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T H E
K I N G ’ S
B U S I N E S S
October 1924
Lord.” Col. 3:20. The Lord Jesus came from heaven to do His Father’s will. He was obedient unto death, for it was
what I shall do for thee before I am taken away from thee.” Elisha loved God and wanted to serve him as faithfully as had his master, so he replied: “ Let a double portion of thj spirit be upon me.” The prophet answered, “ If thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee.” They walked along, talking of“ God. Suddenly there ap peared in the air a radiant flaming chariot with horses like fiery red clouds, and the prophet Elijah was taken from Elisha’s side and caught up into the chariot. Elisha saw it and cried out,i“ My father, my father!” But there was no answer for Elijah, the prophet, had gone. Young Elisha, left alone, wept a long time. When he dried his tears he saw, lying at his feet, the long mantle of Elijah which had fallen from his shoulders. He reverently took it up, folded it and laid it across his arm as he started back toward Jericho. When he came to the Jordan river, he remembered what the prophet had done, so he took Elijah’s mantle and struck the waters of the river and lo, they divided, and he walked across. His friends still watching from the hill saw what he had done and they exclaimed in wonder, “ The spirit of Elijah doth rest upon Elisha!” Because Elisha trusted and obeyed God’s call and followed the teacher, Elijah, he was able to go and tell people of God’s great love. Let us sing for a closing song, “ Trust and Obey.” It is true isn’t it? “ There’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” OCTOBER 26, 1924 (Lesson 56) THE MINISTRY OF ELISHA 2 Kings, Chapters 3 and 4 Golden Text: “ The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16. OUTLINE (1) The Honest Prophet, Ch. 3. (2) The Home Bestowed by Grace, 4:1-17. (3) The Home Bereft by Death, 4:18-28. (4) The Home Blessed Through Faith, 4:29-37. Elijah has ascended to heaven, and we EXPOSITION part company with him. Elisha succeeds T. C Horton him, and the double portion of Elijah’s spirit, requested by Elisha, rests upon him. Miracle follows miracle, and we find him with headquarters at Samaria. From here he journeyed from place to place in his service as God’s prophet, ministering to the spiritual needs of God’s people. (1) THE HONEST PROPHET, Ch. 3. “ Is there not here a prophet of the Lord?” v. 11. , Jehoram, son of Ahab, is king over Israel and Jehoshaphat is king over Judah. The king of Moab was a sheep-master. He rebelled against Jehoram, so the kings of Israel and Judah combined with the king of Edom against Moab. After a seven days’ journey they found themselves without water. They needed a prophet. The world always calls for a man of God when in serious trouble: they want prayer, intercession, heavenly help; and God must have a man. Elisha did not want to be asso ciated with the king of Israel, but when the king of Judah persuaded him to respond to the call, he commanded the water to fill the ditches without wind or rain. The need was supplied and Moab was defeated. LESSOiN
God’s will that the Lord Jesus should die on the cross for the sins of the world. If we be long to the Lord Jesus we will please Him by obeying our Fathers and Mothers. In the Bible, God tells us a story,— How a Farmer Lad God’s Call. Obeyed One day, under the shadow of Mt. Gilboa, where long be fore King Saul and Prince Jonathan were killed in battle, a young farmer lad who loved God, was plowing his father’s field, getting it ready to sow the grain. As the oxen patient ly plodded along, the farmer lad, Elisha, saw a traveler com ing, dressed in rough camels’
Chi IdvetL, Obey V o u v P a r e n t s it\ all "thi rvcjí>." Col. 3'- 2 0
hair tunic fastened with a leather belt and carrying a long cloak, or mantle, as it was called in those days. Elisha recognized the great prophet of God, Elijah, who traveled up and down the country teaching the people about God. As Elijah came nearer, perhaps the lad wondered if he dared to speak to this wonderful teacher— but what do you think happened? The prophet stopped and, without saying a word, took his long cloak, threw it over Elisha’s shoulders, then turned and silently went on his way. How surprised the farmer lad must have been! But he suddenly realized that the prophet wanted this very farmer boy to follow him, so that some day, instead of being a rich farmer, Elisha would be a prophet of God. Do you remember how God told Elijah to find Elisha and teach him to be a phophet? (review). Oh, how happy Elisha was! He ran home and kissed his father and mother and told them that God had called him to be a prophet, and they consented that he should go with Elijah. After a big supper, to which all the neighbors were invited, Elisha went proudly from his home and fol lowed Elijah, who taught him about God, and told him God’s message to the wicked people who were worshipping Baal and golden calves instead of the true God. After Elisha traveled with the prophet Elijah for several years, he was rewarded for being obedient and loyal. One day the prophet knew that God was going to take him home to Heaven, and he wanted to go once more to the Jordan river. He told the young man, Elisha, that he need not go with him on this journey, but Elisha wanted to go very much, so the prophet let him follow until they came to the city of Jericho. Then Elijah said, “ Tarry here, for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan.” Elisha shook his head and said wistfully, “ I will not leave thee”’ Some of the young men from the Bible school in Jericho wanted Elisha to stay with them, but he insisted upon going with the prophet, so the two started across the plain to the river Jordan. The young friends of Elisha gathered on a hill and watched them. As the prophet and Elisha came to the river they saw Elijah take off his long mantle and fold it carefully, then strike the water with it, and the waters of the river divided and Elijah and Elisha walked across on dry ground. Side by side they climbed the hill just beyond the river. Somehow Elisha knew that God would take the prophet home to Heaven and that this was the last time he would be with him. The kind old prophet said to Elisha, “ Ask
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