The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-07-28
HIJAEs sPnilr on ELISHA


/ , u Heavenly Fathe- ..iN- TIA, holy Spirit
. to - ,... sIs, LSs. .s...i:-L.ae u:ia
/ Ia. go. .ON Includes Kings q and
: kings ana 2. the history from Naboth's
vineyard 10 the beginning OF Elisha's work
| TIME.-B. c. 9a-sSo. com. chron: or ~
So rev chron. The exact date 10 uncertain,
| but tt u inferred from Chrou. n u that
II was after the accession OF Jehoram, a.
co-regent with his father In Judah B. C.
Ss7 or SSS: and from Z Kings 3:li that tt
was before the death OF Jehoshaphat, B.
c. $50 or ST.
PLAcE.-Eiijah went from ailsai. In
Ephraim. to the eastern shore OF the Jor-
dan. where he wasxranslated
COMMENT.
I. The Call OF Elisha.-1 Kings 1891.
We know almost nothing of Elisba's
early history. He seems to have be-
longed to well-to-do family Of Abel
meholeh. in the Jordan valley. Sudden
ly Elijah came to him while he was
plowing with IL yoke of oxen and threw
his mantle over the young man. a. an
[ invitation to follow him and become a
prophet
II. The Test Of Elisha.-When the
time came for Elijah to leave his earth
ly work and to be taken up to Heaven
in 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 Gilga! 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 10
not certain. But b" may have desired
to be alone In that supreme moment
III. Elisha's High Request.-vs. 6-Io.
@. "Tarry, I 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 tbeo-
logical seminaries first organized by
Samuel for the preparation Of religious
teachers for the people.
8. Sand Elijah took his mantle:" The
cloak, that outward sign of the proph-
cts Office, became the vehicle Of the
Spirits power. sand wrapped II To-
gether:" "Rolled IL up like q rod, for
convenience in handling. "Smote the
waters" A Moses "smote" the River
Nile (Ex. 7:a0, Aaron the dust (EA
s:17) and Moses the rock (Num. 20:1O
strongly, as one smites an enemy.
0. On the farther shore "Elijah said
unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for
thee before I be taken away from thee:"
What Is your last request. the one su-
preme thing you desire me TO do? "Lst
double portion OF thy spirit be upon
me:" Not twice as much a. Elijah had.
but the portion of the eldest son (Deut
2l:lO. Tho eldest son was the suc-
cessor Of his father. the head Of tho
household. Elishs's request was that
be might be fitted TO be Elijah's sue
cessor. -h'
10. Thou hast asked hard thing:"
II was hard because the granting Of
this request was not in Elijah's gift, and
he knew not.yet Il God meant to bestow
H.; yet he would seek It with tho fervent
prayer (Jas. 5:l6, ~ that brought
abundant showers from Heaven Il
Kings 1s:42-+S). ~ thou see me when
I am taken from thee:" IF thou see
me-" But how could he see him II hs
did not watch? All, that Is the whole
doctrine! Look. expect, watch; keep
your eyes open, fixed, intense-look a.
II you wanted the blessing. and you will
get it.-Parker.
~. El!jah's Triumph Over Death
VS.. II. 10. IL. ''They still went on, and
talked" So did the two disciples on the
way to Emmaus talk together. "There
appeared a chariot of fire. and horses Of
fire." !, was the angelic convoy sent
to attend the prophet in his ascent to
the mansion prepared for him above.
Comp. . Kings GID. The emblem Is
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 fitly
called by Elisha. the 'chariots Of Israel
and the horseman thereof."-Prof. VIII
ham II. Green. "And Elijah went up by
a vhir!wind:" The earthly means Of
carrying up his body, before the trans-
formation to the spiritual body Of
Heaven Il Cor. 15:42-4o).
12. ''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, "tbe chariot of Israel,
and the honeman thereof" what he
was for the whole nation.
V. The Legacy of Elijah.-vs. 1918.
Elisha saw Elijah as. he ascenled, and
thus he knew that his prayer was grant,
ed.
l3. "He took up also the mantle Of
Elijah" As bis successor, and pro-
ceeded to use 1t 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 Ell
jah?" II was PRAYER 70 see IL God had