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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
November 1924
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The Whole Bible Sunday School Lesson Course EXPOSITION and PERTINENT QUESTIONS COMMENTS FROM THE COMMENTARIES ELEMENTARY - ■ M B B l Recommended by World’s Fundamental Association: T. C. Horton - V. V. Morgan Mrs. S. W. Barrett
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NOVEMBER 9, 1924 (Lesson 58) FURTHER MINISTRY OF ELISHA 2 Kings, Chapters 6-8
Satan’s devices are known to, God and revealed to faith. Jesus understood the conflict with Satan. The Word of God warns us (Psa. ,19 :11) , “ By them is thy servant warned; and' in keeping of them there is great reward.” The question asked by unbelief is (Psa. 73:11) “ How doth God know? and Is there knowledge in the most H igh?” The answer is found in Heb. 4:13: “ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight; for all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” We have been saved from Satan’s snares hundreds of times by the power of God through, perhaps, the prayers of others. The devil got Gehazi to the camping ground of covetous ness and slew him there. He drew Samson to the camp of lust and captured him there. The Word of God says: •“ Beware that thou pass not such a place, for thither the devil comes down.” (2) FACING DANGER, vs. 13-17. ‘ “ Alas * * * how shall we do?” v. 15. The king of Syria seeks to capture Elisha. He hears that he is at Dothan, sends an army and surrounds the city by night. Why should he send so many soldiers to capture one man? How did he think he could trap a man who saved Israel from being trapped? The devil sometimes outwits himself. The cry of the servant was:®Alas, my master, how shall we do?” What should it have been? (2 Chron. 14:11.) The unwavering answer of faith is “ Fear not.” . Faith knows no fear. Faith sees the unseen and can say (Rom. 8:31), “ If God be for us, who can be against us?” Elisha was certain he Was God’s man and this made him bold (Isa. 41:10-14) “Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed for I am thy God; 1 will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Faith is calm in facing danger. Nothing so insures quiet ness and assurance as prayer. To speak of God reminds the weak ones that God still lives. Ben-hadad’s trust was in chariots and horses (Psa. 20:7),. Elisha trusted in the Lord (Psa. 11:1). Elisha made a short, simple prayer: “ Lord, open his eyes.” He had a qonscious vision of the hosts of heaven. They were realities to him. He did not live a vague, dreary life. The true follower of Christ is sure of His presence. He knows the Spirit of God is within and the mighty hosts of God are all around. Jesus said, “ Thinkest thou that x cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53.) The young man’s eyes were opened, he saw and was satis fied. He saw the danger, but he saw also the defence. The natural eye is blind to spiritual things. The god of this world has blinded many Christians. Prayer is the availing power for closed eyes (Psa. 34:7). Let us be much in prayer that God may reveal the unseen things to those who sit in darkness.
Golden Text: “ The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:7. Outline (1) Foreseeing Danger, 6 : 8-12. ; (2) Facing Danger, 6:13-17. (3) Frustrating Danger, 6:18-23. (4) Famine and Food, 6:24-7:20. Introduction Time: About 893 B. C. Place: Dothan, near Shechem, at the southern edge of the plain of Esdraelon. Characters: Jehoram, king of Israel; Jehoshaphat, fourth King of Judah; Ben-hadad, king of Syria. Syria was subject to Israel under David and Solomon, but became independent after the division of the kingdom. It was a powerful kingdom. Constant war- LESSON fare was waged between Israel and Syria. EXPOSITION Naaman’s influence— whatever it was— did T. C. Horton not seem to be sufficient to stay the for aging parties. (1) FORESEEING DANGER, vs. 8-12. “ Beware that thou pass not such a place.” v. 9. Jehoram was not a righteous king, but he was the king, and Israel was the home of Elisha, and when the king of Syria, planned an ambuscade for the king of Israel, Elisha warned him. This happened several times. “ Forewarned is forearmed” and so Jehoram’s men occupied every place ( 6 : 1 0 ). The king of Syria is greatly perplexed. Is there an enemy in the camp? No-—a servant tells him— it is the man of God who knows the words that the king speaks in his bed chamber. The king believes this statement and yet seeks to capture Elisha. Foolish king! He might have known that if Elisha knew when Jehoram was in danger he would surely know when he, himself, was. The man who walks with God knows something of future events. Things hid from the wise and, prudent are revealed to him (Gen. 18:17) “And the X,ord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” God gave Abraham a chance to plead for his friends. The man of God knows the enemy and knows how to outwit him. You cannot outwit God.-; Pharaoh tried it and failed. Herod tried it and failed. The persecutors of the early church tried it and failed. The devil’s agents have tried it and failed. Satan seeks to entrap the saints, but the Word of God gives warning (Luke 21:34,35) “For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” (Mark 13:33; 2 Cor. 2:11).
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