The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER II.

SOS
tary ON the Days. Lesson.
l.. Elijah and Elisha journeying togetb,
take up Elijah" 4 great truth is here
disclosed. Our lives arc absolutely at
Gods disposal It had been at least ten
or twelve years since Elijah had asked
that he might de. and during all that time
he had been welding a mighty influence
for God. But now his work was ended,
Although no meHtion of Elisha az Eli.
jah's companion is given in the history
between the day Of Elisha's call and the
time of the events in this chapter, yet
from ! Kings 10: q and 2 Kings 8: II
we conclude that Elisha had spent most
istering to his necessities: From Gil.
GAL" This was the Gilgal a few miles
northwest Of Bethel, not the Gilgal near
Jericho, A school, of the prophets was
located here as well as at Bethel and Jerl.
! cho. 2. To Bethel" About nine miles
southeast of Gilgal. . 4. ITO Jericho"
About thirteen miles southeast of Bethel.
5. SONS of the prophets" That is, the
young men attending the theological SEM
i%naries. first organized by Samuel for the
preparation Of religious teachers for the
der the superintendent of a recognized
prophet, who was called The Gather"
while the students were styled his chill
dren or sons. They were places of retire
ment, adapted for study and devotion.
The students were permitted to marry.
The subject Of study at these institutions
was the law Of Moses. Attention was CIV
en- to music and sacred poetry. know
est thou" etc. Not only was Elijah him
self conscious of some great event at hand,
but Elisha and the bands of prophets in
EzEl,1 n,I Ta-.alo lo1 ~ &,,, 40 tho+
the departure Of Elijah was very near.
thy head; thy spiritual father, teacher,
leader and director. The expression,
which il literally Taken from over thy
| head" might also intimate the manner
of Eliiah;s removal. Yea, I know"
| Elisha replies with solemnity and empha-
sis. y Literally, the Hebrew is, Of course
l know; hush. Elisha cannot bear the
questioning. He thinks Of his own weak.
ness and of the great responsibilities
which will be upon him when left alone.
His soul is burdened.
+. "Tarry here.", Elijah had made the
same request at Gilgal and Bethel.
Whether this was to try the strength Of
Elisha's affection, or because under the
weight Of these hours he preferred retire
ment, or because he wonld utter words
which Elisha might not hear, or because
he thought God would have no one wit
ness his translation, we may not affirm.
ITO Jordan" About five miles from Jeri-
cho is a bend in the river Jordan where
thu. ascension of Elijah is supposed to have
taken place. GAS the Lord liveth," etc.
This double oath, expressive of the most
intense earnestness, is repeated three
times Tvs. 2, A.. The two clauses of it are
separately used with some frequency
lJudg. 8: 10; Ruth 3: -; l Sam. 1: 26l,
but seldom united. will not leave" He
refused with gentle, respectful persistence.
He will not be dissuaded from his pur-
pose to remain with Elijah to the end.
7. Fifty men," We see how large were
the prophetical schools OF Jericho. How
| surprising to conle upon so large q body
Of men devoting themselves to a holy life
while -Ahab's children were still on the
throne. Stood to view" Ii forbidden
the qualification Of personally accompany
ing their masterJ they would at least
What they saw we are not told. 8: His
mantle" The shaggy garment which had
been SO long his prophetical badge. 1T
was probably a sheepskin. The skins OF
beasts dressed with the hair on were worn
by prophets as an insignia of their office.
Wrapped it," Tightly round and round,
as the word means, in the form Of a staff.
"Smote the waters" As if they were an
enemy in his way. Ehiah's mantle was to
him at Jordan what the rod of God was
to Moses at the Red Sea (Exod. IA: l6,
2D; and many things in the lives of these
two prophets who should meet Christ on
ed" ''On the one side rushing hastily on;
on the other, towering up like a wall of
crystal"
II. Etshs's request Tvs. 9, !O): g: ASK"
What is your last request? Elijah thinks
not of himself, but Of the needs of the one
I he was so soon to leave behind him. The
test will show whether Elisha's aims are
spiritual or material. How would we an
; swer such a question? Before l be tax
EN-" What Elijah does for Elisha must be
done before his departure, for there will
be no communication between them alter
wards. There is no warrant in the Scrip
lures for the doctrine of the intercession
Of the saints after they had left this world.
Christ is our advocate before the throne:
we need no other. "A double portion"
There is nothing here of selishness or
ambition.
10. "A hard thing" It was hard ~ be-
! cause God and not Elijah must bestow
| such. u gift, and ~ because it depended
upon EEsha's fitness to receive it. IF
thou see me-" If he was able to retain
! to the end the same devoted perseverance,,
, and keep his eye set and steadfaSt 0 n the
departing prophet, the gift would be his.
III. Elijah's translation w.. ny. II.
"Talked." We can understand how much
Elijah would find of eXhortation and en-
! enlargement to bestow as parting ~counseis
| on his successor. What moments were
those! l. was q walking and talking on
the verge Of heaven! Chariot of fire."
etc. We cannot agree with those COM
mentators who think this was merely a
display of flame and fire." "a fiery phe-
! nomenon," which appeared "as 4 chariot
OF fire." etc. These were creations of the
spiritual world. This heavenly scene was
no hallucination, but the chariot and
; horses of fire we're q part of that vast host,
/ the sound OF whose movements David
once heard over the mulberry trees Y
Sam. S: 24), and who at a later time. filled
the mountains round about Elisha e
Kings 6: IT,. Parted them" etc. The
fiery chariot separated the two prophets.
that Elijah went up in the chariot OF fire,
but he went up by a whirlwind." 1t has
been usually and very naturally assumed,
however, that the translated prophet as
cended in the chariot, and that the char
lot was borne aloft on the wings oi the
wind. Compare Psa. l04: 8. Unto heav-
en- The abode of Gods saints. who rest
from their earthly labors. Eiiah,S trans
lation is a proof Of the existence OF anoth-
er world beyond us, aud that the soul
lives after il Leaves this l;fe. Nearly nlne
centuries later we see Elijah or the Mount
eli Transformation. Death does not end
a!ll It is the beginning Of 4 new existence
r,h,I.h will nevpr end.