The National tribune., 1885-09-03
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by a Study of the Inter.
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed fox
Sept. C. HI. =: 1-15.

HG a leaTtul cost lie palu the OWHeT x,
but he suffered worse than did the owner No
one can sin without paying the penalty. On
Ahabs first visit to the vineyard, Elijah met
him and fOretold the terrible fate awaiting
King and Queen. (21 1929 Ahab, having
reigned p years (16: 29), was slain in a battle
with the Syrians (22: 3o). and was succeeded
by his son Ahaziah. (22 :4O.) After two years
(22: 51) he died from an accidental fall.
q XII, 1:217.) His brother Jehoram became
King Q:17)
We are to study the account of the trans
lation of Elijah. 1t is supposed his prophetic
office covered about IA years. For 10 years
Elisha was his assistant = from the plow
(19 19) to the chariot.
Elijah had a presentiment of his ascension,
and made preparation for the event. He had
not been inactive during life. Among other
works he revived the schools of the Prophets
which Samuel had established, and probably
originated new schools. Before his departure
he would visit these seminaries, further in
struct the pupils. and bid them farewell. We
find Eli ah and Elisha at Gilgal, near the Jor-
dan River. For some reason Elijah suggested
Elisha tarry at Gigal If he should ask
him to go it would seem 0stentatiOus. Elijah
did not wish his ascension to be an exhibition !;
or, Elijah perhaps would test the disposition of
Elisha. He would not have him GO perfume
torily, so he gave him chance to decline.
Elisha persisted in accompanying his master.
So the two went to Bethel. In some way the
pupils of the prophetic school there had an
impression Elijah was making his last visit.
The two passed on to Jericho. The pupils
there had the same foreboding rs 10 Elijah ;
end. 1t pains Elisha to hear intmatiOns that
Elijah is about to close his life, aud SO he begs
the students not to refer to the matter. Feel
ing that something extraordinary was going TO
happen, 30 pupils select a conspicuous point
from which to watch the sequel. Elijah
and Elisha proceed to the Jordan River.
Elijah wraps his mantle rs into a wand aud
strikes the waters which at once divide, max
ing dry pathway across to Perea. (Cf JOS.
3:7) The last hour has come. Elijah gives
Elisha permission to make final parting re-
quest. "What is the last thing, Elisha, which
l can do for your" Says Elisha, Let double
portion of thy spirit be upon me-"
Views: H. Some believe he asked for a
spirit which would enable him to be twice as
effective as Elijah had been; or he felt that,
with his inferior capacities, he would need
double the amount of Elijah's ability in order
to equal Elijah'S effectiveness But, grant he
was ambitious to accomplish twice as much as
Elijah ompleted, shall we criticize him? Is
it not right to be anxious to outstrip every one
else in doing good. providing your ambition
originate not from pride, but from genuine de-
sire to be effective as possible for Gods glory
and mans good? And, indeed, Elisha did
more than Elijah accomplished. Even his very
skeleton raised to life corpse. q XII, 13: 20,
21) Our Savior declared his disciples would
do greater things than he effected. (2.) The
original words Hebrew mean rather two parts
than double the quantity In ancient times
the oldest son of a family received two parts of
his fathers possessions, while the other sons
received each only one part (Deu., 81: II J
Elisha craved twice as much divine power
prophetic ability as any other follower of Eli
jah should share. Notice, Elisha calls Elijah
father" ". 12.) Then, as a son, Elisha
wishes the part due the firstborn. One might
object to this view that it would hardly be the
proper thing to want to outdO in ability and
qualification and effectiveness every other
Prophet. All, however, depends on the spirit
of the request. (3.) The Douay translates:
II beseech thee that in me may be thy double
SPIRIT. e., Elijah had double measure of
the spirit as compared with other Prophets,
and Elisha wanted the same amount Elijah
had. a. The simple thought of Elisha may
have been, Il wish large bestowment of pro-
phetic power"
Elijah assured Elisha the request would be
granted. providing Elisha remained true to his
master till the last moment. The endowment
of such powers would accompany the gift OF
Eliiahs mantle, and Elisha must be on hand
to receive it at the moment Elijah departed.
By the granting of such request being "A
hard thing" the Prophet meant, the bestOw-
ment of double spirit was beyond the power
of himself or any man, something which
only God could give.
The two walked on, busy in conversation,
when, all of sudden, seeming chariot, fiery,
glorious resplendent, shooting out rays ol
light, swept by, apparently drawn by cOruscat-
ing horses, and by some invisible arm Elijah
was lifted into the conveyance and borne on
high. Some have believed that an angel band
grouped as in chariot form, and grasped Elijah
ha,y Hn,u hxy fyin ph Infl
(Ps.. IS: I7) The word "seraphim signifies fire
Elisha was taken by surprise. Before he
could speak Elijah was quite in the sky. My
father my father! the chariot of Israel and
the horsemen thereof" cries Elisha. ChariOts
and horses were much used in war. Elisha
meant Elijah served to Israel instead of chari-
ots. The Chadee renders thus: My master
my master! who by thy intercessiOns vert Oi
more use to Israel than horses and chariots.' y
(Eccu 48: liz, gives summary from a ma
tional point of the life of lijah.) One recalls
our SaviOrs ascension from among his Apostles
Mythology tells us Romulus went to Heaven i'll
a chariot. Elijah never reappeared OH earth till
with Moses, he was present at ChriSts Trans
fguraton. His body in mid-sky was doubtless
changed as that of our Savior was, and as those
shall be whom the Judgment Day finds alive on
earth changed SO as to meet the conditions OF
Paradise and Heaven, into neither of which
flesh and blood can enter. In sort of frantic,
semi conscious convulsOn of wonder and grief
| Elisha seizes his apparel and tears it in two
pieces.
AS Elijah ascended his mantle fell on Elisha
Thus invested, the Prophet returned to the
Jordan and repeated the miracle of his master
He was filled with the spirit of Elijah, so much
so that when the pupils from the school at Jeri-
cho met him they were conscious of his addi-
tional power and recognized him at once as
their President in place of Elijah.
Practical thoughts:
/. The dying should remember and plan for
the living.
2. Choose best things-the spiritual in pref
erence to the material.
3. Pray. Elijah pettioned for Elisha.
H. Maintain Christian fellowship, communion
of saints, religious walks and talks.
8. Be aspiring. Elisha went from the plOw
to be successor of the greatest Prophet who ever
lived.
g. Christianity is better than an army. Every
man should be as chariot and horses in the
interest of morals and society.
Z. Do not despair if great men die God can
fill their places. No man is absolutely neces-
sary. Says Bulwer: Leave your place in the
world for 10 minutes and when you come back
somebody else has taken it, but when you leave
the world for good who remembers that you
ever had place even in the parish register2' "
s. Take comfort to the dead. Souls live
beyond this world. Elijah reappered 900 years
after our lesson, at Christs TRANSPORTATION.
8. Make no long pause from work at death oi
fra nd