The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-09-03
THE sUNDAY-sCHooL LESSON
For September II. "Eiijah Taken I'D
Into Heaven"

from God. as outlined Ia last lesson. Eli
jah proceeded to anO.nt Elisa Us success
scr and then passed into Obscur!Iy. War
between Israel and Syria followed. which
ended IN treaty q friendship OF a re-
maIkab!e character that LASTED Tor seve al
years During that period OF peace Ahab
devoted himself 10 enJoy Inents OF IA = king
ly prerogatlves. Tire ling OF NabO rs
field displayed his avar!ee Later ieague
was fDImeB betw. en- J, hOsaapAat. KIns
OF judi y. and Anab. KING Of I5'ae.. to r.
cover certain ciues from > TIA II the
war that followed AhaD vas slain and his
son, Ahaziab Was aEoiniei King as nj.
succesaOr. Shortly aft,r Moab that had
been subject TO Israel. rebe.- 81 and Ethan
again appears as the m0uthY!.ce OF the
Lord To denver q message to Anauiah and
announce mis- aece4sse.
THE DIyISE PURPOSE Cerse -
God waited long after inf0rsLIas his
servant that his career would O. inmate.
j Kings. XIX. 49, tie gave EIJan en-
years OF retirement IN which TO reflect
upon a! that haI gone before. and upon
al that would follow This man VINO had
been DISCOURAGED and had FED 10 HO!eo
for safely had teen permitted IN obscurity
to gather up las strength and 20 reai.-
Just himself to tie Lo4ds caus-- 1t Is
probable that he improved tbs time -
teaching IN the - hOOls OF tho pTOpnets.
the theological seMinar1e5 OF that day.
preparing Ellis. for tie Office 70 be soon
vacated. But the time came a. last wEen
Goa determined 20 remove his servant
from the earth. Human life II not an &C
cident. We have al appointed tine TO he
dob xiv. 40, and none but the wicAed
shall go before the determined end psalm
iv. "a here y al appJiated time - 70
hence known only to God. But God de-
termined that Elijah should go to heaven
without seeing death
THE GII<5AL PROPOSAL Verse D
Eli.ah's retirement had been IN Gilsal.
small town IN the mountains OF SaInara.
fifteen miles from the capital CT Israel
There h. had been with the young men.
the students OF sculpture With him WAS
Elisha ia delightful intercourse a. pre-
ceptor and student The spirit OF God
moved Elijah 10 change his location and
TO visit tho school al Bethel. where prob
ably he had often been as teacher.
'"Tarry here he said to Elisha seeking
TO go alone. 20 leave his pupil In Gilgal.
Il Is probable that this was done as a
test. very much In the same spirit that
Naomi urged Ruth. her dalshter-!n-law.
in the days OF the Judges IRuth !. lS-ls,
not to enter Canaan. II may have been
an Inspired test 10 determine the character
and spirit OF tho man. But Elisha reject
ed the proposal. IL may have been that he
was personally attached to his I;iasie: By
the Intercourse OF the ten years. IL may
be that lie had some present.ments or sas-
sest.ons Of what would occur
THE BETHEL PROPOSAL Verses ,
and iy-TEe two Journeyed together south
Bethel There for timc-how Ions. We
know not. nor need we inIuIre-tEe duty
c. the prophetic Oiic~ teaching IN the
school. was performed. Some Of the stu
cents OF that place came TO Elisha and
inquired whether he knew that the Lord
would take away his mas ler. anu an az
firmstiye reply was made. This shows
that by some method not recorded the
purpose OF God had ben disclosed. II
l. probable that this intelligence had gone
forth very early from Ci.sal. AID had
OF God directed Elijah 20 move on. and he
suggested to Elisha that ne larry In Beth
ell. As that was one OF The points where
Jeroboam had established idolatrous wor-
ship Il Kings. Iii. -. II may have been
desired TO leave the future prophetic lead
err to counterfeit the influence. IL - more
probable that the suggestion was Intended
as q test like the hrst- But 1t was EN-
phatically rejected.
THE JERICHO PROPOSAL-(yerses 4
9. O-EliJah and Elisha walked together
n faSm 1S miles 10 the e eas, This was the
largest city In the Jordan Valley not
Tar from the river. II was famous as the
Joshua PIC Josh " Be- Ee' In the he earIy DAYS
Of the conquest. B. c. 1851 II stood up
on q fertile plain and had a commanding
s.hSs DEE psoS eSs lad Seen mSn
tanned there probably from the days OF
Samuel. vho was the founder OF those IN
schooi came 10 Elisha with the same ques-
ton raised at Bethel. showing that the
rumor concerning EiiJah's departure had
u2veied rapidly ana Wicely. ana inc same
answer Was given as before. Then came
the Sp:rt's order to move on. and the
proposal was made the third time that
Elisha should tarry- But the man OF
God could cot be turned from his pur-
pose. and he rejected the suggestion OF his
master.
THE JORDAN PASSAGE Verse 81
The two went on There was no further |
solicitation on the one SIDE and no pro-
hesitation by the other. The condition Of |
unbroken and prolonged companionship |
was accepted between the reverent |
disciple and the venerable teacher. The |
two hearts were !ndissolubiy united by |
holy bonds The two minds were filled /
with loyalty TO q common cause. The one |
was releasing his hold and the other |
word The spectacle was one to excite |
admiration. and fifty OF the sons OF the |
prophets went out OF Jericho and stood |
to gaze on the rececing forms OF the trav- |
Jordan. but did not long delay. The older |
man smote the waters with his mantle 4
and stralghtway a dry paSsaEeway was /
formed. through which the two travelled |
tive than the crossing OF the Red Sea /
(Ex. xiv ~ under Moses or OF the Jor- |
dan under Joshua Josh III. is). but II /
was Q decisive mark OF Gods presence /
s sna power not less worthy to S' remem-
THE SPIRITS PowER-Ver.es . and
i0) Once on the east OF the Jordan the
two men appear 70 enter into more conf
Dental relations They conversed. and
part OF what they said has been recorded.
aa ,o Re rIaa tSa5 his BIZ
ton. inquired what should be done for
him He knew. because IL was the CTS
tom OF the time followed from a very
early period Gen. xix. u. that one who
departed this life left q blessing for those
who remained NGen YXytf sl E,Ifsha'a |