Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-09-30
THE SUNDAY j.. SCHOOL ::
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER o.
Subject, Elisha Succeeds Elijah, III
- Kings, IT,, 12-22-Golden Text, III
Kings, H., 9-Memory Verses, 12-14-
Commentary on the Days Lesson.

Commentary on the Days Lesson.
I. The vision ". l2). Lesson IL of the
third quarter should now be reviewed. II.
Elisha saw it," That is, the ascension of
Elijah. Elisha saw this, however, not with
his natural eyes, for it was a scene belong
ing to the spiritual world, and to behold
it he must, like the young man mentioned
in chapter GIL have his inner senses I'M
yelled. This sight was special divine ia.
vor and was made by Elijah the condi-
tional sign of Elisha's obtaining double
portion of his spirit ". 10Y. my father"
This title of affection was given by the
younger prophets to an elder. Elijah had
been father to him in his care and train
ing, in love and legacy. These words
should be understood as an exclamation Of
wonder and amazement. Elisha sees his
spiritual father depart, and he sees the
chariot and the celestial steeds, and he
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" This was a
common mode of expressing grief. Elisha
looked upon Ehjah's departure as a per-
soral bereavement He had lost the guide
of his youth; loneliness came over
him and he acted like a heartbroken
mourner.
II. Dividing the Jordan Tvs. ID, l4). ID.
The mantle. This was the same mantle
with which he had been called by Elijak to
the prophetic Office, and by which Elijah
divided Jordan. Having the mantle was a
proof that be was invested with the au-
thority of his master. STOOD by the
bank" He was the same man and yet 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 as
mantle 2. Efjahs God. 8. EIjah's
spirit. 4. Elijah's Office.
H. "Smote" Elisha'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 u.s." etc. This question does not
imply doubt of Gods presence, but is an
entreaty for His power to show itself, and
give foretaste of the spirit of Elijah
which had been promised.
III. Searching for Elijah Tvs. 1919 Is.
Sons of the prophets. 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
wrought by Elisha they were confirmed in
the belief that he was the divinely ap.
pointed successor of Elijah. Bowed
themselves" Thus showing that they &C.
knowledged him as their head. These
men were trained up in the schools of the
prophets.
10. "Seek thy master" 1t 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, but evidently they could
not fully believe that he had gone bodily
to heaven. Their search to find him, how.
ever, was as fruitless and idle as the at
tempt Of some moderns to explain away
the idea of a bodily ascension into heaven.
rye shall not" Elisha was absolutely
certain that the body could not be
found.
II. Ashamed" To refuse longer to
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, a
personal investigation. DR.. Nelson, in his
book on infdeIity, says that he never
knew an infdel who fairly investigated the
claims of the gospel to remain an infdel.
IS. "Did l not say" The search only
confirmed the words of Elisha. Those
that would find Elijah, let them aspire to
the heavenly paradise. Let them follow
tho high steps of his sincere faithfulness,
strong patience, undaunted courage, fer
vent zeal and constant obedience.
~. Healing the waters Tvs. 1929. ID:
'rMen of the city" Prominent citizens OF
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 eminence in the prophetic, office, possi'
bly, they expected that he might be able to
rid the city of its plague SIS pleasant"
The situation Of Jericho, near the passage
of the Jordan, was such as to attract
considerable population after it was re-
built; and for the sake of the prosperity
were content to dwell in such an unwhole-
some place. Now, however, they saw
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" as naught."
formerly used in this sense. Ground bar
rem" See R. V. "Casteth her fruit" r.
", 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 prematurely.
20. "a new cruise" A new cup or dish,
one "never used in any common or unholy
service. The purity of the vessel was to
typify the publication wrought 34lg: upon the
IL 20 ,oI-
of means Just as Jesus did when He put
spittle on the blind mans eyes" John
g: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 q single dish OF salt,
even for one day, much less for longer
time, or forever.
81. "Unto the spring" The fountain
bursts forth at the eastern foot of high
double mound, or group of mounds, stu
ated mile or more in front of the mount.
ain Quarantania, and about thirty-ive
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. It is the only
one near Jericho, and there is every reason
to regard it as the scene Of Elisha's mir
the salt, but God wrought the change in
the fountain. This miracle was typical Of
the work done by the Lord after the as
tension 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 lchap.
l:3s-4l) and the waters of Marah (Exod,
1920.