The chapter under consideration is replete with instruction. The communion of saints and the object of it is unfolded. Two eminent servants of God are introduced to us in circumstances unequaled in interest: the one on the eve of his rapture to God in His glory: the other thirsting for a double portion of God's presence and power upon earth. How glorious the destiny of the one, how perfect the aim of the other—God, the object of fruition to each. Blessed was their fellowship with one another, thrice blessed the bond of their union. On the eve of separation in time, yet bound up in the bundle of life for eternity.
How striking the grace of God in His dealings with the people of Israel. He would not leave Himself without a witness. When His worship was corrupted, the priesthood defiled, the place of His holiness set at naught; when darkness, gross darkness, covered the land, how suddenly is Elijah introduced on the scene. When darkness was upon the face of the deep, God said, "Let there be light." And now in the worse than Egyptian gloom which hid Him from the eyes of the people, His witness is prepared in the secret of His presence, and burst upon the nation with words of power, and the spirit of power, " As the Lord God of Israel liveth before whom I stand;" He was to the nation as one forgotten. They had thought He was as a dead man, out of sight. The testimony of Elijah was to the living God, in opposition to the formality of ordinances or their superstitious idolatry. So Paul to the Thessalonians, commends them that they had turned from idols to serve the living God. So, writing to Timothy, he exhorts them that are sick to trust in the living God.
An age of apostasy can have much of the spew of religion. " Having the form of godliness, but denying the power." Such is prophetically announced in the New Testament as the sign of the last times. But, blessed be God, "when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him." So it was in the work of Elijah, "A man of like passions as we are," yet endued with the Spirit from on high, he stood alone in his testimony borne up in the strength of the Almighty, a swift witness against the evil around him; yet bearing a marvelous testimony to God's grace and faithfulness to a remnant amongst it. "He abideth faithful, he cannot deny himself." Happy resting-place for his poor distracted people! The darkness which covered the earth, served but to display the light of His holiness more strikingly. " The Lord hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Prov. 16:44The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Proverbs 16:4).)
The path of Elijah in service is not the object of this paper. He was introduced abruptly on the scene of his labors, and makes his exit in a manner equally striking. His mission was in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. His course is fulfilled, and the version of His service attained. Our chapter briefly announces his departure. " And it came to pass, when the Lord would take away Elijah into Heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel: And the sons of the Prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace." (4, 5, and 6.)
The conduct of Elisha is the subject of our meditation. Perseverance in the pursuit of an object is laudable, or the contrary, according to the character of that which is sought. Just as all the praise of union is in the subject; if good, it is commendable; if sinful, it is of the Devil. Whenever unity is pleaded for, and the truth of God made to bend to it, instead of IT to the truth of God, there is sin. The course of Elisha is striking; The rapture of his master was at hand, and he knew it. God had communicated it to His prophets; they were expecting the event. " Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal; and Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee, for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel." And Elisha resolutely persisted in bearing him company. Attachment to his master would vindicate his refusal to leave him. This is beautiful in its place. But Elisha was eager to learn more of Elijah's Master. He had dwelt with the servant of God, and rejoiced in the Grace and Power bestowed upon him, but his desires were quickened after the Lord God of Elijah. If such beauty and power was seen in the measure of God's gift to him, how earnestly might he desire a double portion! To "covet earnestly the best gifts" is enjoined as a precept, as well as to be "zealously affected in a good cause." This pre-eminently characterizes Elisha. There are these trials of his constancy at Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho; but he was proof against the most urgent entreaties. "And now they reach Jordan, and Elijah took his mantle and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that the two went over on dry ground."
The goal is reached; his faith shall be rewarded. " And it came to pass when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask, what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me." The secret of his heart is discovered; first led to desire, then encouraged to expect, he asks largely, as assured of the power and goodness of God to dispense freely. "Elijah said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on and talked." What a picture is this, and yet how interesting, on the verge of separation yet eternally united. Their topic upon Earth, the communion of Heaven. Their conversation in Time, the theme of Eternity, God, the blessed union of both. "They still went on and talking"- how faith exalts poor humanity into calm, quiet dignity of deportment. Since the time of Enoch, had it not happened that one alive in the body was caught up into Heaven; Yet great as was the event, and large as was their expectation, communion with God lifted them above it. They "still went on and talked." So it is, expectations from God find their answer in Him. The consciousness of being nobody, leaves the soul free to act above Circumstances, and, leaning upon God to do away with human weakness. The one who could thus hold fellowship with his companion, on the eve of such a change, was the only man fit for it. Man has hard to struggle, to acquire equanimity of soul in seasons of excitement; the power of God bestows it. "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. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." And he saw him no more: yet, how stable his soul, how steadfast his purpose! -" 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 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."
How well he understood the word, "that in God's favor is life, and his loving-kindness is better than life." How eager to ascertain that he was the possessor of that. He was not content with the cloak of Elijah, his office and ministry; as the hart panted after the waterbrook, so his soul thirsted after God, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" It was the presence of God in the midst of His saints, which brought about that excellent beauty and order which we read of in the Acts of the Apostles, "Great grace was upon them all, and the multitude of them than were of one heart and of one soul." "The kingdom of God is not in word only, but in deed and in power." "The Gospel was preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven."
Alas! Lord, how are our expectations to-day? How far short are we from honoring God by expecting largely from Him. Not so with Elisha. He asked for a double portion of God's Spirit, and his faith is rewarded. Endued with powers from on high, he enters on his ministry; having received gifts, he is eager to dispense them. How, with many, the character and the credit which arise from it, are the objects sought after! The form of godliness has no cross attached to it. The power of godliness, whilst leading into trial, yet gives strength to endure it. "Partakers of the sufferings, so also of the consolation." We lose sight of this.
Far different was the conduct of the sons of the Prophets. It is written in verse 7, "And fifty men of the sons of the Prophets went and stood to view AFAR OFF, and these two stood by Jordan." Confidence in God brings His servants to draw nigh unto Him. If the sick and afflicted participated in the blessing, they must draw near to Jesus. "Then drew near publicans and sinners for to hear Him." (Luke 15)
" But the sons of the Prophets stood to view afar off. Faith honors God, and is bestowed that we may honor Him. Faith apprehends His resources, and is encouraged to apply to Him. We can gather the state of heart of these sons of the Prophets, by their unbelieving request, as recorded in the 16th verse. " Lest, peradventure, the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send; and when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not; and when they came again to him (for he tarried at Jericho) he said unto them, Did not I say unto you, Go not? "Unbelief led them to stand afar off when Elijah was taken to God; and unbelief led them to search for him after his rapture.
And now we have Elisha in Jericho. We read, in 1 Kings, chap. 16 and verse 34, " In his days [Ahab's] did Hiel, the Bethelite, build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram, his first-born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which He spake by Joshua the son of Nun." Thus marked was the presumption of Abiram with the indignation of God, on his rebuilding Jericho. "Yet where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Rahab, the harlot, found favor of God, and was spared on the general destruction of Jericho. (Josh. 6) The city was raised from its ruins in the presumption of man, and again should be a landmark of the grace of God to poor sinners. How blessed His ways, how past finding out! Elisha, endued with a double portion of God's Spirit, is residing at Jericho. There was need in the city: there is grace and power to meet it. "And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of the city is pleasant, as my lord seeth; but the water is naught, and the ground barren." How the soil of the human heart answers to this. God made man in His own image. "How is the fine gold become dim!" "The water is naught, and the ground of the human heart barren." "The imagination of a man's heart is only evil, and that continually." "All flesh has corrupted its way." But there is help in Israel concerning this thing. Our Lord Jesus said to the woman of Samaria by the well of Sychar, "Whosoever shall drink of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." There is bitterness in the cup of human existence. Very "smooth" do men find the ways of the world; vanity also, and vexation of spirit. The water is naught, and the ground "causeth to miscarry." (See margin.) Whatever is right in purpose is resisted by the will. Blessed announcement- "When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6).)
"And [Elisha] said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake."
He had received blessings, which he lives to dispense. He desired a double portion of God's Spirit, and now he makes use of it. His ways are the ways of God-how ignorant we are of Him. "Our foolish hearts are darkened. Professing ourselves to be wise, we become fools." Yet "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God" hath shined in Jesus. Blessed heralds or His coming were such witnesses as Elisha. Blessed proofs do they give us of His ways. Alas! how sin has defaced our apprehension, and blinded our judgment. Oh for the faith of Elisha in the goodness of God, to bestow upon us all that we need 1 "He is able to supply all our need out of his fullness in Jesus." It is to be desired for its own sake, but far more for the blessing of others. God, happy in giving,-would have His children like-minded. He would fill us, that we might overflow to others, according to that word in John 7:3838He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38), "He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." The inhabitants of Jericho accredit God's servant, and bring their need before him. The presence of God is with His servant; and their wants are supplied. " The waters were healed." Very different the reception he met with at Bethel. Unbelief had hardened their hearts. The form of godliness was attached to the place. It was in Bethel that Abraham had raised up an altar. It was there that Jacob renewed his vows unto the Lord. Luz (departure) was its name at the first, Bethel "the house of God" it was now called. But now, with the latter name still attached to it, its former character is sustained, " the form of godliness denying the power." " Jesus came to His own, and His own received Him not." So it was with Elisha: we read, "And he went up from thence into Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head."
Alas! if these children could thus treat the aged, what character had their parents? Double infamy attaches to them. God's prophet despised, God's word set at naught-how certain the consequences! " He that believeth shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned." There was blessing for the inhabitants of Jericho; there is wailing, lamentation, and woe for the dwellers in Bethel. The mouths of the children were full of cursing and bitterness. The tenderest of hearts once bid them welcome—"Suffer little children to come unto me." How bitter the sorrow to behold such hardened in sin, the living epistles of their parents' iniquity. "God is not mocked." "As a man soweth, so shall he reap." In Lev. 26:2121And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. (Leviticus 26:21), it is written, " And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me, I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children." The witness for God's grace was also the witness of righteousness; " and Elisha turned back and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tore forty and two children of them. And he went from thence to Mount Carmel, and from thence he returned unto Samaria:" "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Tim. 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16).)