The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-09-28
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER q.
subject' Elisha Succeeds Elijah, II
Kings, H.. 12-22-Gollen TcSt. III
Kings, H., 9-Memory Verses, 1a-1A-.
Commentary on the Days Lesson,

Kings, H., 9-Menory Verses, 12-1A-
Commentary on the Days Lesson,
Il. The vision ". l2). Lesson IL of the
third quarter should now be reviewed. Il.
Elijah. Elisha saw this. however. not with
ms natural eyes, for it was scene belong.
ing to the spiritual world, and to behold
1t he must, like the young man mentioned
in chapter 6:l7, have his inner senses un.
veiled. This sight was a special divine fa.
vor and was. made by Elijah the cond.
portion of his spirit ". 1O). MY father"
Ihls 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 tho
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
common mode OF expressing grief. Elisha
looked upon Ehjahs departure as a per.
sonal bereavement. He had lost the guide
OF his youth loneliness came over
! nm and he acted like a heartbroken
/ mourner.
| - Dlviding the Jordan Tvs. 13, 1G. 13.
1he 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 a
proof that he was invested with the au.
thorlty 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 a depart.
ing saint; He could no more lean on Eli.
Jah, but he found that ne had received az
the prophets dying legacy, l. Eljah's
mantle. 2. Elijah's God. 8. Eiiah's
spirit. 4. Elijah's office.
IA. Smote." Elisha's first miracle was
identical with Elijah's last, one. He acts
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. 10.
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
said, etc. When they raw the miracle
wrought by Elisha they were confirmed in
the belief that he was the diviney ap.
themselves" Thus showing that they ac.
knowledged him. as their head These
men were trained up in the schools of the
prophets.
l6. "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 to, hnd 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 bodily ascension into heaven.
"Ye shall, not" Elisha was absolutely
found.
II. Ashamed" To refuse longer to
grant their request. He saw that thev
would not be satisfied Until they had made
the search: The best way to solve doubts
and questionings about religion is by a
book on intidelity, says that he never
knew an .intidel who. fairly investigated the
claims OF the gospel to remain an infidel.
lS. did 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
the high steps OF his sincere faithfulness,
strong patience, undaunted courage, fer.
vent zeal and constant obedience.
~. Healing the waters Tvs. 1922. 10.
Men 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, posi-
bly, they expected that he might be able to
rid the city OF its plague. "Is pleasant"
The situation of Jericho. near the passage
OF the Jordan, was such as to attract a
considerable population after it was re-
builts md for tha snl-a pf tha
which came to them in other ways they
were content to dwell in such an unwhole-
some place. Now, however, they saw a
hope OF benefit and with this thought they
came to Elisha. Jericho was part OF that
SGonbry o tbsy rdh wnSh in Ss Gen i compared
Is bad, harmful; the word "naught" was
formerly used in this sense. Ground bar
rem" See r. V. "Casteth her fruit" X.
", margin. The evil effect was clearly in
consequence. Of the hurtful water, for the
healing OF the spring is to bring a remedy
that the water was such as caused the trees
to shed their fruit prematurely.
20. "A new cruse." A new cup or dish,
one never used in any common or unholy
service. The purity OF the vessel was to
syp!iy the pnriticat9n tSa wrought upon the
ing this miracle would seem to make use
OF means just as Jesus did when He put
spttle on the blind mans eyes" John
0:6) 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, a whole spring could
not be corrected by single dish OF salt,
even for one day, much less for longer
time, or forever.
2l. 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-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 Elslia's mir
acle. 'Iord-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
cension 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.
4:3S4D and the waters of Marah (Exod.
l5:25).