The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-10-08
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDGYSQIOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 10
ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN.
LESSON TExT-II Kings 2:1-12a.
(By e. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of
the Sunday School Course, the Moody
Bible Institute. Chicago.)


fullness Of Joy; at thy right hand there
are pleasures forever more.-Ps. 1911.
This chapter is in type the Chris
tian's chapter. There are two chief
divisions: ~ Translation Wv. 1-12;
(2) reception and use Of power Wv. IL
25. The event occurred probably 1893
B. c. This Is a wonderful lesson for
youth as it emphasizes that the way to
heaven is the way to the best of life.
|. Eilsha's Testing, w. h. Since
Carmel, Elijah had largely been work
Ing according to the still small
voice." He had revived the schools of
Samuel, but now in some way notice
was sent from God that the time of
his departure was at hand. How Eli
sha learned this fact the record does
not suggest, but he had had a great
object lesson in Eiijahs faithful, step
by-step obedience to Jehovah's word
and doubtless was listening keenly
for Elijah's words and for the voice
Of Jehovah. This explains Elisha's
tenacity. Gilgal ". y means wheel"
our reproach rolled away, and is a
picture of our salvation Il. Peter 81;
Ps. 55:22). Elijah had already learned
the lesson of being supplanted by
younger man and 30 he gracefully al
lows Elisha to follow him. Bethel"
the house of God, was a good place to
tarry but not for Elisha at this time.
Now ". 81 fifty 'Bons"-pupils-of the
prophet seek to dissuade Elisha.
Knowing something was about to
happen, they stood to view afar off,"
but were not willing to draw nigh, to
follow like Elisha. They thereby
failed to reap a rich reward John
1920. Jericho ". A. means fra
GRANGE" 1t is the place Of tempta-
tion q. Cor. 1913. This was IA
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" ". 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 a great lessor
for US to follow in our service o.
Christ-our privilege of loyalty to his
cause and the blessing which will re
suit thereby. No great victory Of
blessing ever comes without much
travail and testing.
u. EIjah's Translation, w. e-t2a
Even as in the first section we see IL
type the plan of salvation SO in this
section we are taught the resultan
facts and the experiments which come
to US when the blessing is received
Elisha is now encouraged to TASK,
yet we have a like promise from
greater than Elijah which we too Otter
neglect John 14:13, 1910. Elijal
was such a mighty man of praye
Games SIT, 1S) that he was on init
mate terms with God and could there
fore make such an offer to Elisha Use,
Acts 8:15, ~. Notice that the lift.
sons of the prophets" who stood afa
off, were not on the right side of TIN
river to receive like promise or en-
ter into the same fellowship. In ;
sense this was Elisha's final test
; 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 l am taken from thee,
If God gives you spiritual vision Il
l use and to understand, then he will
I accept you as my successor. Their
: must be persistence to the end an
t spiritual vision. AS they still wen
5 on" Elijah went up, not in a chario
but attended by chariots and by
"whirlwind into heaven" (See ais
Eek. IA; II Kings GID. Elijah
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 common thing for j
: hovah.
e The translation of Jesus was quit
a different and properly SO (Acts 1:9
e Luke 24:5D.
e And he saw It."
Elisha's eyes were open and he say
his departing chief, therefore he Dt
g came his successor according to tn
d promise.
|. AS a visible proof of his new al
t pointment Elijah let his well-know
,. mantle fall, as he assembled, and Ell