The Little Gleaner Part 47

STAND BACK.

A gentleman spending his holidays in Scotland was fis.h.i.+ng for trout. He had fis.h.i.+ng-tackle and appliances of the best description. He threw out his bait all the morning, but caught nothing. Towards afternoon he espied a little ragged urchin, with tackle of the most primitive order, nipping the fish out of the water with marvellous rapidity. Amazed, he watched the lad for a while, and then went and asked him if he could explain the reason why he was so successful, in spite of his meagre outfit, while the expensive apparatus could catch nothing. The boy promptly replied, "The fish will no bite, sir, as lang as ye dinna _keep yersel' oot of sight_."

Well has it been said that "fishers of men need not wonder at their want of success, if they do not keep themselves out of sight,' and uplift the brazen serpent on the Gospel pole, while studiously keeping themselves hidden behind the pole."

HIS t.i.tLE DEEDS.

The deacon of a Church lay dying. He had been a successful merchant, and he was about leaving this world to give an account of his stewards.h.i.+p.

When he was near his end, he asked his wife to bring him his t.i.tle-deeds. The lady went to his private drawer, and drew out some musty papers relating to his property, which she took to him. As soon as he saw them, he said--

"No, no; that is not what I mean. Bring me the New Testament."

It was brought, and he had it opened at Romans viii. 33--"Who shall lay anything to the charge of G.o.d's elect?"

He shortly after closed his eyes in death, his finger continuing to rest on the verse.

OUR BIBLE CLa.s.s.

ELISHA AND THE SHUNAMMITE.

(2 KINGS iv. 8-37; viii. 1-6.)

As the Prophet Elisha carried G.o.d's messages, and did His appointed work among the Israelites, he pa.s.sed through Shunem.

"A great woman," or, as we should say, a rich, influential lady, lived there with her husband and servants, and in her heart "some good thing toward the G.o.d of Israel was found," so when the Prophet pa.s.sed her door, she invited him and his attendant to rest and refreshment; and since he often came that way, she induced her husband to have a room built upon the wall of the house, which she got furnished in a simple way, and this was set apart for Elisha's special use. His heart was deeply touched by the kind sympathy so freely shown him, and he offered to do anything she might ask to show his grat.i.tude. But the good woman was not ambitious. "I dwell," said she, "among mine own people. I am well content with the blessings I enjoy, and ask no more."

This Shunammite was doing good not for the sake of reward. She honoured the Prophet because she perceived that he was "a holy man of G.o.d"--a beautiful proof that she also loved and served the Lord, for "we know that we have pa.s.sed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."

In honouring His Prophet she honoured G.o.d, and He has said (and He is true), "Them that honour Me I will honour."

The Shunammite's honour belongs to all who love G.o.d's people for His sake, for Jesus also declared that "whosoever shall give one of His little ones a cup of cold water to quench his thirst, in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose his reward" (Matt. x. 41, 42).

The loving services rendered to the Saviour's friends--even to those who are most closely connected with us, or who often come in our way--are accepted by Jesus as done unto Himself. We may not be able to accomplish great and notable things, but, like this woman of old, may we do good as we have opportunity, and receive His word of acceptance, like Mary, "She hath done what she could."

But the Shunammite was to be rewarded in a very unexpected way. She had no children, and Gehazi mentioned this fact to his master, who, in the spirit of prophecy, a.s.sured her that, in due time, a son should be given her. Her joy is described in her reply to Elisha. The news seemed too good to be true. But "G.o.d is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." The promised blessing came, and doubtless the mother felt that her cup overflowed with happiness.

But earthly hopes are always insecure. The child had grown; and at harvest-time he went to the field with his father and the reapers, when suddenly what we should call a sunstroke fell upon him. "My head! my head!" was all he could say, and the father had him carried to his mother. She tended him with loving care, but at noon he died. She took the lifeless form upstairs, and laid it on the Prophet's bed, and then announced her intention to go and find the man of G.o.d, saying, "It shall be well," or "peace."

Did she think her child would be restored to life at the Prophet's word?

Perhaps so. She had received him at first in a miraculous way, and by a miracle he might be restored to her. At all events, her words and conduct ill.u.s.trate the divine encouragement, "Trust Him at all times, ye people; pour out your heart before Him; G.o.d is a Refuge for us."

They saw her in the distance, and Gehazi ran to meet her, with the question, "Is it well with thee, thy husband, and the child?" And she answered, "Well." She would not tell the servant her sorrow. She hastened on to his master, and in her grief she caught hold of his feet, as if to hold him fast. Elisha, though a prophet, did not know what had befallen her. Perfect knowledge belongs to G.o.d alone, and He had not revealed this matter to him yet. He heard her story, and sent Gehazi with all haste to lay his staff upon the face of the child. But the mother refused to leave Elisha, and they together followed Gehazi, who, first reaching the chamber of death, laid the Prophet's rod upon the dead, but in vain. "There was neither voice nor hearing." A solemn picture of spiritual death--no voice to cry to G.o.d; no ears to listen to His Word. Are we alive or dead?

Elisha next entered the chamber alone, and, shutting the door, he prayed to the Lord; and in the end, the child was perfectly restored to life and health.

And this wondrous miracle was no doubt intended to foreshadow the general resurrection of the last great day, and to show that "with G.o.d all things are possible."

Here, too, we see a figure of "Him that was to come." The Shunammite prayed to G.o.d through Elisha, from whose lips she had at first received the promise; and in the name of Jesus we are to seek all blessings from heaven.

"He ever lives to intercede Before His Father's face; Give Him, my soul, thy cause to plead, Nor doubt the Father's grace."

Time rolled on, and other sorrows came upon the highly-favoured mother.

A terrible famine raged in Samaria, and at Elisha's bidding she and her household left the land of Israel for seven years (see 2 Kings viii.); and then, peace and plenty having been restored, she returned and went to the king to ask for her house and land in Shunem. Behold here the wonder-working providence of the Lord. At the very time of her visit, Gehazi was telling the king of Elisha's miracles, especially that of raising one to life; and as the woman presented her appeal, Gehazi, recognizing her, exclaimed, "My lord, this is the mother, and this her son, whom Elisha restored to life." Deeply interested at once in her case, the king granted all her request with the utmost readiness.

So "all things work together for good to them that love G.o.d," and Jesus always sympathizes with His people's sorrows, and helps and comforts them, so that "they who wait for Him shall not be ashamed." May we, in every time of trial and difficulty--

"Wait for His seasonable aid, And though it tarry, wait; The promise may be long delayed, But cannot come too late."

Our next subject will be, _The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard_ (Matt. xx. 1-16).

Your affectionate friend, H. S. LAWRENCE.

BIBLE ENIGMA.

FOR THE LITTLE ONES.

One is in Adam, but not in Moses.

One is in Jesus, but not in Daniel.

One is in Peter, but not in Aaron.

One is in Eden, but not in Spirit.

One is in Pharaoh, but not in Matthew.

One is in Israel, but not in Abdon.

My whole, when arranged, will be found in the Book of Psalms.

ETHEL MARSH (Aged 11 years).

_Laxfield._

BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN JULY.