“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 por- tion of thy spirit be upon me. “And he 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 tf not, it shall not be so. 2 Kings 2:9-10.
Would you do your Master’s work? You must have your Master’s power!
Would you perform your Master’s miracles? Then must you don your Master’s mantle of miracle working power.
Nowhere is the vital necessity of seeking and receiving the Master’s power more vividly portrayed than in the mantle which fell from the shoulders of Elijah and was donned by his servant, Elisha.
Elijah is a remarkable type of Christ.
Elisha, his servant, is a striking type of the Church.
Like the Christ, Elijah lived in a day of great spiritual darkness. Etched against the black background of unbelief, like a blazing firebrand in the night, stands his glowing faith and fervor.
God’s message he proclaimed in terms of majesty and glory. Miraculously he fed the hungry. The sick were healed, the leper cleansed, the dead raised up.
Then, after calling and training his disciples, he was translated visibly into Heaven.
Ascending, he loosed from his shoulders the cloak which, caught up by Elisha, clothed him with power for service.
Likewise Christ, ascending unto His Father’s throne, sent the Holy Spirit, the Mantle by whose power He Himself accomplished such great things, and therewith clothed the disciples of His Gospel.
The call and consecration of Elisha, his subsequent training and the manner whereby he was qualified for service, conveys a forceful and powerful message to those who stand in need of the Holy Spirit.
Elisha, the son of Shaphat, was plowing in the field.
Long, straight furrows lay behind.
Skilfully and with clear eye he guided his oxen.
In the midst of his labor, he looked up.
A man was passing by — the same man, methinks, who occupied his thoughts; for the news of him had gone abroad. Mayhap there was a glow upon the countenance of Elijah and a light in his eyes that caused Elisha, the tiller of the soil, to cry:
“Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.”
Sacred memories stir within the breast as we read of Elisha’s call!
Tears spring to our eyes unbidden, and memories tug at our hearts. We remember the day when our EE NA SERN Ey THEUo Ho.uy 27hee tn as
UND SRY Elijah — Jesus Christ — the King of Heaven — passed through the field wherein we toiled, and cast His own dear mantle over our lives!
Do you recall when first you glimpsed the Christ?
The dear face, that shone fairer than the morning, brighter than the dawn? The voice that was sweeter than the rushing waters? The smile that made all else pale into insignificance before the brightness of its shining?
Remember how your heart melted when He said:
“Follow me.”
How you cried out:
“Goodbye, dwelling place of unbelief and sin! Goodbye, land of doubts and haunts of pleasure! Farewell, seat of the scornful and counsel of the ungodly! Farewell, bright lights and empty tinsel — gaiety of sin’s delusive path!
“T have seen the face of Jesus, Heaven-lit face of the wondrous Son of Man, seen His smile, heard His voice. My very being is thrilled ’neath the mantle of mercy, love and power with which he hath covered me.
“Henceforth will I follow Him! I will bid adieu to every earthly tie. More to me is Christ than father or mother, houses, lands, money or rubies, honor or fame!
“Tet me Love Thee, Jesus,
Take my life forever.
Nothing but Thy service,
My soul can satisfy.’”’
Adieu to the new plowed fields and broad meadows which had erstwhile bordered his horizon. He was ready to follow the stranger who passed, with the light of Heaven on his face, and the peace of God within his eyes.
But wait!
Each bridge must be burned —his consecration complete.
“And he turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat.”’
Elisha did not leave the gateway of the past ajar. He closed it tightly and destroyed the key.
No half-hearted decisions were his. A mighty determination swelled within his heart to follow all the way.
No arrangement was made to leave the plow handily near the fence nor the oxen fettered in the stall so that if the consecration was regretted, or he failed to accomplish all he felt desirable, he could return and none be the loser.
Nay! He slew the oxen and boiled their flesh upon the flames of the burning plow handles, harness and instruments thereof.
No hesitation! No pretense! No clinging to the. pany No arrangements for turning back if the project ailed.
“He gave unto the people, and they did eat!’’
When a hundred per cent consecration such as that of Elisha is made, there is and always will be food and strengthening for the people!
Consider the discipleship and training of Elisha.
“Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.”
Those words might have been written of the lives of Peter, John, Matthew, Paul and of any other true follower of the meek and lowly Jesus!
Let us divide this scripture and follow the steps taken by Elisha.
1. “Then he arose. . .
That is the first step to be taken by the seeker after Christ.
Even as the Prodigal Son said, “I will arise and go to my Father,” must we desert the old life of sin and turn to follow Christ.
2. “And went after him. . .”
Once one has beholden the Christ in all His glorious beauty and purity, could one do aught but follow Him?
Having once caught the fragrance of the Rose of Sharon, who could return to the fever laden, disease infested swamp?
“Since mine eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside;
So enchained my spirit’s vision,
Gazing on the Crucified.”
2 “And ministered unto him.”
Oh, precious life!
Life of ministering, of praise and service, love and devotion! Life of treading in the Master’s footsteps, sharing the cross, drinking the cup, fellowshipping His sufferings, tasting the power of His resurrection! That life pays an hundred fold, in this world and in the world to come.
O’er mountain peaks of transfiguration glory; down deep into valleys where the shadows lie; o’er fertile fields; o’er deserts bare and waste; Elisha, the disciple, pressed hard after Elijah the master.
Even so the disciples of Jesus followed daily the footsteps of their Lord, gazing into His face, drinking His words, inscribing His miracles, imbibing His faith and power, receiving His commandments and instruction as to the carrying on of the work when He should be caught up unto His Father’s throne.
At last the ministry of Elijah, even as the ministry of Christ Himself, was to come to a close.
His work, however, was not at an end. Another, even Elisha, was being fitted to take up the labor where Elijah laid it down.
Even so the disciples were taught by the Lord Jesus Christ to continue His ministry and carry the glorious Gospel to the ends of the earth.
The knowledge of his master’s coming ascension was not kept secret from Elisha.
Neither was the coming of Christ’s glorification and ascension hidden from the disciples.
The same great longing that filled the heart of Elisha and the souls of the adoring disciples, thrills every true follower of the Lord Jesus with the desire to be like the Master.
“Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer — Pure as Thou art!
Come in Thy sweetness, Come in Thy fulness,
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.”’
As Elijah departed from Gilgal and made His way to Bethel and Jericho, there to give final instructions and comfort to the members of the School of the Prophets which he had formed, Elisha, with set determination to go all the way through written upon his strong, spiritual face, pressed hard after him.
Can you picture him: talking little but following close; heart aching at the loss so soon to be sustained ; pressing on with that quiet, unswerving purpose that none could dissuade, none could move; lips firmly set with fixed resolution to continue on to the very end.
Though from his lips there came few words, the cry that was in his heart is as a great shout that rises from between the lines of the second chapter of Second Kings, fills the very heavens and sets the hills to echoing:
“Tf IT have been chosen to do my master’s work, I must have my master’s power! If I am to carry on his ministry, I must keep my eyes fixed upon him till I see him go, and his mantle falls upon me!”
You and I, even as was the early Church, are called to carry on the ministry of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, of whom Elijah is such a glorious type.
But if we would do His works, we must needs have the same power by which the Lord and the disciples wrought them — the power of the Holy Spirit.
There is but one way to receive, and Elisha, surmounting every difficulty, true in every test, unfalteringly took that way.
Let us follow him for a moment.
1. Gilgal to Bethel.
The first test came when Elijah said unto Elisha:
“Tarry here, I pray thee, for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel.”
Methinks I hear the enemy whisper:
“Stay here. Take things easy, Elisha. Let downa bit upon your praying, your seeking and your following hard upon the footsteps of the Master.
“Would you not rather consult your feelings and the desires for earthly glory, Elisha? You know, one must look out for one’s self and not overdo. The day has been hot, the journey long. Would you not like to take back a little of the consecration vow you made o’er the glowing coals of the burning plow handle, where you pledged body, soul and spirit in unmeasured giving and discipleship?”
But no! In the cry that is wrung from the lips of Elisha is poured forth the determination and the longing that is surging and filling his heart to the bursting:
“As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.”
Brother, sister, can you say it? Is the same cry in your heart as you read these, the closing chapters of this book? Is the determination of your heart epitomized in the words of that glorious song:
“Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee;
Perish every fond ambition,
By Thy grace I’ll follow Thee!”
It matters not that the world fails to understand! It matters not that to them the cross is but a reproach! It is of no consequence that you must leave ease, public opinion, worldly standing, fleshly desires and earthly store behind.
The word Bethel may well be interpreted —‘‘House of God.”
“And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel -eame forth to Elisha and said unto him: ‘Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today?’ And he said: ‘Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.’”’
The determination of his face grows stronger as he refuses to be turned aside by the warning.
“Yea, I know it, sons of the Prophets. I know it! My heart is aching with the sense of loss. My soul is burning with earnest prayer. Hold your peace.
“TDistract not my thoughts from my petition. Take not mine eyes from off my master till I receive his power, and his mantle descends upon me.”
2. Bethel to Jericho.
The next test came when Elijah said:
“Torry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho.”’
Perhaps that same test has come to you.
“You have done well,” one has said. “Your back has been turned upon sin, you have followed the Lord to Bethel — the ‘House of God.’ He knows your love of Him. You are a Christian and doing your duty.
“Tarry here; go no further up the hot and dusty road of heart searching and earnest petition. Here is a cool and restful place. Other sons of the prophets are here. If they are content to abide, and follow no farther, why not you? Tarry — Rest — Sleep.”
And thus assailed, have you cried out, as Elisha:
“As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee! 1”?
Have the words sprung from the depths of your soul:
“T’d rather walk with Jesus alone
And have for my pillow, like Jacob, a stone;
Living each moment with His face in view,
Than turn from my pathway, and fail to go
through.”
Then can it be said of you, as of Elijah and Elisha, “So they came to Jericho.”
Jericho signifies “a fruitful place, the habitation of fruitful vines.”
Go through with Jesus o’er the hot and dusty highway, and ere you are aware you will find yourself in the shadow of His love — in a blessed and a fragrant place.
A fragrant place — with new vines which put forth dewy leaves and tender grapes, as He leads through gardens of grace and gives of His love. Mandrakes, pomegranates, apples are there; and at the gates all manner of pleasant fruits both new and old, await His beloved, His overcoming Bride.
The maximum blessing is only for those who press on with the Lord, with hearts that pant like the hart after the water brooks! ’Tis they who reach the “fragrant places” wherein lives are made as ‘“‘a garden enclosed, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed; where plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.”’
It is of such persevering, consecrated overcomers that the Lord can say:
“T am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.”
With Me have you shared the myrrh of My bitter sufferings. You are known in the spices and frankincense of My resurrection.
Precious place of fragrance! How sweet is thy reward!
“And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him:
“Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today?
“And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.”
It was as though they had said:
“There is no need of further journeying, Elisha. The master’s ministry is now completed. His miracle working days are over. Soon shall the clouds receive him out of thy sight.
“Follow farther and thou wilt be left in the wilderness alone. Abide with us. The master descends unto the chill waters of the Jordan.”
3. Jericho to Jordan.
“Tarry, I pray thee, here,” added Elijah, “for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan.”
Unhesitatingly and for the third and last time, Elisha settled the question, stood the test, steadfastly declaring:
“As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.”
The next five words almost set themselves to music, they make the heart to sing:
“And they two went on.”
Let the rest of the world take their ease in peaceful habitations —
But ‘“‘they two went on”!
Let those whom he loved criticize, misunderstand and declare his white-heated zeal fanaticism —
“They two went on.”
Let the sons of the prophets today declare the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not for the twentieth century; let them decry Pentecost as fanaticism. But they of the burning heart shall join the “Elisha Company” of whom it may be said:
“They two went on.”
Never will there be less than two!
The world may misunderstand. Fellow workers may look askance. Loved ones may choose to remain at Bethel or at Jericho.
Always there will be two who go on — you and Jesus.
He leads the way. Yours but to follow and refuse to be turned back till you have known Him in His blessed fulness.
What unspeakable joys of sacred companionship Elijah and Elisha knew as hand in hand they traveled the road together. Heart of master and disciple throbbing as one.
Who can lift the veil? Who can fathom the depth of love and confidences exchanged ’twixt Jericho and Jordan? Who can tell those intimate glimpses into the soul of the prophet caught by Elisha? Who can fix the value of the instructions, the words of advice he received?
His heart burned within him as they walked by the way, even as the hearts of the disciples burned on the way to Emmaus when their Master, Jesus the Christ, walked and talked with them ere His ascension into the clouds of heaven.
“Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.”
Herein are pictured three groups.
With which do you stand?
First. Far away lie the worldly, sinful, unbelieving masses occupied with the things of the earth earthy; totally unaware, uncaring, unappreciative of the opportunity to walk with the Master.
Second. Separated from the world by their faith and love of the Master, stand the sons of the prophets. Students, they, of the prophetic Word; knowing, cherishing the law of the Lord, worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yet, instead of pressing close, and following hard, they ‘‘stand to view from afar off.’’ Not only stand they afar off, but sometimes they seek to discourage and dissuade the Elishas from going on.
How many do we know today who “stand to view afar off’’!
They stand back and say: “I shall wait and watch this thing, and see which way the matter will fall. Then shall I join myself to the winning side.”
Are you one of those who stand to view from the distance, an impassive spectator, looking upon those who teach and seek a deeper life of consecration and the descending mantle of power?
Third. There is a company of whom we read that while the sons of the prophets stood afar off, “they two stood by Jordan.”
Multitudes in the world — fifty devoted lives standing afar — but only two who pressed on to Jordan.
Those who go through and receive the mantle of power will find that as they press on, there will be many a time when the company shall be narrowed down to two — “My Lord and I.”
The number who press on all the way are ofttimes pathetically few.
One Noah, just and devout, when the deluge burst!
One Lot in Sodom, and even his wife turned back!
One interceding Abraham, to whom God could reveal the coming catastrophe, and who could pray for the city’s deliverance!
One Joseph in Egypt who declared the true God!
One Moses to lead the children of Israel forth!
One Daniel in the kingdom, who dared stand for the right, and be true to the courage of his convictions!
Thanks be to God, however, as we actually go through, the number need never be lessened to “‘one”’!
We need never walk alone, for even those who view from afar off, will see “they two” going to Jordan.