The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-09-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON xl, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. II.

| last lesson and this is full Of interest,
but we are asked to pass it all by and
give our attention TO this most inter
esting and profitable account OF the
translation of Elijah our golden text
associating ii with the translation of
Enoch, who walked with God and was
not, for God took him, or, according to
Heb. ri. .. he was not found, for God
! had translated him. This should be OF
| the utmost interest and Importance to
! believers, for there is always a posi-
bility that we, too, may be translated,
caught up in the clouds TO meet the
Lord in the air I'll Thess. V, 10, for we
shall not al sleep, but we shall all be
changed i'm Il moment, in the twinkling
of an eye q Cor. XIV, 81, 90. This will
! be the experience of all true believers
who shall be alive on the earth when
our Lord shall come again, and, mas
much as His coming is always immi-
/ nent, it might be the experience of
| those who are living today.
The time had come when the Lord
would take up Elijah by whirlwind
into heaven. and our lesson records the
Journey of Elijah and Elisha from Gil
gal to Bethel and Jericho and through
Jordan. and the separation of Elijah
and Elisha, Elisha becoming the sue
cessOr of Elijah with double portion
of his spirit Elisha's thrice repeated
"As the Lord liveth. and rs thy soul
liveth, | will not leave thee" is one of
the most interesting and suggestive
words Of our lesson verses ,, 1, 81 and
reminds us of the devotion of Ruth TO
Naomi and of lttai to David ruth
i, 10; III Sam. XIV, 2D, and this ought to
be our devotion TO Christ.
The places Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho and
Jordan may suggest different expert
ences in the life of believer, taking
the suggestions from the meanings OF
the words or from incidents associated
with the places-Gilgal, reproach rolled
away; Bethel, house of God or vision
of Cod Jericho, city of palm trees, the
waters healed; Jordan, river of judg-
ment Some believers may have only
the assurance of salvation, all sins for
given; others have some special mani
festations of God; others have learned
TO let alone the waters that cannot sat
isfy and drink only of the living water
that gives health: still others see that
they are dead with Christ. buried with
Christ, risen with Christ, like the
twelve stones under Jordan and the
twelve at Gilgal (Josh. iv, 5, 81, but to
men like Elisha no experience satisfies,
nothing but living person. to whom
the whole heart says Il will not leave
thee"-not His gifts, not His riches
of grace or glory, but Himself, apart
from whom all is as nothing.
The bride eyes not her garments, but
her dear bridegroOm's face | will not
gaze at glory, but on my King of grace.
The same thought is presented in the
words OF verses {, s, 9-"They two
went on. they two stood, they two
went over" This suggests 1.-The Lord
and Gideon" Judg. vii, Is, 20), and
Enoch's walk with God. and the essen
tails TO a walk with God-"How can
two walk together except they be
agreed?' Humble myself to walk
with God" amos iii, 3; Mic. vi y.
The Lord hath spoken. We cannot
walk with Him unless we meekly ac-
cept His word and we cannot walk in
fullest intimacy with Him unless we
accept all His words, believing all
things that are written" To do this, all
of self and self sufficiency and human
wisdom must be renowned and the
Lord and His word become our all
sufficient oracle. The meek will He
teach His way. If we allow anything
to come into our lives that is not of
God-companionship, occupation, recre-
alton in which we cannot have fellow
ship with Him-our walk will be
married, our communion broken. He
may have to say TO us as He did TO the
two with whom He walked to Emmaus
"Oh, fools, and slow of heart TO believe
all that the prophets have spoken
duke xiv. 90. Let us not give Him
occasion to say this, but let us be
"most surely believers"
The last helpful word we shall have
space to consider in this brief medita
ton will be Elijah's offer and Elisha's |
request, ASK what shall do for thee"
LET a double portion of thy spirit be
upon me" Verse 81. The condition on
which the request would be granted |
was that Elisha should see him when |
he was taken. AS they still went on |
and talked we may not know in what |
direction Elijah looked, possibly look
ing upward, but there can be no doubt |
as to where Elisha's eyes were, for If |
he looked away from Elijah for only |
one brief moment he might miss that |
which he desired. So we see him with |
his gaze intently and unwaveringly |
fixed upon his companion.
1t is the same intense earnestness |
that is required of us if we would be |
filled with the Spirit. The word stands. |
eye shall seek Me and find Me when We /
shall search for Me with all your
heart" der. xxx. 49,. The eyes of the |
Lord are still looking over the earth !
for those whose hearts are whole to- |
ward Him QI Chron. xvi. 81. Elisha I
saw Him taken with the whirlwind T
and chariot and horsss of fire. and it F
soon became very manifest TO the sons
of the prophets that the spirit of Elijah
did indeed rest on Elisha Ii is greatly