phets, as a wholesome warning to the na- tion. 6. We have thousands of just sucpi| irreverent and blasphemous youth in our cities and towns. The cultivation of rev- erence and the fear of law is worth a great price. VI. BOUGHT OUT OF BONDAGE. 1. The widow's story: "Husband dead;" "he feared the Lord;" he had a creditor who claimed her sons as bondman. 2./ Elisha's questions: "What would you?" (Mark 10:51; 2 Kgs. 4:13); "What hav you?" (Ex. 4:2; Mark 6:38). The widow's all, "A pot of oil." The prophet's instruc- tions, "Borrow vessels" . . . "simply ves- sels," "not a few," "shut your door," "pour out," "pour into," "set aside," "sell," "pay," "live." When the vessels stayed "the oil stayed." When capacity ends the increase ends. 3. As in the apostate nation, so in the apostate world, the Lord "knoweth them that are His" (2 Tim. 2:19; widows a nd fatherless children may trust in Him ( J e ^j 49:11); God's grace redeems us from the bondage of sin( Eph. 2:8); His supply is never exhausted (Phil. 4:19); He gives all we can take (Matt. 25:153. VII. THE LADY OF SHUNUM. (1) Her hospitality, v. 8, 10. (2) Her re- ward, v. 16, 17; Matt. 10:41. (3) Her great grief, v. 20. (4) She commits it to God, v. 21. (5) Her composure, v. 22. (6) Her consideration, not telling her husband his loss, v. 23. (7) Her great hope, "It shall be well, v. 23. (8) Her great faith, "It is well." Her importunate urgency, "She caught h'lm by the feet," v. 27, 28. (9) Her insistency, v. 30. (10) The prophet's agony, vv. 32-34; (11) The Lord's answer, v. 35. (12) The Shunemite comforted, v. 36. (13) Her sim- ple acceptance, v. 37. (14) .A twice born son was better than a once born, Jno. ¿1:4- (15) "O woman, great was thy faith." Neither will he remain at Bethel (House of God) attractive as the place may be. At Jericho (His moon) is a school of prophets but Elisha cannot be prevailed upon to tarry even there. At Jordan (Judgment) the final test is made but Elisha is not to be turned aside from his purpose and .so as Elijah lifts his foot from the dry shod place amidst the waters, Elisha thrusts his in. Like Ruth the Moabites, he is saying in his heart "where thou goest I will go." On the other side he is rewarded by a great promise with a single condition. On they journeyed, but in vain did Elijah seek to;divert Elisha. His eyes were upon his master. No beauty of landscape, no song of birds, no passing friend or stranger could serve to change the attitude of Elisha, with his eyes riveted and heart fixed, he resolutely remained until the moment when in the flash of a moment the master was swept, fro mhim. He saw him and cried "My father, my father" and upon his devoted head descended the . coveted blessing and to him was left the mantle of his master.
Spirit . . . . some mountain, or into valley." Prophets must indeed have been inspired of God in their teaching, for though they thought, they never taught such dishonor- ing notions of the Spirit. Praise the Lord, He never forsakes his servants, and when they are taken up it is to be "forever with the Lord" (2 Thess. 4:1). IV, BITTER WATERS SWEETENED. 1. "This city is pleasant . . . but." Tropical climate, luxuriant vegetation, beau- tiful site, on the. table land of Jordan look- ing up to the hills of Judea; Jericho was "the Garden of the Lord," "but"—. 2. Los Angeles, too, is pleasant, but —there are drawbacks! Only the salt of grace and truth (Jno. 1:7) can ever heal its waters. Com- merce, politics, education, culture, moral re- forms, can nearer do it. V. THE BEARS OF BETHEL. 1. Bethel was a seat of calf worship (1 Kgs. 12:28, 29). It was the home of idolatrous prophets and priests, and, it follows, of a populace morally degenerate. 2. They were not without light, for a company of true prophets were also there (2 Kgs. 2:3). 3. Our version mistranslates: Not "little chil- dren," but adult young men, hoodlums, hu- man bears of Bethel mocked the man of God. ''Go up! go up!" they said, deriding the translation of Elijah. "Bald head," they cried, probably in sarcastic allusion to Elisha's long Nazarite locks, the sign of his consecration to Jehovah. All this was de- liberate blasphemy of the Lord Himself and deserving of death according to the law, as was the idolatry to which the Bethelites were devoted. 4. Ellsha cursed them, not in personal pique but by the Word of the Lord. 5. "Two she bears" "tare 42 of them. It does not follow that all or any were slain. But if they were it was Just, and needed, like the death of Baal's pro- The picture tjf these two sturdy men of God on their last journey together is full of interest. United by the tie of fellowship in things sacred, conscious of their separation from the pleasure loving, idol worshiping world by which they were surrounded, their hearts were knit in strongest sympathy. Elijah is walking in spiritual agreement with the will of God. He knows that the time of his departure is at hand. His path leads to the place designated by Jehovah where his fiery chariot awaits his guest. Elisha was the son of the Elijah in the prophetic office as Timothy was oi Paul, Phil. 2 22, and the old Prophet was instilling his mind with prophetic truth, ere he should be in- stalled in the prophetic office. The final walk is like that of our Lord with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, during which the Scripture was 30 ,„T v ? ni ? er j u , 1 ii opened, Luke 24. Elijah tests Elisha s faith to the limit, but the young man is deter- mined not to part company with him until he is taken away. At Gilgal (death to the flesh) he is urged to tarry, but he will not leave his master. hath . . . . cast upon some
PITH AND PIVOT—T. C. H.
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