prophets and kings-第39章
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say； 〃That which was from the beginning； which we have heard； which we have seen with our eyes； which we have looked upon； and our hands have handled； of the Word of life； 。 。 。 that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you。〃 1 John 1：1…3。 Young； inexperienced workers should be trained by actual labor in connection with these experienced servants of God。 Thus they will learn how to bear burdens。
Those who undertake this training of young workers are doing noble service。 The Lord Himself co…operates with their efforts。 And the young men to whom the word of consecration has been spoken； whose privilege it is to be brought into close association with earnest； godly workers； should make the most of their opportunity。 God has honored them by choosing them for His service and by placing them where they can gain greater fitness for it； and they should be humble； faithful； obedient； and willing to sacrifice。 If they submit to God's discipline； carrying out His directions and choosing His servants as their counselors； they will develop into righteous； high…principled； steadfast men； whom God can entrust with responsibilities。
As the gospel is proclaimed in its purity； men will be called from the plow and from the common commercial business vocations that largely occupy the mind and will be educated in connection with men of experience。 As they learn to labor effectively； they will proclaim the truth with power。 Through most wonderful workings of divine providence； mountains of difficulty will be removed and cast into the sea。 The message that means so much to the dwellers upon the earth will be heard and understood。 Men will
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know what is truth。 Onward and still onward the work will advance until the whole earth shall have been warned； and then shall the end come。
For several years after the call of Elisha； Elijah and Elisha labored together； the younger man daily gaining greater preparedness for his work。 Elijah had been God's instrument for the overthrow of gigantic evils。 The idolatry which； supported by Ahab and the heathen Jezebel； had seduced the nation； had been given a decided check。 Baal's prophets had been slain。 The whole people of Israel had been deeply stirred； and many were returning to the worship of God。 As Elijah's successor； Elisha； by careful； patient instruction； must endeavor to guide Israel in safe paths。 His association with Elijah； the greatest prophet since the days of Moses； prepared him for the work that he was soon to take up alone。
During these years of united ministry； Elijah from time to time was called upon to meet flagrant evils with stern rebuke。 When wicked Ahab seized Naboth's vineyard； it was the voice of Elijah that prophesied his doom and the doom of all his house。 And when Ahaziah； after the death of his father Ahab； turned from the living God to Baal…zebub； the god of Ekron； it was Elijah's voice that was heard once more in earnest protest。
The schools of the prophets； established by Samuel； had fallen into decay during the years of Israel's apostasy。 Elijah re…established these schools； making provision for young men to gain an education that would lead them to magnify the law and make it honorable。 Three of these schools； one at Gilgal； one at Bethel； and one at Jericho； are mentioned
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in the record。 Just before Elijah was taken to heaven； he and Elisha visited these centers of training。 The lessons that the prophet of God had given them on former visits； he now repeated。 Especially did he instruct them concerning their high privilege of loyally maintaining their allegiance to the God of heaven。 He also impressed upon their minds the importance of letting simplicity mark every feature of their education。 Only in this way could they receive the mold of heaven and go forth to work in the ways of the Lord。
The heart of Elijah was cheered as he saw what was being accomplished by means of these schools。 The work of reformation was not complete； but he could see throughout the kingdom a verification of the word of the Lord； 〃Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel； all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal。〃 1 Kings 19：18。
As Elisha accompanied the prophet on his round of service from school to school； his faith and resolution were once more tested。 At Gilgal； and again at Bethel and Jericho； he was invited by the prophet to turn back。 〃Tarry here； I pray thee；〃 Elijah said； 〃for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel。〃 But in his early labor of guiding the plow； Elisha had learned not to fail or to become discouraged； and now that he had set his hand to the plow in another line of duty he would not be diverted from his purpose。 He would not be parted from his master； so long as opportunity remained for gaining a further fitting up for service。 Unknown to Elijah； the revelation that he was to be translated had been made known to his disciples in the schools of the prophets； and in particular to Elisha。 And now the tried servant of the man of God kept close beside him。 As
226 often as the invitation to turn back was given； his answer was； 〃As the Lord liveth； and as thy soul liveth； I will not leave thee。〃
〃And they two went on。 。 。 。 And they two stood by Jordan。 And Elijah took his mantle； and wrapped it together； and smote the waters； and they were divided hither and thither； so that they two went over on dry ground。 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。〃
Elisha asked not for worldly honor； or for a high place among the great men of earth。 That which he craved was a large measure of the Spirit that God had bestowed so freely upon the one about to be honored with translation。
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He knew that nothing but the Spirit which had rested upon Elijah could fit him to fill the place in Israel to which God had called him； and so he asked； 〃I pray thee； let a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me。〃
In response to this request； 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； that； 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。〃 See 2 Kings 2：1…11。
Elijah was a type of the saints who will be living on the earth at the time of the second advent of Christ and who will be 〃changed； in a moment； in the twinkling of an eye； at the last trump；〃 without tasting of death。 1 Corinthians 15：51； 52。 It was as a representative of those who shall be thus translated that Elijah； near the close of Christ's earthly ministry； was permitted to stand with Moses by the side of the Saviour on the mount of transfiguration。 In these glorified ones； the disciples saw in miniature a representation of the kingdom of the redeemed。 They beheld Jesus clothed with the light of heaven； they heard the 〃voice out of the cloud〃 （Luke 9：35）； acknowledging Him as the Son of God； they saw Moses； representing those who will be raised from the dead at the time of the second advent； and there also stood Elijah； representing those who at the close of earth's history will be changed from mortal to immortal and be translated to heaven without seeing death。
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In the desert； in loneliness and discouragement； Elijah had said that he had had enough of life and had prayed that he might die。 But the Lord in His mercy had not taken him at his word。 There was yet a great work for Elijah to do； and when his work was done； he was not to perish in discouragement and solitude。 Not for him the descent into the tomb； but the ascent with God's angels to the presence of His glory。
〃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： and he took hold of his own clothes； and rent them
