The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-09-08
THE SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL
Lesson in the International ssries
for September IL, 19O4-"Elijah
Taken Up Into Heaven"
prepared by the Highway and By
way" Preacher.)
Copyright, 1904. by J. NJ. Edson.)
LESSON TEXT.

mere. pray thee; for the Lord hath sent
me to Bethel And Elisha said unto him,
AS the Lord liveth. and as thy soul liveth,
1 Will not leave thee. So they went down
to Bethel
.. And the sons of the prophets that were
at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said
unto him. Knowest thou that the Lord will
take away thy master from thy head to.
dayY And he said, Yea know 1t; hold ye
your peace.
tarry here, / pray thee: for the Lord hath
sent Inc to Jericho. And he said, AS the
Lord liveth. and as thy soul liveth, will
not ieave thee So thay came to Jericho.
3. And the sons OF the prophets that were
at Jericho came to Elisha and said unto
him. knowcst thou that the Lord will take
away thy master from thy head to-day?
And he answered. Yea. know 1t; hold ye
your peace.
thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jor-
dan. And he said. As the Lord liveth,
and as thy soul liveth. 1 will not leave thee.
And they two went on
Z. And fifty men of the sons OF the proph-
cts went and stood to view afar off. and
they two stood by Jordan.
.. And Elijah took his mantle, and
wrapped 1t together. and smote the waters.
and they were divided hither and thither. SO
Q. And 1t came to pass, when they were
gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha,
Ask what | shall do for thee, before | be
taken away from thee And Elisha said,
l pray thee, let u double portion Of thy
spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked hard
thing: nevertheless. IL thou see me when
am taken from thee. 1t shall be SO unto
thee: but IL not 1t shall not be 50.
II. And 1t came to pass, as they still went
on. and talked. that. behold. there appeared
u chariot of fire. and horses of fire. and
parted them both asunder; and Elijah went
up by "a whirlwind into Heaven.
THE LESSON includes the first chapter
Of Kings, which gives us the last public
act of Elijah.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"He was not: for God
took him. "-Gen SPA
TIME.-Something over ten years after
the events of the last lesson.
PLACE.-EliJah started at Gilgal and
Travelled with Elisha toward the southeast.
through Bethel and Jericho. and then
across the Jordan. perhaps to Mount Nebo.
Comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Testing of Elisha.-As one reads this
lesson the question is forced upon us,
Did Elijah wish to get away from
ELISHA III lHt llSHt vi Ntist y thllh
we must say No" The angel Of God
did not want to get away from Jacob
and yet he said 'let me 60" He wished
to test Jacob, and the testing completed
the blessings followed (Gen. 2:24-29)
Elijah knowing of his early departure.
would test Elisha and prove his fitness
as his successor Testing is not for the
purpose of destroying but to prove fit
ness for service. Jacob held on and got
the blessing. Elisha followed his mas
ter and obtained his request. The Syro-
Phoenician woman is a striking exam
pie Of persistency obtaining the bless
ing. Matt 15:22-2S. God tests His chill
dren (Heb. 1876. 7. ID and the Chris
tlan is admonished to rejoice in the
testing.-Jas. 1:2-4.
Elisha was persistent. He had the
qualities of a Paul. Phil. 3:13. He
saw the glory Of blessing ahead and he
was determined to have it at all hazard
This is one of the indispensable quail.
tiles in Gods servants. If they lack It,
they prove unfit for the responsible
places in Christs kingdom.
(2) Watchful No heavy eye ever saw
Gods glory. No sluggish heart ever fel,
the exquisite heart beat of the Divine
presence. That Elijah was to be taken
up into Heaven had in some way been
revealed to Elisha and the students al
the schools of the prophets at Gilgal
Bethel and Jericho. VS.. 3. 5. Elisha was
determined to behold that glorious sight
The eye of faith was In the watch tower
and the natural eye, obedient to the sou
yearning, was faithfully keeping Elijah
in view. Gilgal Is left behind and Bethe
Is reached but nothing can divert the
attention of Elisha, nothing can make
him tarry behind. Jericho is visited anC
still Elisha hangs on. The Jordan II
reached. II Elijah goes down into II.
depths, Elisha will follow. All, how
many Christians are back on the hill
top with the so sons of the prophets
when they ought to be following hare
after the blessing,
90 Ambitious. Let double por
ton of thy spirit be upon me-" True am
bition finds its center and object in God
Elisha was ambitious for God as pos
session. that he might more effectuall,
serve God during the apostate state o
the kingdom. The ambition that makes
God its end and aim and purpose is thu
safe ambition. We are told to "covet tn,
best gifts" / Cor. 1881. The grea
trouble with Christian people is tina
they ask and receive not because the,
ask amiss, that they may consume /
upon their lusts. Jas 4:3. The assur
ance of Rom. S:26-27 is blessed encour
agement.
(4 Triumphant. Elisha saw It..
v. 12. Elisha's intensity of purpose OBJ
tained for him the promise. The Chris
tian may always win spiritual triumphs
! 2 Cor ga The amount of spiritual bless
ing God is willing to give is dependen
wholly upon our capacity to receive. w,
need to pray for larger capacity.
THE GOLDEN TEXT.
"He Was Not; for God Took Him
DR.. G. Campbell Morgan tells of littl
child who gave most exquisite explain
alton of walking with God. She wen
home from Sunday school, and tn
mother said: Tell me what you learne,
at school, And she said: Don't yo,
know. mother, We have been hearini
about man who used to go for walk
with God. His name was Enoch. And
mother, one day they went for an extri
long walk, and they walked on and on
until God said to Enoch: You are
long way from home: you had bettel
come in and stay And he went"