The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-08-04
EErJAH's SPIRIT ON ELISHA.
national Series for August 2,
1SOS-2 KAngs SELLS.


BIASED upon Peloubet's Select Notes.J
GOLDEN TExT.-EIow much more shall
your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit
to them that ask Him?-Luke 1l:1S
THE SECTION includes Kings q and
Kings and 2. the history from Naboth's
vineyard to the beginning of Elisha's work.
TIME.-B. c. ss2-SsO com. chron.; or s54-
e62 rev. chron. The exact date is uncertain.
but 1t is inferred from Chron q :12 that
1t was after the accession of Jehoram, as
co-regent with his father in Judah B. c.
ss7 or s59; and from Kings 3:11 that It
c. $50 or $50.
PLACE.-Elijah went from 0ilgaL in
Ephraim. to the eastern shore Of the Jor-
dan. where he was translated.
COMMENT.
l. The Call of Elisha.-1 Kings 10 ;21.
We know almost nothing of Elisha's
early history. He seems to have be-
longed to well-to-do family Of Abel
meholah. in the Jordan valley. Sudden
ly Elijah came to him while be was
plowing with IL yoke of oxen and threw
his mantle over the young man, as an
invitation to follow him and become q
prophet.
II. The Test Of Elisba.---When the
time came for Elijah to leave his earth
ly work and to be taken up to Heaven
in q whirlwind the prophet was at Gil
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 bade
Elisha remain at Gilgal while he went
on to the next school at 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 IL
not certain. But he may have desired
to be alone in that supreme moment.
III. Elisba's High Request.-vs. 6-1O.
9. "Tarry, l pray thee, here's" 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 mantIe:" 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 rod, for
in handling. "Smote the
waters:" A. Moses "smote" the River
Nile (Ex. 7:2o). Aaron the dust (Ex.
s:17) and Moses the rock (Num. 20:11)
strongly. as one smites an enemy.
9. 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
double portion of thy spirit he upon
mes" Not twice as much as Elijah had,
but the portion Of the eldest son (Deut.
s1:1O. The eldest son was the suc-
cessor of his father. the head of the
household. Elisha's request was that
be might be fitted TO be Elijah's sue
,essor.
10. Thou hast asked a hard thing:"
It was hard because the granting of
this request was not in Elijah gift, and
be knew not yet if God meant to bestow
Il; yet he would seek it with the fervent
prayer (Jas. 5:16, ~ that brought
abundant showers from Heaven Il
Kings 1s:42-45). "If thou see me when
am taken from thee:" "If thou see
me-" But how could he see him if he
lid not watch? All, that is the whole
doctrine! Look, expect, watch; keep
POUR eyes open, fxed. intense-look as
I you wanted the blessing. and you viii
get it.-Parker.
Nv. EGjah's Triumph Over Death
W. II, IL. II. 'They stiu went on, and
alked:" So did the two disciples on the
vay to Emmaus talk together. There
appeared chariot Of fire, and horses of
ire:" 1t was the angelic convoy sent
o attend the prophet in his ascent to
he mansion prepared for him above.
Comp. Kings 6:l7). The emblem IL a
military one. They are deputed from
he army of the skies to eecort TO his
deAvenly home in triumph, one who
lad fought the battles Of the Lord val
anfly and well, and who 10 himself fstIy
'alled by Elisha. the 'chariots OF Israel
ND the horseman thereof."-Prof. VIII
lam II. Green. "And Elijah went up by
) whirlwind:" The earthly means Of
arrying up his body, before the trans
ormation to the spiritual body Of
ieaven Il Cor. 1s:42-to).
IL. 'rhe chariot Of Israel, and the
orseman thereof" By the words my
ather, my father" Elisha expresses
THAT the departing one was for himself; !
nd by the words, "the chariot Of Israel, |
nd the horeman thereof" what be
'as for the whole nation.
V. The Legacy of Elijah.-vs. 1915. |
aisba saw Elijah a. he ascendeds and |
bus ne knew that his prayer was grant
d.