prophets and kings-第39节
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Syrian； in not receiving at his hands that which he brought： but 。 。 。 I will run after him； and
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take somewhat of him。〃 And thus it came about that in secrecy 〃Gehazi followed after Naaman。〃
When Naaman saw him running after him； he lighted down from the chariot to meet him； and said； Is all well？ And he said； All is well。〃 Then Gehazi uttered a deliberate lie。 〃My master；〃 he said； 〃hath sent me； saying； Behold； even now there be come to me from Mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets： give them； I pray thee； a talent of silver； and two changes of garments。〃 To the request Naaman gladly acceded； pressing upon Gehazi two talents of silver instead of one； 〃with two changes of garments；〃 and commissioning servants to bear the treasure back。
As Gehazi neared Elisha's home； he dismissed the servants and placed the silver and the garments in hiding。 This accomplished； 〃he went in； and stood before his master；〃 and； to shield himself from censure； he uttered a second lie。 In response to the inquiry of the prophet； 〃Whence comest thou？〃 Gehazi answered； 〃Thy servant went no whither。〃
Then came the stern denunciation； showing that Elisha knew all。 〃Went not mine heart with thee；〃 he asked； 〃when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee？ Is it a time to receive money； and to receive garments； and olive yards； and vineyards； and sheep； and oxen； and menservants； and maidservants？ The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee； and unto thy seed forever。〃 Swift was the retribution that overtook the guilty man。 He went out from Elisha's presence 〃a leper as white as snow。〃
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Solemn are the lessons taught by this experience of one to whom had been given high and holy privileges。 The course of Gehazi was such as to place a stumbling block in the pathway of Naaman； upon whose mind had broken a wonderful light； and who was favorably disposed toward the service of the living God。 For the deception practiced by Gehazi there could be pleaded no excuse。 To the day of his death he remained a leper； cursed of God and shunned by his fellow men。
〃A false witness shall not be unpunished； and he that speaketh lies shall not escape。〃 Proverbs 19：5。 Men may think to hide their evil deeds from human eyes； but they cannot deceive God。 〃All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do。〃 Heb。 4：13。 Gehazi thought to deceive Elisha； but God revealed to His prophet the words that Gehazi had spoken to Naaman； and every detail of the scene between the two men。
Truth is of God； deception in all its myriad forms is of Satan； and whoever in any way departs from the straight line of truth is betraying himself into the power of the wicked one。 Those who have learned of Christ will 〃have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness。〃 Ephesians 5：11。 In speech； as in life； they will be simple； straightforward； and true； for they are preparing for the fellowship of those holy ones in whose mouth is found no guile。 See Revelation 14：5。
Centuries after Naaman returned to his Syrian home； healed in body and converted in spirit； his wonderful faith was referred to and commended by the Saviour as an object
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lesson for all who claim to serve God。 〃Many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet；〃 the Saviour declared； 〃and none of them was cleansed； saving Naaman the Syrian。〃 Luke 4：27。 God passed over the many lepers in Israel because their unbelief closed the door of good to them。 A heathen nobleman who had been true to his convictions of right； and who felt his need of help； was in the sight of God more worthy of His blessing than were the afflicted in Israel； who had slighted and despised their God…given privileges。 God works for those who appreciate His favors and respond to the light given them from heaven。
Today in every land there are those who are honest in heart； and upon these the light of heaven is shining。 If they continue faithful in following that which they understand to be duty； they will be given increased light； until； like Naaman of old； they will be constrained to acknowledge that 〃there is no God in all the earth；〃 save the living God； the Creator。
To every sincere soul 〃that walketh in darkness； and hath no light；〃 is given the invitation； 〃Let him trust in the name of the Lord； and stay upon his God。〃 〃For since the beginning of the world men have not heard； nor perceived by the ear； neither hath the eye seen； O God； beside Thee； what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him。 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness； those that remember Thee in Thy ways。〃 Isaiah 50：10； 64：4； 5。
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Chapter 21
Elisha's Closing Ministry
Called to the prophetic office while Ahab was still reigning； Elisha had lived to see many changes take place in the kingdom of Israel。 Judgment upon judgment had befallen the Israelites during the reign of Hazael the Syrian； who had been anointed to be the scourge of the apostate nation。 The stern measures of reform instituted by Jehu had resulted in the slaying of all the house of Ahab。 In continued wars with the Syrians； Jehoahaz； Jehu's successor； had lost some of the cities lying east of the Jordan。 For a time it had seemed as if the Syrians might gain control of the entire kingdom。 But the reformation begun by Elijah and carried forward by Elisha had led many to inquire after God。 The altars of Baal were being forsaken； and slowly yet surely God's purpose was being fulfilled in the lives of those who chose to serve Him with all the heart。
It was because of His love for erring Israel that God permitted the Syrians to scourge them。 It was because of
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His compassion for those whose moral power was weak that He raised up Jehu to slay wicked Jezebel and all the house of Ahab。 Once more； through a merciful providence； the priests of Baal and of Ashtoreth were set aside and their heathen altars thrown down。 God in His wisdom foresaw that if temptation were removed； some would forsake heathenism and turn their faces heavenward； and this is why He permitted calamity after calamity to befall them。 His judgments were tempered with mercy； and when His purpose was accomplished； He turned the tide in favor of those who had learned to inquire after Him。
While influences for good and for evil were striving for the ascendancy； and Satan was doing all in his power to complete the ruin he had wrought during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel； Elisha continued to bear his testimony。 He met with opposition； yet none could gainsay his words。 Throughout the kingdom he was honored and venerated。 Many came to him for counsel。 While Jezebel was still living； Joram； the king of Israel； sought his advice； and once； when in Damascus； he was visited by messengers from Benhadad； king of Syria； who desired to learn whether a sickness then upon him would result in death。 To all the prophet bore faithful witness in a time when； on every hand； truth was being perverted and the great majority of the people were in open rebellion against Heaven。
And God never forsook His chosen messenger。 On one occasion； during a Syrian invasion； the king of Syria sought to destroy Elisha because of his activity in apprising the king of Israel of the plans of the enemy。 The Syrian king
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had taken counsel with his servants； saying； 〃In such and such a place shall be my camp。〃 This plan was revealed by the Lord to Elisha； who 〃sent unto the king of Israel； saying； Beware that thou pass not such a place； for thither the Syrians are come down。 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of； and saved himself there； not once nor twice。
〃Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing； and he called his servants； and said unto them； Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel？ And one of his servants said； None； my lord； O king： but Elisha； the prophet that is in Israel； telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber。〃
Determined to make away with the prophet； the Syrian king commanded； 〃Go and spy where he is； that I may send and fetch him。〃 The prophet was in Dothan； and； learning this； the king sent thither 〃horses； and chariots； and a great host： and they came by night； and compassed the city about。 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early； and gone forth； behold； an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots。〃
In terror Elisha's servant sought him with the tidings。 〃Alas； my master！〃 he said； 〃how shall we do？〃
〃Fear not；〃 was the answer of the prophet； 〃for they that be with us are more than they that be with them。〃 And then； that the servant might know this for himself； 〃Elisha prayed； and said； Lord； I pray Thee； open his eyes； that he may see。〃 〃The Lord opened the eyes of the young
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man； and he saw： and； be
