April 1924
T H É K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
228
finest food from the king’s table. Erwin was not here last Sunday, and I know he does not want to miss hearing about these fine young men. That is fine Paul, and here we have heard how boys can help by standing true to God in a strange land. Today we have a beautiful story of how a little girl helped, by telling about the true God of Israel. This little girl like Daniel and his friends had been carried away from her own land and people Israel, by the king of Syria; she lived in the same country where Elisha lived, and had heard her people speak of the prophet, and the wonderful things he had done for God. In the army of the king of Syria was a captain named Naaman, and the king was very much pleased with captain Naaman, because he was such a brave soldier. It was captain Naaman who had brought the little maid away from the people of Israel. Captain gave this little girl to his wife to wait on her. Naa- man’s wife must have been kind to the little girl, and so the little girl tried to be as helpful as she could. She no doubt enjoyed seeing the beautiful jewels her mistress wore. Also she liked to see captain Naaman in his splendid uniform. Although Naaman had a beautiful home and lovely wife, and was honored by the king, yet there was one thing that made him very unhappy, and his wife very sad, he was a leper. When the little maid knew captain Naaman was a leper, she told her mistress about the pro phet Elisha, and how she felt he could help captain Naaman. When the word of the little girl came to the king of Syria, he wrote a letter and sent captain Naaman with horses and chariots and servants and soldiers to the king of Israel, but the king of Israel did not understand the letter, for he said he was not God that could heal, but Elisha heard about Naaman, and asked the king to send Naaman to him. As captain Naaman and his fine procession stood by Elisha’s door, the prophet sent a message to Naaman, who told him to go and wash in the Jordan river seven times and he would be cured of his leprosy. (Describe in detail the rest of this fascinating narrative, Naaman’s disappointment, re fusing to obey the prophet’s order, and final obedience. Picture one time dipping in water, no cure; two times, no cure, and on through 6th time, and 7th cured). Again the fine chariots and horses are in front of Elisha’s door. This time Naaman saw the prophet and said, “Now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel.” He offered Elisha fine presents, but Elisha refused them all. He wanted Naaman to know it was God who had healed him. (Picture happy home coming of Naaman and teach memory verse.) ate ate A USER OF TRACTS Rev. Washington Frothingham of Fonda, N. Y. known in our literary world as “The Hermit of New York” died re cently at the age of 92 years. For a half century he was a regular contributor to the New York Herald, Tribune, Times, Post and Harper’s Monthly. Mr. Frothingham was obliged to make long journeys weekly on the New York Central railroad, and it occurred to him that he might do good by distributing tracts among his fellow.passengers- He began the work and continued it with great blessing to many souls. The tracts opened the way for personal con versation on the claims of the Gospel and scores were converted and many believers strengthened in the things of the Kingdom. In his later years he regarded his tract work as the most profitable of his ministry although he was a regular pastor for nearly sixty years. Oh, that more of the Master’s followers would see their opportunity to scat ter the truth. Those with no gift of song or speech, can find here their open door for service; they need be’ no longer idlers in the vineyard. Here is a work for all.
they did not allow themselves, by His long-suffering,1to be brought to repentance. Is it any better now-a-days?— Lange. Would that men, when they read such passages, would stop and think, and would enter upon a comparison be tween the peoples of God at that time and of this, and would thus make application of the lesson of history. The people of Israel were hardly as wicked as the Christians of today. The responsibility of today is far greater, for they were called to righteousness under the old law, we under the Gospel of free grace.— Lange. Jfe God hates sin. God is the eternal enemy of sin. God punishes sin. This is the preeminent message of this lesson, and should be sounded forth in no uncertain terms, for the message is needed in this day. But let it be done with the injunction of Eph. 4:15 in mind, COMMENT “Speaking the truth in love.” DEVOTIONAL God was very patient and longsuffer- John A. Hubbard ing with the northern kingdom, Israel. Its history extended over more than two hundred years, during which time she had nineteen kings, every one of whom was evil, leading Israel on from bad to worse. “They rejected his statutes; they left all the com mandments of the Lord their God, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger’’ (2 Ks. 17:15-17). “Yet the Lord testified against Israel by all the prophets, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks” (2 Ks. 17:13, 14). Then judgment fell. Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians. God’s attitude toward sin has not changed. He is its eternal enemy. His judgment must and will fall. It has been so long delayed that some imagine it will never come. But listen! “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord Will come as a thief in the night; in thé which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:9, 10). Israel’s day of grace came to an end. So will that of those who in this age persist in sin. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” (Ezek. 33:11 ). “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:15). How A Little Girl Helped A Great Soldier. 2 Kings 5:1-19. Memory Verse.— “Be ye kind one to another.” Eph. 4:32. Approach.— Do you know something happened in a class I was teaching that made me feel very sorry. One of the little boys who had been very regular in attendance was absent, and after class I called at his home to see if he was sick. What do you think he told me? ELEMENTARY He said one of the boys who is several Mabel L. Merrill years older than he, struck him and spoke roughly to him, and he was afraid to come to class again. Now you know older boys and girls should protect the younger ones and treat them kindly. Of course I went to the older boy and talked with him and showed him how wrong it was for him to do as he had done, and he promised he would not do so again, and I am so glad he has kept his promise, and both boys are coming now. Prayer. Lesson Story.S-Paul I want you to tell us about four young men who were educated by a king, and given the
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