The Tupelo journal., 1911-03-10
ELISHA
A CHILD TO LIFE

pfOphet ABOUT 6W b. L. but no cAact
date can be given to the separate stories.
chronologically.
PLACE6-The Jordan. Jericho. Bethel.
some part of Moun Carmel. where Elisha
sometimes retired.
The promise Of Elijah that If Elisha
saw him ascend, then he might know
that he was to be his successor had
been fulfilled. This might be con-
frmed by the fact that Elijah's man
tie. his familiar prophet-dress. fell
from him as he went up In the whirl-
wind, and was a confirmatory legacy.
so that Elisha might appear to the
people to be a prophet like his
ter.
But. like Gideon with the fleece.
Elisha would like to make another
test before he entered upon his work.
He was standing by the River Jordan.
The som of the prophets from Jeri-
chic were looking On. The river u
be crossed. He held the mantle with
which Elijah smote the waters, when
a way through them had been opened
by Elijah's God. Therefore II he was
really Elijah's successor. with the
same mantle, the same spirit, the same
work to do, then God would open a
similar pathway through the river for
Elisha. Folding up the mantle, and
shifting the waters, as his master had
done, he exclaimed, Where Is the
Lord, the God of Elijah?" and the way
was opened, and assurance was made
doubly sure.
Coming to Jericho, where there was
a guild of the Sons of the Prophets,
Elisha had an opportunity OF using
his power of service as a prophet. The
citizens of Jericho came to him for
help because the water supply was
very bad for both the people and the
land. They brought Elisha a new
bowl or dish, and put salt therein,
both typical Of purity and freshness.
Taking these with him he went up
the stream to the fountain head a
mile and a half from the town, and cast
the salt into 1t, saying. Thus saith
the LORD, l have healed these waters"
This clearly shows that the salt was
mot the mean whereby the healing
was wrought, but only as an outward
sign to point to the work which was
systematically performed" Salt
would naturally make the water
worse, not better: and even If 1t were
helpful, one dish of salt could not
purify a spring that supplied a whole
city with water, much less make 1t
permanently good. 1t was like the
clay with which Jesus anointed the
eyes of the blind nan
One of the sons Of the prophets
died and left his widow and two sons
in poverty. She a SO poor as to be
in danger of having her children sold
as slaves. Her husband may have
left her in debt, or she had run IN
debt, perhaps through her husbands
sickness. Her creditors demanded
their money, and. as she could not
pay 1t, they threatened to take her
two sons for slaves. to work out the
debt. In her trouble she appealed to
Elisha as the head of the guild, and
as one who had been helping others.
She had nothing left put a pot OF
olive oil.
Elisha babe the woman borrow
empty vessels from her neighbors,
and bringing them into her house.
with closed doors, to pour out from
her own Jar of oil till every dish and
Jar was full. This oil she was to sell
and pay her debt.
The result was according to the
prophets word. Every vessel she had
faith enough to borrow was filed with
the miraculous oil. Her debt was
paid, and her children saved from
slavery. According to her faith it was
done unto her.
Mother Goes to Elisha for Help
Elisha at this time was at Mount
Carmel, 16 miles away. The mother
knows the only thing to be done. She
calls for one of the servants. has an
ass saddled, and presses forward with
the utmost speed to the prophet.
Elisha knew that only some matter
of great Importance could bring a
oma there. "She caught him by
the feet. Gehazi came nea to thrust
her away" Deeming her Importantly
excessive, or such liberties beneath
his masters dignity.
Elisha went with the Shunammite
to her house, and found the child dead
upon the bed In his chamber. He
shut the door upon them twain. and
prayed" Thus, like Jacob wrestling
alone with the angel for the blessing.
could the prophet come into closest
communion with God, and learn his
will. Prayer makes the heart a chan
mel for Gods blessings. Gifts through
prayer are doubly blessed, the spirit
ual life is increased. the character
sanctif1ed.
"And he went up, and lay upon the
child" He used whatever means
were In his power. though the means
alone could never have brought the
child to life. So James tells the cid
ers who pray with the sick. to also
anoint him with oil. one of the COM
moner remedies Of the day. There
were faint signs OF life.
Then came another season of ag-
onising prayer. while the prophet
walked to and fro. This was q new
experience OF what the Lord might do
through him. and he could not know