“AND it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, [which] parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw, and cried, My father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; and be took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where [is] Jehovah God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over” (2 Kings 2:11-1411And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. (2 Kings 2:11‑14)).
In this remarkable way did the scene close upon Elijah's testimony, setting the seal of divine approval upon it, and vindicating him whose life-work throughout had seemed singularly barren of results, yet provocative of man's hatred. Israel had rejected him but heaven received him, so now appears before us his successor, who had been closely connected with Elijah, and, in spite of all temptation, proves inseparable to the last. Upon Elisha is conferred the mantle, and with it also the double portion of Elijah's spirit which he had coveted. At an earlier period he had received the call to the prophetic office but had shown hesitation as though the honor were too great for him; and he would fain qualify himself to bear it. But the training had accomplished its work, his character was now formed, his heart had declared itself, and the moment had arrived in which to appropriate what he valued. In the heaven to which Elijah had gone no prophetic mantle could be required; it was for earth and particularly for service here. It is thus we are exhorted to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Cor. 12:3131But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31)). That which is really valued shall be possessed, and attached to us in our service here, receiving its proper reward hereafter. The great truth of Israel's relationship to Jehovah might have been undervalued and even surrendered by the nation, but God had not cast away His people, which He foreknew, as Rom. 12 indeed makes clear. Ahaziah might assume it to be a broken relationship, but we see how it cost him his life. (2 Kings 1).
The truth had given its own character to Elijah's testimony, and the altar of Mount Carmel had borne witness to it, as also to the unity of the nation. In their weakened, divided, and corrupted condition, faith alone could discern these things. “And it came to pass, at [the time of] the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Jehovah God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O Jehovah, hear me; that this people may know that thou art Jehovah God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again” (1 Kings 18:36, 3736And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. (1 Kings 18:36‑37)). So, too, Paul, in his day, “Unto which [promise] our twelve tribes, instantly serving [God] day and night, hope to come.” It is always faith which rises above the evil and confusion which departure from God has brought in, and takes its stand upon the sure foundation of God. What then? Will He restore what has corrupted itself? By no means. Yet will He enable those whose eyes are opened to the evil, and whose hearts are affected by it, to escape from what is false and to get back to divine principles.
In these last days of Christendom's history not a few have proved the reality of Christ's love to the church, the presence therein and power of the Holy Ghost, and the sufficiency of Christ's name as a gathering point and center for those for whom He died, until He come. Restoration collectively there cannot be, but the rejection of what is false. “Thou also shalt be cut off,” and “I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Rom. 11:2222Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Romans 11:22); Rev. 3:1616So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)). Is not the pretentiousness that would attempt it the height of presumption? For where have we any such mandate for it in the whole word of God? The ministry of Elisha did not aim at the moral recovery of the nation, as was the case with Elijah; although no doubt it was so used to many individuals in it. But God would have His poor, sinful people to understand that He changes not, and this they would prove who in their misery cast themselves upon Him, and find real blessing. In the yet future day of Israel's repentance. and restoration the blessed truth that will bring comfort to them will be, “His mercy endureth forever” (Psa. 118:1-41O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. 2Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 3Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 4Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 118:1‑4)). There was surely a little foretaste of this in Elisha's ministry, as also a most blessed illustration of the principles of the gospel preached now not to any particular nation, but to every creature under heaven. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:1919To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19)).
It may well have been that the testimony of Elijah penetrated further into the heart of the nation and produced a deeper impression than he himself, in his despondency, thought possible. At any rate, the school of the sons of the prophets originated in his time, and may have been a religious association of such as really desired to be instructed in the fear of God. It often happened in the history of Israel, as also since then of the church likewise, when the Spirit of God has been working in any special way to arrest the progress of evil, and to bring blessing and moral recovery to God's people, that long after the power and freshness of such a testimony have vanished, its outward form and character have continued and been used in God's providence, although no longer bearing the impress of the grace and energy of the Holy Spirit. There was no reason for Elisha to dissociate himself from the sons of the prophets, and his attitude towards them was ever gracious, yet was it not a human organization for perpetuating the blessing received from God? They might be used under the direction of the prophet in service of an outward character, but they at times appeared incapable of a right application of the principles they knew.
That which depends upon human strength and wisdom can never be trusted even to preserve the blessing received, still less to maintain a testimony such as God Himself can acknowledge and accept. The faithful servant of the Lord will clear himself of all that is merely human, and will find his strength in faith, obedience, and dependence. The glory of God, having no home in Israel and no visible display there, had not yet taken its departure to heaven, although its witness, Elijah, had been taken from the earth. The glory was still in close attendance upon such as valued it and were, in principle, identified with it. Elisha set no superstitious value upon the mantle of Elijah, nor did he set himself to act in a similar way to his late beloved master. Rather would he invoke the “Jehovah God of Elijah.” Faith manifested in him its own proper character and value, and in reality recalled the glorious days of Israel's first entrance into, and occupation of, the land of Canaan. In both cases the river Jordan interposed—a natural barrier to the progress of God's people, and to the accomplishment of His purposes. Nevertheless, faith counts upon the unchanging power and grace of God, and difficulties are overcome.
In the earlier days of Israel's history, the principles of God's relationship to His people had been fully vindicated, and put in evidence. “And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of Jehovah, your God. And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God [is] among you.... Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. And it shall come to pass as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, [that] the waters of Jordan shall be cut off [from] the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon a heap” (Josh. 3:9-139And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the Lord your God. 10And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. 12Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 13And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. (Joshua 3:9‑13)). But now in this later period, the firm foundation for faith is that, although the outward and visible glory had departed, yet God Himself is found of such as seek Him (“Where is Jehovah God of Elijah?”), and may be counted upon to meet the need of His poor and erring people. The prophetic mantle would be to them a link with God, as was in happier days “the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth.” And if God did at all condescend, by Elisha, to visit His people, could He deny Himself, or be less gracious than in days of old? Impossible! And even the “sons of the prophets,” with all their officialism, formality, and unbelief, had to acknowledge that “the spirit of Elijah doth rest upon Elisha.” And the Jehovah God of Elijah, was with him too.
(Continued from p. 339)
(To be continued)