724
November 1924
THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
ness. The phrases, “ He did that which was not right;” “ he did evil;” “ the anger of the Lord was kindled^’ etc,, are all testimonies of the fact of evil in the hearts of men. Kings are but men and positions of influence only increase the temptation to play into the hands of Satan. We know full well that this is true from the history of other nations during the centuries, and from the history of our own beloved country. We have to hide bur heads with, shame over the conduct of many in high places., We are sure of this, however: All men are horn with the same evil nature. All of the Sunday School scholars have the same nature as ourselves and this consciousness forces us to press the need and claims of the Gospel, and to urge them to accept Christ that they may possess the new nature, without which there is no entrance into the kingdom of God. The world grows no better. “ Evil men shall, wax worse and worse” is the prophecy. Let us be up and doing our best to save what we can out of the wreck. (1) THE COUNSELLOR OF THE KING. “ The king of Israel came down unto him.” 13:14. The days of Elisha were sad days in Israel’s history. God’s people were;)ruled by back-sliding rulers and there was a constant decline in religious life. God had been gracious with them. Over and over again He had given them victory over their enemies. In every way He had sought to bring them bapk into fellowship with Himself. God loved Israel. They were His chosen people. Judg 7 ment after judgment ha,d been visited upon them in ordèr to correct them. Elijah had wrought in the power of Jeho vah in their midst and had been removed. Elisha had taken his place and byi many miracles had manifested the presence and power of Jehovah in an effort to woo them to right relations to Himself, and now Elisha lies upon the bed in his last sickness and a royal visitor is announced. King Joash had come to visit him. He wept over the prophet. Who can tell how his heart reproved him? He had failed to profit by the life wisdom of Elisha. Now he seeks him and utters the cry that Elisha uttered when Elijah was lifted from thé earth (2 Kings 2:12). “ And Elisha saw it and cried, Mÿ father, my father.” There are times when people seek the man of- God, when in deep distress and trial they want comfort and consola tion. Human nature is always the same. Kings and queens are no exception to the rule. Joash is seeking for help from the source of all help in every time of need. Probably Elisha had been the king’s counsellor in his youth and the king knew the value of his wise advice. (2) THE CRUCIAL TEST OF FAITH. “ Then Elisha said, Shoot.'’ 13:17. The scene here is dramatic. The sick prophet orders the king to get a bow and some arrows. Elisha had announced deliverance for Israel more than once, and, rising up from his bed, he commanded that the king take the bow and arrows, open the window and, placing his hands upon the hand of the king, commanded him to shoot. Then Elisha proclaimed the Lord’s deliverance for Israel from Syria. The arrow was the Lord’s pledge that the Syrians were to be smitten. It was directed eastward— the direction from which the enemy usually came. The dependence must be upon Him. God only can give victory. He will use the king and his army. That is the meaning of the hand that used the bow and arrow, and the hands of the prophet upon the hand of the king told of the power which was only from God. (Gen. 49:24; Psa. 115:1.)
“ Not unto ns, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory? for Thy mercy and for Thy truth’s sake.” God gives the power for victory, and God must have the glory. (3) THE CHASTISEMENT FOR FAILURE OF FAITH. “ Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times.” 13:19. Joash had abundant proof of the power of Jehovah. How many times He had responded to the call for help! How many times, even in Israel’s failure and sin, had Jehovah come to the rescue! At the command of Elisha, the king shot three more arrows, striking the ground with them, and then ceased. The quiver had more arrows, but the king faltered and failed in his faith. Elisha was angered. The king, had fallen down in his confidence in Jehovah. “ Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times.” Why not? Elisha, with faith in Jehovah’s ability, and desire, sensed the matter at once.. The door was open. The abundance of God’s favor Was at hand. Why should the king not have smitten seven times:—the perfect number? It is easy to ask, but why do WÈ fail in our faith? “ Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” We who have had so many evidences of His love and grace and power toward us, why should we doubt? What mighty things were involved in that one opportunity for the king to bring untold blessings to Israel! What a sorrow to God is our lack of faith! How much we miss of joy, and how much we rob others, when we fail in our faith! Is there not a specific' lesson here for us as teachers? Let us hesitate to pass it on until we ourselves have absorbed it. Is our failure in our Christian life a failure in faith? Can we 1 hope to inspire our Scholars to a larger life of faith if we do not ourselves measure up to God’s desire? Let us “ smite” seven times! “ (4) THE OONTA.CT WITH THE GRAVE. “ . . and touched the bones of Elisha he revived.” 13:21. . Elisha’s body lay in a sepulchre. The Jewish mode of burial was not in a grave, as wo use the term; not a pit de.ep in the ground, but in a tomb, as is described in 1 Kings 13:11-32. (Read the 31st verse: “ lay my bones beside his, bones,” ) Here we are told that a. man was being car ried to his burial, but spying a band of men they thrust the body into the sepulchre of Elisha, and when it came in contact with his body it was immediately restored to life. This incident occurred during a period of unbelief, and God used the miracle to awaken faith in His people.' The heathen gods could not work a miracle. They brought no comfort-in time of death. Elisha was dead and buried and perhaps forgotten of many, hut now ,the memory of his life is revived and he, is given a new place in the hearts of the people of Israel. He was dead, yet his body carried a message. He spoke to Israel. Do not our loved ones bring to us messages? Do not the lives of the saints and martyrs inspire us? The saints are in the glory, yet their lives are being lived through the lives of others. What is the message to us? Live so that if «the Lord tarry, your life will be living in the lives of others. (5) THE COUNTERFEIT ALTAR. “ And Urijah, the priest, built an altar.” 16:11. The downward step from bad to worse is always easy. “ Be sure you are right, then go ahead,” but when you know you are wrong, then “ Stop, look, listen!” Idolatry was the first step with Ahaz, and it is so with many a believer. The worship of the god of possession, position, or whatever else it may be is the first step. Worldly alli ances in business or pleasure is the next and easy step. Robbing God of His tithes is the next, and then— the altered
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