Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1911 — OLB TESTAMEXT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OLB TESTAMEXT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE

GENERAL NAAMAN’S LEPROSY CURED II Kings 5:1-14-—April 2 "Look unto me. and be ye eared, all the ends of the earth; for 1 am God, and there is none else."—lsaiah 45:22. General naaman, of the army of Syria on the northern border of the land of Israel, was a sick man. He had the loathsome infection and incurable disease called leprosy. Wealth, influence at Court, life's abundance and honors could not offset this terrible plague ui>on his life. The study of today tells of his miraculous healing by the Prophpt Elisha. In Naaman's household was a young girl who had been captured from the Israelites and was a slave.- although doubtless well treated. The .maid remembered the Prophet Elisha and how wonderfully Divine power, through him. bad healed diseases. Instead of rejoicing that her captor and master was suffering, she sympathetically inquired why he did not go to the Prophet, who. she felt sure, would br glad to pray for him and heal him. Although it seemed like catching at a straw, Naaman followed up the suggestion; be got a letter from his King

to the King of Israel and presented hi m self to the latter, re questing healing by Israel's great Prophet, of whom he had heard. The King was astonished. He knew leprosy to be incurable. Apparently h e knew little about Elisha's powers. He surmised that

the King of Sy. la was intent upon picking a quarrel as an excuse for sending an invading army to pillage his kingdom. Eventually, however, Naaman was directed to Elisha's place of residence, at a distance from the King’s Court. Leprosy a Figure of Sin In many respects leprosy corresponds to sin; firstly, it is incurable; secondly, it is loathsome; thirdly, it is contagious; fourthly, it is destructive; fifthly, it is painless. As only Divine power could heal the leper, only the same can heal the sinner. As the nfaid could call attention to the Prophet, and the Prophet prescribe the remedy, and the servants exhort compliance, so all those who know of a Divine power and arrangement for the healing of sinners may tell the good tidings, even to their enemies. The number seven in the Bible is used to represent completeness; hence the seven washings in Jordan would signify a complete cleansing, washing. It is by faith that we may now wash ourselves completely in the blood of Christ; by. faith we may realize that the sacrifice of Christ was for the sins of the whole world, and may appropriate our share thereof. Gehazi, the Grafter, a Leper

Gratitude is one of the most worthy sentiments of the human mind. General Naaman’s nobility was manifested in the fact that, after being healed, he retraced bis journey nearly forty miles, in order to thank the Prophet for his recovery and to bestow upon him gifts which he had brought. We may assume that if he had not been noble-minded. God would not have provided for him this healing. To the General’s surprise the Prophet declined to take anything. The gifts of God’s grace are not to be bartered for earthly good things. How fortunate it Would be, and how much to the Lord’s glory, if all of God’s people would emulate Elisha in this respect! But Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, had a different spirit When the char-

lot was out of sight he hastened and hailed it and told the General that although his master would take nothing of the things offered for himself, he would willingly accept some of the garments for the young me n of the School of

the Prophets. The General very promptly and gladly assented and gave more than was requested. But God through the Prophet punished the per-' fidy of Gehazi. He took Naaman’s presents. He got also Naaman’s leprosy. Many have erroneously assumed, in connection with this lesson, that Naaman was saved to heaven and Gehazi lost. Both conclusions are unscriptural. Naaman was saved to health end Gehazi lost his health. But the eternal interests of neither were settled. Not until Cornelius’ day, three and a half years after the Cross, did any Gentile come into any kind of relationship with God. Previous to that, from the time of Moses, only the Jewish nation had recognition. “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2.) And God’s favor to Israel was merely an earthly and preparatory one. No one gained eternal life prior to the Redeemer’s sacrifice. Thus the Scriptures declare that Christ “brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel”: again, “So <jeat salvation which be gan to be declared by our Lord.”

Naaman dipping seven times.

Cursing of Gehazi.