Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-10-08


This chapter is in type the Chris
ian's chapter. There are two chief
ivisions: ID Translation w. 1-12;
% reception and use Of power w. 12-
8. The event occurred probably S99
}. G.. This is a wonderful lesson for
'outh as it emphasizes that the way to
heaven is the way to the best of life.
!. EIisha's Testing, w. 1-8. Since
Carmel. Elijah had largely been work.
ng according to the "still small
Toice." He had revived the schools Of
Samuel, but now in some way notice
was sent from God that the time Of
mis- departure was at hand. How Eli
sha learned this fact the record does
not suggest, but he had had a great
object lesson In Elijah's faithful, step
by-step obedience to Jehovah's word
and doubtless was listening keenly
for Elijah's lords and for the voice
of Jehovah. This explains Elisha's
tenacity. Gilgal ". u means wheel"
our reproach rolled away, and is q
picture of our salvation e. Peter ST;
Ps. 55:22). Elijah had already learned
the lesson Of being supplanted by q
younger man and so he gracefully ar
lows Elisha to follow him. aBethel, !"
the house of God. was good place to
tarry but not for Elisha at this times
Now (v. 81 fifty "sons" pupils of the
prophet seek to dissuade Elisha.
Knowing something was about to
happen, they stood to view afar OF, =
but were not willing to draw nigh, to
follow like Elisha They thereby
failed to reap rich reward (John
1926. Jericho ". y means fra
GRANGE" It is the place of tempta-
tion q. Cor 1O.13). This was II
miles farther and contained settle
ment of prophets. Again Elijah and
Elisha PASSED on, the one to glory,
the other to the fullness of the Holy
Spirit. At Jericho ". 81 the @sons
of the prophet" evidenced greater In
terest than those at Bethel but in
reply to their challenge Elisha COM
manded silence. The last difficulty to
confront them was Jordan death,
but they do not hesitate, for God had
provided even for that contingency.
Neither are we to hesitate but viii
lingly die unto SELF" Here the aged
prophet exercised his supernatural
power and they went over on dry
ground (v. 81. Though this journey
seems to have been revealed only
stage by stage, yet it was direct to
the final goal, and at each stage.
though they saw not the end, they
knew where to go next. This loyalty
of Elisha to Elijah is great lesson
for us to follow in our service of
Christ-our privilege of loyalty to his
cause and the blessing which will re-
suit thereby.
II. EIijar's Translation, w. e-12a.
Even as in the first section we see In
type the plan of salvation SO in this
section we are taught the resultant
facts and the experiments which come
| to US when the blessing is received.
Elisha is now encouraged to ask.
| yet we have a like promise from q
/ greater than Elijah which we too often
neglect (John 14:13, 15:17). Elijah
was such mighty man Of prayer
/ flames SIT. 18) that he was on init.
mate terms with God and could there.
fore make such an offer to Elisha (see
Acts 8:15, I'D. Notice that the fifty
sons of the prophets" who stood afar
off, were not on the right side of the
river to receive a like promise or en-
ter into the same fellowship. In q
sense this was Elisha's final test
What he would ask would prove what
he was fitted for Elisha had beer
sufficiently tested SO that it was per
fectly safe to grant him his requests
Christ is likewise safe in granting
requests to all who abide in him
and in whom his word abides" (Johr
15:7). What he asked was not twics
that possessed by Elijah but rathel
5 the portion belonging to the eldes
Issen (Deut. 21:17), the one who was tt
be successor and head of the house
hold. Elisha asked for fitness for ths
work rather than position in the work
Elijah reminds him thats the reQues
made was hard thing" for of al
hard things to impart to another tn,
hardest is to transfer spiritual gifts
Again Elijah may not have known tn
plan of God that man so unlike him
self was to take the place of leader
ship. Elijah said, however, IF tho
see me when | am taken from thee,
if God gives you spiritual vision t
use and to understand, then he wi
accept you as my successor. Their
must be persistence to the end an
spiritual vision. "As they still wen
on" Elijah went up, not in chario
but attended by chariots and by
"whirlwind into heaven" (See ais
Eek. Ia: II Kings SID. Elijal
the man of tempestuous fire an
sword, who in his hour Of weakness
prayed to die, is swept out of sigh
amid display of Gods power in an
through nature.
Note the simplicity Of the record
one verse-as though such power wer
a simple and a common thing for j
hovah.
The translation of Jesus was quit
different and properly SO tActs 1,s
Luke 24:51).
And he saw it."
Elishas eyes were open and he sa
his departing chief. therefore he b
came his successor according to th
promise.
: AS a visible proof of his new a
f pointment Elijah let his well-know
I mantle fall as he ascended. and E
. sha took it and is recognized as e
q jah's successor.
What is heaven? Read the last cha
i ters of Revelation.
e Do we live after death? Elijah an
+ Moses on the Mount of Transfgur
: ton, and the resurrected Christ pro,
v that death is but the transference
a another field of activity.
Encouragement in Africa.