The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-28
f 5TzSfS Ser&reB III the Qhrrrea IT Dzlahnotm1 E1
hidqysEAHs1 WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYANs BIBLE TALK ~
Spirit of Prophets Arouses
Men to Service, Says Bryan
Examples of Majestic Characters Potent In
fluence in Hearts of Men, Winning
Multitudes to Their Teachings.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
And ii came to pass, when
the Lord would take UP Elijah
into heaven by a whirlwind, that
Elijah went with Elisha from
Gilval"
No strained language. no
words of introduction: just
simple statement. There was
nothing to emphasize tho nm
usual honor to be accorded the
great prophet.
Elijah tested the loyalty OF
the younger man: "Tarry here,
] pray thee" he said, FOR the
Lord hath sent me to Bethel"
Elisha's answer must have pleas
cd Elijah, for it throbbed with
devotion: las the Lord liyetn.
and as thy soul liveth. I will
not leave thee" So they Jour
neyed on together toward Bethel.
The sons of the prophets who
were there had been informed
of what was about to take place.
and asked Elisha "Knowest thou
that the Lord will take away
thy master from thy head to-
day. Yea. know it," said
Elisha: hold ye your peace"
Again Elijah tried the faith of
the young man and asked him to
tarry in Bethel while he went
to Jericho. Again Elisha re-
fused. So they went on to
Jericho.
Unwilling 10 Leave Elijah.
4 third time Elijah urged him
to stay behind while he went to
Jordan. and third time Elisha
renewed the declaration of his
purpose not to leave him.
1t is a wonderful picture that
these two present as they left
the sons of the prophets who
were at Jericho and approached
the Jordan. Taking his mantle,
Elijah wrapped it together a.
smotc the water: the water di-
vided and the two passed over
to the other side.
Elijah then probed the heart
of his companion. and this test
presented a more difficult prob
lem to Elisha than the three
preceding ones. 1t was much
easier for Elisha to declare his
intention to follow Elijah much
easier to refuse to he separated
from him than to answer wisely
the question now put to him:
ASK what I shall do for thee"
We may well ask ourselves
what our answer would be IL we
were permitted to have the thing
that the heart most desired.
There arc many false gods
that are worshipped today-gods
upon whose affairs We lay our
offerings. We do not always
know what is uppermost in the
minds Of those about us: only
such a question as that asked by
Elijah brings the paramount
wish to the surface. The real
lonCinEs Of the heart may be
suppressed on ordinary occa-
sions. but when an opportunity
for qualification comes. the rul-
ing passion finds expression.
What would we ask II given our
choice by one with pow.
grant any request?
Asks for Spiritual Gift.
II Elijah had himself framed
the answer, il could not have de-
lighted him more. Elisha poured
his heart into his words when he
answered: Il pray thee. let a
double portion OF thy spirit be
upon me-"
1t was a hard request to grant,
but 1t was just the thing that
Elijah would like to grant.
There had been no jealousy in
his heart. not the slightest sign
Of disappointment when he was
by God sent to anoint his sue
cessor. blowing with his oxen
in his fathers field. With all
the bigness of a big man, he
had taken Elisha to hInseIf and
trained him for his work. hold
ing bach nothing from him. In
the answer that Elisha made he
saw his confidence justified and
his hopes realized.
Then came Elijah's ascension
to heaven in a whirlwInd E.lixh,