The Yale expositor., 1911-03-02

LESSON TEXT Kings 2:l-B. Mem
DRY verses II. IL.
GOLDEN TEXT-'Enoch walked with
God and he was not; for God took him."
| Gen. 5i2i.
/ TIME-Probably about p. c. 800 six
years after the affair OF Naboths vine
| yard. our last lesson (Assyrian SsD the
SD year OF the divided Kingdom.
PEACE-Across the Jordan. opposite
Jericho. from whence Elijah was trans
lated
Elijah's public life extended over not
more than 20 years. The first IA
were strenuous and heroic. with crises
like thunderstorms. The Methodist
minister. who was complained OF for
shouting so loud in his pulpit, replied
Il am not singing lullabies; am
blasting rocks Elijah was blasting
| rocks
But for the last six years since the
vision of God, Elijah had been work
ing more on the plan Of the still small
voice" Once only did his fierce woe
unto you" blaze forth. when King
Ahaziah. Ahabs son, sought aid from
Baal instead of the God OF Israel He
had been training his successor Elisha
who was full of Elijah's spirit of re-
ligion, but manifested it in gentler
ways. Moreover Elijah was the head
OF the several schools of the prophets,
where he could train and confirm the
members in their work OF living and
teaching the true religion. thus quiet
ly undermining idolatry.
Elijah went with Elisha. as Paul took
Mark with him on his first missionary
/ journey Elisha was Elijah's attend
ant and companion. student and friend.
or these years it is recorded only that
the young man "ministered" to Elijah,
and poured water on his hands" And
Elijah said unto Elisha. larry here.
pray thee. Elijah. Elisha. and even
the sons of the prophets, evidently
knew that Elijah's departure was at
hand.
Elijah's last journey was clear
ly laid out for him. Its object was
two-fold; a natural desire on the part
OF the great leader to revisit the
scenes so dear to him. and his pur-
pose to fix upon his disciples minds
most important. Last words are best
remembered, and the sight of the
sturdy old man still able TO make on
/ foot a journey of more than 30
miles, his kindling chances, his ring
ing voice, must have remained with
them a.precious memory, nerving them
to greater boldness in the cause of Je-
hovah
And so sons of the prophets went,
and stood TO view afar of. The alb
rupt heights behind the town command
ed an extensive view of the river the
nearest bend OF which was five miles
away. With a delicate sense of pro-
priety, the young men kept at a dis
lance, but it was fitting they should be
witnesses of the scene. to testify aft.
erwards throughout the land to Eli
janis favor with God and to the real
ity of immortality. For similar rea-
sons the IL witnessed the ascension Of
our Lord.
Elijah said: ASK what shall do
for thee, before be taken away from
thee" So God asked Solomon at the
Elijah's last opportunity to do any.
thing for his friend and successor,
and he wanted to make an expression
to him of his fatherly love.
Elishas answer was: Let a double
portion of thy spirit be upon me-" The
double portion" was the portion of
the eldest son according TO Jewish
| Iauyha racaivad n double shora of tba
inheritance. Elisha did not ask to be-
come an Elijah. but to succeed him.
He wanted the same spirit of God
which had made Elijah so powerful, so
useful What he wished was the
virtues of his friend. He was seized
with an irresistible desire to posses
those glorious characteristics OF devo-
ton to duty, courage in danger, 10y.
atty to God. This is the longing of
all noble souls. to catch and retain
something of the spirit of heroes and
saints. 1t was not a request of pride,
or it would not have been granted.
There appeared a chariot of fire and
horses of fire. 1t was a glorious body
guard; but Elijah did not go up in a
chariot. he went up by whirlwind
into heaven. The marvellous effects
of electric light through prisms and
fountains. might give us some idea OF
the scene. 1t was in this ascent, as
in the ascension OF Christ, that his
physical body was changed into a glo-
rious spiritual body.
And Elisha saw It. The ascension
OF Elijah, which was the sign given
him by which he might know that he
was to succeed to his masters office
And he cried, MY father, my father
Elijah had been a father to him, in his
care and training. in love. and in
legacy. It was the cry of orphanhood
These words, too. may fairly be con
strued as suggesting an aspect of Eli
jah's character which is generally
overlooked. Those who are most ter.
rible In their denunciations of sin are
often the fullest OF tenderness aud