prophets and kings-第40章
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im no more： and he took hold of his own clothes； and rent them in two pieces。 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him； and went back； and stood by the bank of Jordan； and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him； and smote the waters； and said； Where is the Lord God of Elijah？ and when he also had smitten the waters； they parted hither and thither： and Elisha went over。 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him； they said； The Spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha。 And they came to meet him； and bowed themselves to the ground before him。〃 2 Kings 2：12…15。
When the Lord in His providence sees fit to remove from His work those to whom He has given wisdom； He helps and strengthens their successors； if they will look to Him for aid and will walk in His ways。 They may be even wiser than their predecessors； for they may profit by their experience and learn wisdom from their mistakes。
Henceforth Elisha stood in Elijah's place。 He who had been faithful in that which was least was to prove himself faithful also in much。
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Chapter 18
The Healing of the Waters
In Patriarchal times the Jordan Valley was 〃well watered everywhere； 。 。 。 even as the garden of the Lord。〃 It was in this fair valley that Lot chose to make his home when he 〃pitched his tent toward Sodom。〃 Genesis 13：10； 12。 At the time that the cities of the plain were destroyed； the region round about became a desolate waste； and it has since formed a part of the wilderness of Judea。
A portion of the beautiful valley remained； with its life…giving springs and streams； to gladden the heart of man。 In this valley； rich with fields of grain and forests of date palms and other fruit…bearing trees； the hosts of Israel had encamped after crossing the Jordan and had first partaken of the fruits of the Promised Land。 Before them had stood the walls of Jericho； a heathen stronghold； the center of the worship of Ashtoreth； vilest and most degrading of all Canaanitish forms of idolatry。 Soon its walls were thrown
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down and its inhabitants slain； and at the time of its fall the solemn declaration was made； in the presence of all Israel： 〃Cursed be the man before the Lord； that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho： he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first…born； and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it。〃 Joshua 6：26。
Five centuries passed。 The spot lay desolate； accursed of God。 Even the springs that had made residence in this portion of the valley so desirable suffered the blighting effects of the curse。 But in the days of Ahab's apostasy； when through Jezebel's influence the worship of Ashtoreth was revived； Jericho； the ancient seat of this worship； was rebuilt； though at a fearful cost to the builder。 Hiel the Bethelite 〃laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his first…born； and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub； according to the world of the Lord。〃 1 Kings 16：34。
Not far from Jericho； in the midst of fruitful groves； was one of the schools of the prophets； and thither； after the ascension of Elijah； Elisha went。 During his sojourn among them the men of the city came to the prophet and said； 〃Behold； I pray thee； the situation of this city is pleasant； as my lord seeth： but the water is nought； and the ground barren。〃 The spring that in former years had been pure and life…giving； and had contributed largely to the water supply of the city and the surrounding district； was now unfit for use。
In response to the plea of the men of Jericho； Elisha said； 〃Bring me a new cruse； and put salt therein。〃 Having received this； 〃he went forth unto the spring of the waters；
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and cast the salt in there； and said； Thus saith the Lord； I have healed these waters； there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land。〃 2 Kings 2：19…21。
The healing of the waters of Jericho was accomplished； not by any wisdom of man； but by the miraculous interposition of God。 Those who had rebuilt the city were undeserving of the favor of Heaven； yet He who 〃maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good； and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust；〃 saw fit in this instance to reveal； through this token of compassion； His willingness to heal Israel of their spiritual maladies。 Matthew 5：45。
The restoration was permanent； 〃the waters were healed unto this day； according to the saying of Elisha which he spake。〃 2 Kings 2：22。 From age to age the waters have flowed on； making that portion of the valley an oasis of beauty。
Many are the spiritual lessons to be gathered from the story of the healing of the waters。 The new cruse； the salt； the springall are highly symbolic。
In casting salt into the bitter spring； Elisha taught the same spiritual lesson imparted centuries later by the Saviour to His disciples when He declared； 〃Ye are the salt of the earth。〃 Matthew 5：13。 The salt mingling with the polluted spring purified its waters and brought life and blessing where before had been blighting and death。 When God compares His children to salt； He would teach them that His purpose in making them the subjects of His grace is that they may become agents in saving others。 The object of God in choosing a people before all the world was not
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only that He might adopt them as His sons and daughters； but that through them the world might receive the grace that bringeth salvation。 When the Lord chose Abraham； it was not simply to be the special friend of God； but to be a medium of the peculiar privileges the Lord desired to bestow upon the nations。
The world needs evidences of sincere Christianity。 The poison of sin is at work at the heart of society。 Cities and towns are steeped in sin and moral corruption。 The world is full of sickness； suffering； and iniquity。 Nigh and afar off are souls in poverty and distress； weighed down with a sense of guilt and perishing for want of a saving influence。 The gospel of truth is kept ever before them； yet they perish because the example of those who should be a savor of life to them is a savor of death。 Their souls drink in bitterness because the springs are poisoned； when they should be like a well of water springing up unto everlasting life。
Salt must be mingled with the substance to which it is added； it must penetrate； infuse it； that it may be preserved。 So it is through personal contact and association that men are reached by the saving power of the gospel。 They are not saved as masses； but as individuals。 Personal influence is a power。 It is to work with the influence of Christ； to lift where Christ lifts； to impart correct principles； and to stay the progress of the world's corruption。 It is to diffuse that grace which Christ alone can impart。 It is to uplift； to sweeten the lives and characters of others by the power of a pure example united with earnest faith and love。
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Of the hitherto polluted spring at Jericho； the Lord declared； 〃I have healed these waters； there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land。〃 The polluted stream represents the soul that is separate from God。 Sin not only shuts away from God； but destroys in the human soul both the desire and the capacity for knowing Him。 Through sin； the whole human organism is deranged； the mind is perverted； the imagination corrupted； the faculties of the soul are degraded。 There is an absence of pure religion； of heart holiness。 The converting power of God has not wrought in transforming the character。 The soul is weak； and for want of moral force to overcome； is polluted and debased。
To the heart that has become purified； all is changed。 Transformation of character is the testimony to the world of an indwelling Christ。 The Spirit of God produces a new life in the soul； bringing the thoughts and desires into obedience to the will of Christ； and the inward man is renewed in the image of God。 Weak and erring men and women show to the world that the redeeming power
