Jesus Christ was despised and rejected of men, and set at nought, and through weakness crucified, but He is the appointed Saviour of sinners, the mighty God, the Exalted Prince to give repentance and remission of sins.

The apostles were chosen from among the fishermen of Galilee, but they became mighty messengers of peace, ambassadors for Christ, and by their doctrine turned the world upside down.

So in the bringing to pass the great plenty in the famished city of Samaria, and conveying the good news of that plenty just outside the gates, see what unlikely and what mean and humble methods were adopted. A sound drove the Syrians away, and brought all their mighty plans to nought. Four lepers, cast-outs, despised men were those who said, "this is a day of good tidings," and brought the news to the king.

God can never be at a loss for means to help us. If things have come to their worst, and there is no apparent possibility of deliverance-then is the very time likely to be chosen of God.

Away, then, with unbelief in the word of God that cannot lie. Hath He said, and

shall he not do it? Be not like the lord who believed not and perished, but be like those who "through faith have turned to flight" whole armies, "out of weakness have been made strong," and by patient waiting on the Lord have always obtained deliverUnbelief dishonours God. Being

ance.

strong in faith gives glory to God.

PRAYER.

God of

GREAT God of heaven and earth! all power and might! Thou hast in many ways, at different times, wrought great wonders for thy people! I pray Thee to give me faith in this Thy power. I know Thou art All-powerful: nothing is too hard for Thee, yet, Lord, I am often oppressed with cares and wants and troubles, because I do not enough believe in Thy power and will to help me. Lord! I would trust Thee more. I would remember Thy wonders of old. I would think of the great things Elisha did, because of Thy Spirit in him, and his faith in Thee. And henceforth I desire to believe all the promises of Thy word. I cast my cares on Thee. I lay my wants before Thee. Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief: for Jesus' sake. AMEN.

JEZEBEL.

"And they went to bury her but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands,

"Wherefore they came again, and told him, And he said, This is the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel :

"And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel." 2 KINGS IX. 35-37.

NOTHING shows more the deceitfulness of sin than the history of Hazael, who cruelly murdered his master, and committed such cruelties on the children of Israel. He was a hardened sinner, no doubt, as this murder showed. Yet, when Elisha foretold him some of the cruelties of his future life, he was surprised and horrified at the very thought of such things.

How was this! Let us enquire into this account of his interview with the Prophet. Elisha came to Damascus. Benhadad was there, the king of Syria, and he was sick. He sent Hazael to ask Elisha whether this

Q

sickness was unto death or not. Hazael came to Elisha with a great present, and said, "Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee; saying, shall I recover of this disease?" Elisha's reply was remarkable. First, there was the answer from God to Benhadad, "Go and say, thou mayest certainly recover." Then there was Elisha's own knowledge of the fact that yet he would die. "Howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die." So that Elisha, knew that Hazael meant to kill his master, although it may be as yet Hazael had not quite determined on the act. Perhaps he had only gone so far as to hope the sickness would carry him off. Probably he had turned in his mind how if the illness did not end in death, he would himself put an end to the life that stood between him and the throne he coveted.

But would not this prophecy of Elisha's in some degree urge him forward to the crime? This is by no means likely. Just as it did not alter the plans of Judas who betrayed Christ, the being told by Christ, he it was who would betray Him: so now, even if Elisha had told Hazael he was about to kill Benhadad, it would not have altered his purpose. But Elisha did not even say

how his death would be accomplished. We can imagine then that had Hazael this purpose in view, Elisha's statement would not have deterred him from it. Nor if he had not then formed the purpose, would he then begin to form it, but would rather have waited till the death he desired had come to pass in some other way.

But Elisha went further than this, telling Hazael what he knew of his future actions. "Elisha settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, why weepeth my lord? and he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strongholds thou wilt set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword."

Thus he showed he knew a great deal more than Hazael did himself. All which he could only know as he was told by God. But Elisha showed also his deep feelings here. He saw so strongly all that the people of Israel would suffer at the hands of Hazael when he should become king, that he could not refrain his tears. Such strong faith had he in the word God had spoken to him, that it was to him just as if he saw the things taking place. And so