Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-09-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER II.
Subject: Elijah Taken Up Into Heaven.


III Kings, H., 1-l1-Golden Text. Gen.
W, a4-Memory Verses, 9.11-ComIncn'
tary on the Days lesson.
7. Elijah and Elisha journcying togeth.
er Tvs. l-S) |. when the Lord would
take up Elijah" A great truth is here
disclosed. Our lives are absolutely at
Gods disposal. 1t had been at least ten
or twelve years since Elijah had asked
that he might die, aud during all that time
he had been welding mighty influence
for God. But now his work was ended
Although no mention of Elisha as Eli
jah's companion is given in the history
between the day of EIisha's call and the
time of the events in this chapter, yet
from | Kings 49, 81 and Kings 3: ii
we conclude that Elisha had spent most
Of his time with the aged prophet, min
istering to his necessities. Prom Gil
gall This was the Gilgal few miles
northwest of Bethel, not the Gilgal near
Jericho. A school of the prophets was
located here as well as at Bethel and Jeri-
cho. 2. ITO Bethel" About nine miles
southeast of Glgal. 4. $40 Jericho
About thirteen mics southeast of Bethe!
s. "Sons of the prophets That is, the
young men attending the theological seni
inaries, first organized by Samuel for the
preparation OF religious teachers for the
peop.e. These ancient colleges were I'M
der the superintendent OF recognlzd
prophet, who was called The father
while the students were styled his chil.
drcn or sons. They were places of retire
ment adapted for study and devotion.
The students were permitted to marry.
The Inject of study at these institutions
was the law of Moses. Attention was Civ
On to music and sacred poetry. know.
est thou" etc. Not only was Elijah him.
self conscious of some great event at hand,
but Elisha an | the bands of prophets in
Bethel and Jericho had an intlmation that
the departure of Elijah was very near.
IRON thy head" That is, from being
thy head; thy spiritual father teacher,
leader aud director. The expression,
which is literally Taken from over thy
head" might also intimate the manner
Of Elijah, removal Yea, ] know
Elisha replies with Solemnity and empha.
sis. Literally, the Hebrew is, Of course
! know; hush. Elisha cannot bear the
questioning. lie thinks of his own weak
ness and of the great responsibilities
which viii be upon him when left alone.
His soul is burdcncd,
6. "Tarry here" Elijah had made the
same request at Gilgal and Hethe!.
Whether this was to try the strength OF
Eilsha'S affection, or because under the
weight of these hours he preferred retire
lItnl, OF DtthNFt lt N'NiI hil'I Noi'i'
which Elisha might not hear, or because
he thought God would have no one wit
hess his translation, we may not affirm,
$40 ,Iordan.' About five miles from .ieri'
chu is bend III the river Jordan where
| the ascension OF Elijah is supposed to nave
taken place AS the Lord llveth, etc.
This double oath, expressive OF the most
! intense carncstnes,, Is repeated three
times Tvs. ,, -. The two clauses OF II are
separately used with some frequency
lJudg. s. 10; Ruth 3 -; sam. |: 26l,
refused with gentle, respectful persistence.
lie will not be diss,ilded from his pur.
pose to remain with Elijah to the end.
:. FIFTY men, We see how large were
the prophctical schools OF Jericho. How
surprising to come upon so large a body
OF men dcyoting themselves to a holy life
While Ahah's children were still on the
| throne. stood to view 1t forbidden
| the qualification of personally accompany.
ing their master, they would at least
| watch his movements as long as possible.
! What they saw we are not told. =, llls
! mantle The shaggy garment which had
been 80 long his prophctical badge. It
was probably IA ,hccpskm. The skins OF
+ beasts dressed with the hair on were worn
! by prophets as an insignia OF their olhce.
"Wrapped it," Tightly round and round,
a. the word means, in the form of a staff.
"i>motc the waters" As ii they were an
enemy in his way. Ehjah's mantle was to
! hun at Jordan what the rod of God was
to Moses at the Red Sea (EXod IA 10,
| ~; and many things III the hives of these
! two prophets who should meet Christ on
| the mount were parallel. Were dlvd-
! Cd" ION the one side rushing hastily on;
! ON tn other, towering up like IA wall 81
| crystal
II Elisha's request Tvs. 9. 10Y. 8. ask. >
! What is your last request? Enjah thinks
not of himself, but of the needs OF the one
! he was 50 soon to leave behind HIM. Inc
test will show whether Elsha's aims are
spiritual or material. How would We an
svcr such a question? Before he tax.
en-" What Elijah does for Elisha must be
done before his departure, for there viii
! be no communication between them alter
! wards. There Is no warrant III the Scrip
! lures for the doctrine OF the ntcrctsNlOh
! of the saints after they had left this word,
! Christ is our advocate before the throne;
we need no other. "A double portion.
| There is nothing here OF selhshness or
ambition.
TO- "A hard thing 1t was hard Q) be-
| cause God and not Elijah must bcstoW
such Il gift, and CD because 1t depended
upon EIisha's fitness to receive it. II
thou see ne" II he was able to leta,u
to the end the same devoted perseverance
and keep his eye set and stcadiast on the
departing prophet, tn" gift would be his
| III. Eliiah's trausa ION ". ll). H.
"lalked." We can understand how much
Elijah would ind of eXhortat!on and en-
couragem,nt to bcstow as parting cOuHse 5
on his successor. What moments wer-
! those! Il was a walking and talking o,i
the verge Of heaven, Chariot OF lire.
etc. We cannot agree with those com
mcntators who think th,s was mercy d
"displav of fame and fire "a fiery pine
nomenon." which appeared cas- chariot
OF ire" etc. These were creations OF tn
spiritual world This heavenly scene W.,
no halmcination, but the chariot and
horses of fire were part of that vast host
the sound of whose movements lAvIo
once heard over the mulberry trees T.
sam. 5: pa, and who at later time hllrt
the mountains round about Elisha I:
Kings G: 10. parted thcm,' etc. The
fiery chariot separated the two prophets
"a whiriWind.' The text does not say
that Elijah went up in the chariot Of fir"
but he went up by whr,wlnd. 1t ma
been usually and very naturally assumed
however, that the translated prophet aN
cenEcd in the chariot, and that the rh1,r
lot was borne aloft ON the wings OF th'
wind. Compare Psa. l0l: 3. INTO heaV
en-" The abode of Gods saints, who re-
from their earthly labors. E,ilh's tran
lntion is proof Of the existence ui ano'h
err world beyond US aud That the soi
lives after it leaves this lie. Near nn
centuries later we see E,ilah on tha Nj MA
I of Transformation. Death docs MT 'u'
! all it is the beginning vi new cNatehI
which will never end.