The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-03

Between Elijah and Ahab in Nahoth
vineyard Ahab was sialn In battle, te
vas succeeded by his son Ahazlah.
One day the new king met with a
serious a cidenL aEd at ms command
messengers were sent TO the temple
OF 6aai 10 inquire af the oracle III NJ
woaiG get We4i On the way they wert
Suddenly confronted by Eltjsu. is
1t because there Us no God in Israel
that iva Eu ia inquire of Baaizebup
the god of Ekrou sternly demanded
the old prophet Ana ne ordered them
to turn back an5 70 tell the king that
he should surely die. When the KING
ss.t the message he sent nifty men In
hot haste 60 arrest the prophet. The
story - told I'm j Kings i: s-l6. a
would rot undertake TO discuss. in
class i&tjah's conduct In calling down
IRE upon the heads Of these men. We
cannot satisfy Il pupil by telling him
that such an act was necessary for
this or that or the other particular
reason Indeed, we never satisfy the
minds Of our pupils by attempting to
apologize for God or by attempting to
Justify any act ~ his. the m olive Of
which is not apparent. God does not
need that We Should defend Him
against any charge that hts enemies
may make. If we fully knew the facts
We may ne sure mat AlS IAtNS "uuia
Justify him. but not knowing the facts
we may be just as sure that our argu-
ments are not going 10 Justify him in
the eyes Of our pupils. Discussions
upon such points ever shed any light
but only stir up a cloud of doubts II
If q good, If homety rule, never to
dig up any more snakes than one can
KILL
We h<ar nothing about Elijah after
yY~ 4-.fE he IVA. 1a.Hu
for his departure.
The lesson Text I'm Everyday Dress.
One day while Elijah was at Gilgal
1t was impressed upon him by the
Spirit ri the Lord that the time of
his departure was at hand. The old
man began at once to make arrange
ments fer his leave-taking His plan
was TO visit the schools OF the proph-
cts at Bethel snad Jericho. apparently
that he might give 20 the young
prophets his final benediction and
then pass over the Jordan and there
await the messengers of Jehovah who
Were to take him home, Calling
Elisha he directed him to remain at
GilgaL saying that the Lord had
called him 10 go to Bethel Elisha
had already learned through the Spirit
OF the Lord what was about 10 take
place and he determined to remain
with his master to the last. LAS Jeho-
yah liveth.' he said, and as thy soul
itveth, win not leave thee" And
So together they went down to Bethel
There the young men OF the SCHOOL
OF the prophets took Elisha aside and
asked him If he knew that the Lord
intended 10 take away his master He
told them that he knew all about it,
and asked them to keep the matter
quiet Here Elijah made another
effort to separate himself from Elisha,
but without success. And so together
they went - visit the school at
Jericho. Here the young men came
TO Elisha as they did at Bethel ask.
Eng tho same question and receivins
3 the same answer. Elijah now made
one more effort TO separate himself
from his faithful servant, hut to nc
purpose. las the Lord iiveth. and
as thy soul iiveth l Will not leave
Z thee, tse said. And they two went
on" The Young men of the school O!
the prophets knowing what was abou,
20 come 10 pass, climbed the hill near
Jericho hoping TO get glimpse OF the
maj scene. When Elijah reached the
river he took off his mantle twisted
II up and struck the water Instantly
the stream was divided and the tive
& men walked over on the bare ground
Not far beyond the river the ole
prophet stopped and turning to Elisha
before ] be taken away from thee
1t was difficult for Elisha TO choose
for he felt he would rather take vi
his masters work and follow hi
example than to DO anything else ir
the world; and so he asked that
double portion Of Elijah's spiri
might be given him. Thou hast ask
fheless II you remain with me to tn,
end II shall be done Then he turn
cd and they walked on. Presently
whirl~tnd struck the earth and sweep
toward them, 1t was supernatura
Ehfrlwind with a supernatural dis
play of fire attending II which ha(
the appearance to Elisha OF chariotl
and horses, The whirlwind swept b,
and took up Elijah and left Eiishs
atanding alone. He looked ur and a,
ss' he saw the figure Of the old prophe
ascending he cried My father m,
father the charfots OF Israel and tn,
horsemen thereof" He felt that tn.
very power Of Israel was taken away
And he tore his garments In his an.
gutsh.
AS Elisha stood watching the as
cending cloud there burst from hi
lips a mighty heart-cry: My father
my father. the chariots OF Israel and
the horsemen thereof" Poor man. hi
felt that the very power and giorJ
OF Israel mad been snafchSd away
Long he stood straining his eyes tc
catch the last glimpse OF the recedins
cloud. and when at last IL disappeared
he bowed his head In aguish. There
before him upon the ground lay the
mantle of his beloved master. After
all something was left. Doubtless
this mantle was but a sym Dol OF some.
thing better, He would soon see. He
reached down and taking It up ten
derby laid 1t upon his shoulder, and
turned back toward the Jordan. Pres.
entity he came to the river. VIVA
should he do? Had his prayer beer
answered? Had double portion OF
Eniah's spirit come upon him? He
laid hold OF the mantle. and twtstins
IT up struck the water as he had seer
his master do. Where is the God OF
Elijah" he cried. Where? AT thai
very instant the hand Of the God OF
Elijah cleft the waters. Another mo.
merit and Elisha was walking over
on dry ground. The young men VINO
stood watching him from the hill
top near Jericho said one to another
THE spirit of Elijah rests upon him.
and they FASTENED to do him rever.
ence. AS for Elijah they were q liz
tie I'm doubs. They could believe tina
his spirit had ScenGad to- heaven; bu
they would like to satisfy themselve:
that his body had not been carried
and left in some lonely spot on Q
nelghborlng mountain or In a valley