The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-08-05
ELIJAH's SPIRIT ON ELISHA.
sundsy school Lesson I'm the Inter-
national series for August u
ISOs-2 Kings z s6-l5.

THE SEtIlON Includes i Kings Y ana
2 Kings / and Z. the history from Naboth's
vineyard to the beginning of Elisha work.
TIME.-B. &. S92-ss0. com. chron., or s5A-
$50 rev. chron. The exact date is uncertain.
but IL Is inferred from 2 Chron. 2l:l2 that
II was after the accession OF Jchoram, as
co-regent with his father In Judah B. c.
&7 or $50; and from 2 Kings 3:ll that Il
was before the death OF Jehoshap hat. b.
c. $50 or $50.
PLAcE.-Elijah went from Gilgal. in
Ephraim. to the eastern shore of the Jor-
dan. where he was translated.
COMMENT.
l. The Call Of Elisha Kings 1921.
We know almost nothing Of Elisha's
early history. He seems to have be-
longed TO a well-to-do family Of Abel
meholah. in the Jordan valley. Sudden
ly Elijah came TO him while he was
blowing with IL yoke Of oxen and threw
his mantle over the young man. as an
invitation TO follow him and become a
prophet.
III. The Test of Elisha.-When the
time came for Elijah TO leave his earth
~ work and to be taken up TO Heaven
in a whirlwind the prophet was at Gill
gal, north Of Bethel, with Elisha at one
Of the schools of the prophets. Elijah
seems to have received some revelation
that his last hours had come. He babe
Elisha remain at Gilgal while he went
on to the next school 1t Bethel. But
Elisha insisted on going with him. This
was reported at the other stations,
Bethel and Jericho. on the direct way
TO the fords Of the Jordan. Why Elijah
asked Elisha not to accompany him is
not certain. But be may have desired
to be alone in that supreme moment.
III. Elisha's High Request.-vs. Clio.
6. 'Tarry. / pray thee, here:" They
were at Jericho, and Elijah was on the
way TO the fords of the Jordan, where
he could cross over into his native coun-
try.
Z. "The sons of the prophets" That
Is. the young men attending the theo-
logical seminaries first organized by
Samuel for the preparation of religious
teachers for the people.
8. And Elijah took his mantle:" The
cloak, that outward sign Of the proph-
cts office, became the vehicle of the
Spirits power. And wrapped it to-
gether:" Rolled it up like a rod, for
convenience in handling. "Smote the
waters:" As Moses "smote'' the River
Nile (Ex. 1920. Aaron the dust lex.
SID and Moses the rock (Num. 2O:1D
strongly. as one smites an enemy.
o. On the farther shore Elijah said
unto Elisha. Ask what / shall do for
thee before ! be taken away from thee:"
What is your last request, the one SUI
preme thing you desire me to do? Let
q double portion OF thy spirit be upon
mes" Not twice as much as Elijah had.
but the portion of the eldest son (Deut.
21:1O. The eldest son was the sue
cessor of his father, the head of the
household. Elisha's request was that
he might be fitted TO be Elijah's sue
cessor.
10. Thou hast asked a hard thing:'
It was hard because the granting of
this request was not in Elijah's gift, and
he knew not yet If God meant TO bestow
Il; yet he would seek il with the fervent
prayer (Jas. 5:16. 10 that brought
abundant showers from Heaven q
Kings 1s:42-45). IF thou see me when
I am taken from thee" IF thou see
me-" But how could he see him IL he
did not watch? All, hat is the whole
doctrine! Look. expect, watch; keep
your eyes open, fixed, intense-look as
II you wanted the blessing, and you will
get it.-Parker.
". Elijah's Triumph Over Death
VS.. IL, IL. IL. They still went on, and
talked" SO did the two disciples on the
way to Emmalk talk together. There
appeared a chariot Of fire, and horses Of
fires" 1t was the angelic convoy sent
TO attend the prophet in his ascent TO
the mansion prepared for him above.
Comp. 2 Kings GID. The emblem is a
military one. They are deputed from
the army of the skies TO escort TO his
Heavenly home in triumph, one who
had fought the battles of the Lord val
iantly and well. and who is himself fifty
called by Elisha. the 'chariots of Israel
and the horseman thereof."-Prof. Will
liam ii. Green. And Elijah went up by
a wlirlwind:" The earthly means OF
carrying up his body, before the trans
formation TO the spiritual body Of
Heaven q Cor. 15:42-49).
IL. THE chariot Of Israel, and the
horseman thereof" BY the words MY
father. my father" Elisha expresses
what the departing one was for himself;
and by the words. "the chariot of Israel,
and the horseman thereof" what he
was for the whole nation.
v. The Legacy Of Elijah.-Vs. 1915.
Elisha saw Elijah as he assembled, and
thus he knew that his prayer was grant,
ed.
10. "IIe took up also the mantle OF
Elijah:" As his successor. and pro-
ceeded TO use ii as Elijah had done. II
was a test and proof whether he had
actually received the promised gift.
IA. Where is the Lord God Of Eli
jah?" 1t was a prayer 10 see il God had
given what Elijah had promised. How
ever strong his faith, Il needed the proof
of results. And he found the promise
true. and knew henceforth that he was
Elijah's successor. and was 70 take up
his work.