The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-09-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 2.
Subject: EIisha Succeeds Elijah, n
Kings, IT,, 1e-ee-Golden Text III
Kings. Ill, 0--demory Verses, 1a-i4--
Commentary on the Days Lesson.


Commentary on the Days Lesson.
I. The vision " 12). Lesson II Of the
| third quarter should now be reviewed II.
elisha saw it, That is, the ascension of
4 Elijah Elisha saw this, however, not with
his natural eyes for it was a scene belong
ing to the spiritual world, and to behold
4 it he must, like the young man mentioned
in chapter 6:l7, have his inner senses un-
yelled. This sight was special divine fa-
/ vor and was made by Elijah the condir
tional sign Of Elisha's obtaining double
portion Of his spirit (v. 10) My father.
This title OF affection was given by the
younger prophets to an elder. Elijah had
4 been father to him IN his care and tram
ing, in love and legacy. These words
should be understood as an exclamation Of
| wonder and aInazement Elisha sees his
! spiritual father depart, and he sees the
chariot and the celestial steeds, and be
calls after them all. Some think that
] Elisha desired to convey the impression
that Elijah was more to Israel by his coun-
sells, reproofs and prayers than chariots
and horses Rent them.v This was a
common mode of expressing grief. Elisha
looked upon Elijah's departure as per-
sonal bereavement He had lost the guide
+ Of bis youth; loneliness came over
him and he acted like heartbroken
III. Dividing the Jordan Tvs. 10, l4)- 49,
The mantle. This was the same mantle
with which he had been called by Elijah to
the prophetic Office, and by which Elijah
divided Jordan. Having the mantle was
proof that he was invested with the au-
thority of his master. STOOD by the
bank" He was the same man and vet not
the same; like many another who has
gone to the gate Of heaven with depart
ing saint He could no more lean on Eli
jah, but he found that he had received az
the prophets dying legacy, I. EIjah,s
spirit. 4. Eijahs office. -
IA. "Smote.1 Elsha's first miracle was
identical with Elijah's last one. He acts
upon the faith that he would receive from
God the power which he had desired
Where is, etc. This question does not
imply doubt Of Gods presence, but is an
/ entreaty for His power to show itself and
give a foretaste Of the spirit of Elijah
which had been promised
! III. Searching for Elijah Tvs. 1919 -.
! Sons of the prophets. 4 The fifty who had
/ gone to height to watch Elijah and
Elisha as they went across the Jordan ".
y and were waiting for his return. They
said" etc. When they raw the miracle
wrought by Elisha they were confirmed IN
the belief that he was the divinely APP
| pointed successor of Elijah. Bowed
| themselves. Thus showing that they ac-
knowledged him as their head These
men were trained up in the schools Of the
! prophets.
is. Seek thy MASTER It cannot be
supposed after what they had said before
| to Elisha that the Lord would take away
his master on that day, that they expected
to find Elisha somewhere alive. No doubt
Elisha had at once told them how Elijah
had departed, bat evidently they could
no. fully believe that he had gone bodily
to heaven. Their search to find him: how
ever, was as fruitless and idle as tile at
tempt OF some moderns to explain away
the idea Of a bodily ascension into heaven
''Ye shall not. Elisha was absolutely
certain that the body could not be
found.
II. Ashamed To refuse longer 10
grant their request He saw that they
would not be satisfied until they had made
the. search. The best way to solve doubts
and questionings about religion is by d
personal investigation. DR.. Nelson, in his
book on infidellty, says that he never
knew an inidel who fairly investigated the
claims Of the gospel to remain an infidel.
10. Did ] not say@ The search only
that would find Elijah, let them aspire to
the heavenly paradise. Let them follow
the high steps Of has sincere faithlulEese,
strong patience, undaunted courage, fer
vent zeal and constant obedience.
~. Healing the waters Tvs; 1922 l9:
\
the place Perhaps they were the elders Of
the. city who. thus applied to Elisha, and
their action shows that he had their conf
dence. As he had now attained the high
est eminencc in the prophetic office, posi-
bly, they expected that he might be able to
rid the city of its plague. rs pleasant
| The situation of Jericho, near the passage
of the Jordan. was such as to attract a
considerable population after it was re-
built; and for the sake of the prosperity
which came TO them in other ways they
were content to dwell in such an unHhole-
some place. Now, however, they saw a
hope of benefit and with this thought they
came to Elisha Jericho was part Of that
country which, in Gen. 1910, is compared
| ito the garden Of the Lord Is naught'
Is bad, harmful; the word "naught' was
formerly used in this sense Ground bar
rem" See r. Y. "Casteth her fruit r.
| W, margin. The evil effect was clearly in
consequence Of the hurtful water, for The
healing OF the spring is to bring remedy
for the other evils. 1t seems therefore
that the water was such as caused the trees
to shed their fruit prematrrely.
20. A new cruise" "A new cup or dish,
one never used in any common or unhoIy
service. The purity of the vessel was to
Hpify the publication wrought upon the
spring,o Salt therein" Elisha in work.
ing this miracle would seem to make use
Of means just as Jesus did when He nut
spittle on the blind mans eyes" (John
9:6). The injurious property and effect
was not taken from the water by the salt
poured in, for even if the salt actually
possessed this power, whole spring could
not be corrected by a single dish az salt,
even for one day, much less for longer
time, or forever.
q. Unto the spring. The fountain
bursts forth at the eastern foot of a high
double mound, or group Of mounds, stu
ated mile or more in front Of the mount
am Qnarantania, and about thirty-five
minutes from the modern village Of Jeri-
cho 1t is large and beautiful fountain
OF sweet and pleasant water; not, indeed,
! cold, but also not warm. 1t is the only
! one near Jericho, and there is every reason
! to, regard It as the scene Of Elisha's mir
acle. Lord healed" Not Elisha, nor
the salt, but God wrought the change in
the fountain. This miracle was typical Of
the work done by the Lord after the as
censlon Of Christ, by means Of the apostles
and their successors casting the salt Of
Christian doctrine from the new cruise Of
the gospel into the unhealthful waters Of
the Jericho Of this world, and healing
them. Compare this miracle with that of
the healing Of the poisonous pottage (chap-
a:3S.4l) and the waters Of Marah (Exod.
1881
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