria, where Elisha, the prophet of God, taught the people, and performed many wonderful miracles to show the power of God. One day the little girl, while she was helping her mistress, told her about God, then she said, “ Oh, that my master were with the prophet in Samarià, for he would .Cure him of his disease!” Captain Naaman and his wife could scarcely believe the little maid, but one day someone told the King of Syria what the little slave girl from Samaria had said. Now, the king loved Captain Naaman and he sent for him and said, “ Go to Samaria, and I will send a letter to the King of Israel telling him to heal you.” Captain Naaman and his servants made ready for the journey, taking bags of silver and gold and many* costly robes, as gifts for the one who would heal his disease. It was a long journey from the city of Damascus to the city of Samaria, about 75 miles, and they had to drive their horses, chariots and pack mules across the river Jordan, for there »were no bridges in those days. When at last they came to the city of Samaria they entered thé gates of the city and drove through the streets to the king’s palace. Captain Naaman sent a messenger with the letter from the King of Syria. The King of Israel feared the King of Syria for they had been enemies and he was amazed when he read the letter telling him that he must heal Captain Naaman of leprosy. The King of Israel did not know what to, do, .“ Am I .Gqd? How can I head a man of leprosy?” he shouted. But just then a message camé from Elisha, the prophet of God, which said, “ Let the man come now tc me and he shall know that there is à prophet in Israel.” - (Continued on page 675)
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