2 Kings 2:1-15
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Psa. 126:5.
DO you remember, dear children, that Elijah once wished to die? But God chose that Elijah should never die, but should go up to heaven without dying. How pleased Elijah must have been, when he knew that God meant to do this! Should not you like, my dear child, to be caught up into heaven to be with the Lord Jesus forever? But God chooses that we should die, and that our bodies should be put in the ground. Yet if Christ were to come again while we were alive, then we should be caught up into heaven without dying, if we loved Jesus. When Elijah knew that he was soon going up into heaven, he went to some places first, where his friends lived. These friends were good young prophets who lived together, and learned about God.
Once Elijah had no friends; he had thought that no one loved God but himself; but now he had a great many friends. These young prophets knew that Elijah was soon going up to heaven. I think they must have felt sorry to part with him; only they knew that he was going to be happy.
Elisha wished very much to see Elijah go up to heaven. What do you think he determined to do.
To keep close to Elijah, and not to leave him. Elijah said to him, 'Pray stay at this place, while I go to another place, where the Lord has told me to go.'
And Elisha said, 'I will not leave thee.' Soon afterward Elijah said, 'Stay at this place, while I go on.'
`No,' said Elisha, 'I will not leave thee.' Soon again Elijah said, 'Stay at this place while I go on.'
`No,' said Elisha, 'I will not leave thee.'
So Elijah and Elisha walked a long way together from place to place. At last they came to the river Jordan. Then Elijah took off his cloak, and folded it up, and struck the waters with it; and God made a path through the waters, and Elijah and Elisha walked through the river on dry ground.
After they had gone over the river, Elijah said to Elisha, 'Ask what I shall do for thee before I be taken away from thee.'
For what did Elisha ask? He wished to be a prophet like Elijah, so he asked for a great deal of his spirit. Was not this a good thing to ask for? Elisha wished to be a prophet that he might teach people about God. He did not want people to praise him: he wanted them to praise God.
Elijah said, 'You have asked a hard thing, but if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so: but if not, it shall not be so.'
How much Elisha now hoped that he should see Elijah go up to heaven!
They still walked on, and talked to each other. What do you think they talked about? I am sure that they did not talk of foolish things. I think they talked of God and of heaven, and of what they could do to please God. How happy Elijah must have felt when he knew he was soon going to be with the God he loved so much!
As they were talking, there came down from heaven a chariot and horses of fire, perhaps, angels, who are bright like the fire, and Elijah was taken away from Elisha, and carried up into heaven: and Elisha saw him go up; and he cried out, 'My father, my father!'
Elisha loved Elijah as if he had been his father; for he had taught him about God.
Elisha was very sorry to lose his dear friend. As Elijah was taken away his cloak fell from him, and Elisha picked it up; and when Elisha came back to the river Jordan, he struck the waters with it, as Elijah had done, and the waters went up on each side, and there was a dry path, and Elisha walked over alone.
Now Elisha saw that God had made him a prophet like Elijah. Some of Elijah's friends were standing on the other side of the river, and they saw the wonder that Elisha had done, and they said, 'The spirit of Elijah is in Elisha;' and they came, and bowed themselves down to him.
These young prophets used to obey what Elijah said, and now they wished to obey Elisha.
Now Elisha would go about from place to place, as Elijah had once done, and he would teach people about God, and do wonders, to show people that his God was the true God.
You see, dear children, how happy God made Elijah at last. Once Elijah had been obliged to hide himself, because wicked people had tried to kill him; and he had often felt unhappy, because people would not turn to God. At last his tears were wiped away, and he went in a bright chariot to heaven. I wish, my dear child, you would begin now to trust in the Lord Jesus, and to think of Him. How happy you would be at last!
O no, Elisha will not leave
His father and his guide;
Till the last hour he'll closely cleave
To his beloved side.
In vain Elijah bids him stay;—
He still attends him on his way.
A gift Elijah bids him choose
Ere he ascends on high;
For heavenly grace Elisha sues,
And begs a large supply.
Does not this hope console his heart,
That dreads with one beloved to part?
The voice he soon no more shall hear,
Still speaks of heavenly things:
But now Elijah must appear
Before the King of kings:
A chariot, formed of angels bright,
Conveys him to the world of light.
Does not Elisha long to go
Up to the same abode?
Ah! still he must remain below,
To labor for his God;
At last he must submit to die,
Before he sees the worlds on high.
It was indeed an honor rare
From God's all-sovereign hand,
No death to see, to cleave the air,
And join the saintly band;
The grave's prepared for Adam's sons,
Save those who live when Jesus comes
Ah, then the living saints shall soar,
And meet him in the sky,
And death the righteous shall restore,
Who in the cold grave lie;—
And sin and sorrow, death and pain,
Shall ne'er be known by them again.
Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire.-Psa. 104:4.
The chariots and horses which Zechariah saw in a vision are declared to be the 'Spirits of the heavens,' which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.-Zech. 6:5.)
Questions on Lesson 31
Why would not Elisha leave Elijah when he told him to stay at several places?
When Elijah allowed Elisha to choose what he would have, what did Elisha choose?
Why did Elisha wish to be a true prophet?
What did Elijah say should be the sign to show Elisha whether he would have what he had asked for?
How did Elijah go up to heaven?
What miracle did Elisha do immediately after Elijah was gone up?