The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 67

go out into th~streel;s and lanes, into the highways and)1edges, and,'by the power of lrre- si8tible persuasion, oompel them to oome in. Don't trouble yourself by thinking of your own, fituees or unfit~ess. Are you willing to be of use in Christ's work? .Are you anxious t-0 be a blessmg to others? That is the great question. If eo, Jesus will do the re8t. He will make you a vessel unto honour, sanctified, meet for the Master's use. n•. THE SECRET OF THIS LITTLE MAID'S FAITHFULNESS AND USEFULNESS WAS HER sTnoNG AND SIMPLE FAITH. She could be faithful to Goel, because she believed in Go1l. She believed that God would take care of her when she was faithfully serving him. She could be useful to others because, though she was a captive and had no meaus to help thbm, she knew of One who had. She had faith in God, She knew thllt God wa_s with Elisha, and therefore she had no doubt about Elisha's success. Yee; it is faith we want, it we are to be usefol. We say we believe a great many things. But how do we believe them ? Where is our faith in God's promises shown in our patience under difficulties and trials and discouragements? Where is our faith in God's pro- mises shown by our liberality to his cause? Where is our faith in God's promises shown by our work done for Christ? If our faith in God is real, it will show itself in every detail of our daily life; it will overflow in acts of usefulness and love.-C. H. I. Vers. 4-19.-Naaman the Syrian. Thie case of Naaman is an illustration of the imperfection that there is in all things human. Naaman was commander-in-chief of the Syrian army. Not only so, but he had seen service. He had won his spurs in active warfare. He had led his troops to victory. "By him the Lord had given deliver- ance to Syria." Hence, as we read, "he was a great man with his master, and honour- able." No doubt he had been greeted on his return from battle, as victorious generala were greeted then and are greeted still, with the triumphant shouts of a joyful and exultant multitude. His cup of happiness was almost full. But there was one element of trouble that mingled with his joy. "But he was a leper." That little word" but," how significant it is l We should all be happy, but for something. Our plans would all be successful, but for something. We should all be very good, but for some incon- Bistency, some failing, some besetting sin. Here is a very good man, but he has such a bad temper. There is a very kind woman, but she has such a bitter tongue. Here is a very good man, but he is so stingy and so selfish. Here is a man who would be very useful in the Church of Christ, but he is so worldly minded. Here is a good preacher, but he doesn't just practise what he preaches. These little "buts" have their uses. They keep us, or they ought to keep us, humble. We ought not to be very proud of ourselves, we ought not to be very hard on others, when we think of that ugly sin of our own. But most of all, these " buts" onght to be the means of driving UB, as Naaman's leprosy was the means of driving him, nearer to God, That almighty hand can aloue weed the evil forces out of our nature, and bring us into conformity to his own heavenly likeness. I. N AAMAN's PRIDE. Kings sometimes, like other people, do stupid things. The Hebrew maid had spoken of the prophet that was in Israel, as being able to cure her master of his leprosy. But the King of Syria sends a letter to the King of Israel, saying, "I have sent Naaman my servant unto thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy." The King of Syria may have meant nothing more than this, that the King of Israel might bring about Naaman's recovery by sending him to the prophet; but the King of Israel took the words as an attempt to pick a quarrel with him, and rent his clothes in anger and passion. Very often great and destructive wars have arisen from much more triflina causes-from the folly or incapacity, the rashness or stubborn- ness, the pride or the passion, of rulers. How thankful we should be for a wise and prudent sovereign, when we think how much harm a foolish sovereign can do I After Elisha heard of the King of Israel's absurd and childish display of anger and dismay, he sent to him saying, " Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." So N aaman came. wit~ all the pomp and grandeur of a great Oriental general, and stood at the door of Elisha r house. Elisha is not overawed by this display of magnificence. He does not hasten forth u.nd make a humble obeisance to the man of rank. He knew what respect wa~ dne to authority and station; but just then he had to do with Na,a;m,a;n, the~•. wi~h Naamo,n the leper, and not with N aaman the general. As the servant of God, it 1s his Oll. V, l-2i,j 'l'HE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 105