Elisha - Part 1

 Elijah - Elisha

Review:

1Ki 19:1-4

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time. 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper-tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Jehovah, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

1. Elijah is unable to deal with Jezebel the harlot.

2. He is fearful and runs from her.

1Ki 19:16b (God tells Elijah to go to) Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

Why? 

Because God knows that Elijah is not equipped to handle the harlot. A greater anointing is needed.

In the same way, in Revelation 17-18, the harlot will not be dealt with until God provides the greater anointing.

Who is the harlot? The modern day church.

****Keep this in mind as we read.****

2Ki 2:1

1 And it came to pass, when Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 

Gilgal = "a wheel, rolling"

1. the first site of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho, here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king; later used for illicit worship

2. Why was it called Gilgal?

Jos 5:9 And Jehovah said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, unto this day.

3. dwelling place of prophets in northern Israel about four miles

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2 Kings 2:2-3

2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me as far as Beth-el. And Elisha said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. 3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 

1. Why does Elijah tell Elisha "Tarry here" while I go to Bethel? Is Elijah testing Elisha's devotion?

2. Bethel = " house (Beth) of God (El)"

1. ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identified with Luz (former name) (Luz means almond tree)

3. Sons of the prophets (of Bethel) seem to know that Elijah will be taken away from Elijah that day.

Elisha: "Yea, I know it; be silent."

2 Kings 2:4-5

4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. 5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 

1. Why does Elijah tell Elisha "Tarry here" while I go to Jericho? Is Elijah testing Elisha's devotion?

2. Jericho = "its moon"

1. a city 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of the Jordan and 7 miles (11.5 kilometers) north of the Dead Sea and the first city conquered by the Israelites upon entering the promised land of Canaan

3. Sons of the prophets (of Jericho) seem to know that Elijah will be taken away from Elijah that day.

Elisha: "Yea, I know it; be silent."

2 Kings 2:6-8

6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to the Jordan. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off: and they two stood by the Jordan. 8 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. 

1. Why does Elijah tell Elisha "Tarry here" while I go to Jordan? Is Elijah testing Elisha's devotion?

2. Jordan = " descender"

1. the river of Palestine running from the roots of Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 kilometers)

3. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off. Why?

Fifty

is the number of jubilee or deliverance. It is the issue of 7 x 7 (72), and points to deliverance and rest following on as the result of the perfect consummation of time.

1. Jubilee or 50 years points to: Deliverance and rest?

2. What else points to rest?

"On the 7th day, God rested"

Gen 2:2 

And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Gen 6:3

And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not strive with man for ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years.

120 of jubilees * (50) yrs,

120x50 = 6000 

Puts u in the 7th day.

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4. Elijah smotes the water so both Elijah and Elisha walk across on dry ground. What may the Jordan river represent?

1. The Jordan in type spoke of death in Christ to the carnal life, and newness of life spiritually. Think of baptism. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river.

2. In OT, (Jos 3) The Jordan was crossed by Joshua and the Israelites before crossing into the promise land. They brought the ark of the covenant with them as they crossed. It represented both the presence, nature, and purpose of the Lord. The Ark of the Covenant is also a type of Christ or foreshadowing of Christ. 

1. Jos 3:1-4 

1 And Joshua rose up early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel; and they lodged there before they passed over. 2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

There was a space of 2000 cubits that had to be maintained between the ark and the people? Why?

It's a metaphor of approx 2000 years of time btw day 5 and day 7.

2. Jos 3:13-17 

13 And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap. 14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Jordan, the priests that bare the ark of the covenant being before the people; 15 and when they that bare the ark were come unto the Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (for the Jordan overfloweth all its banks all the time of harvest,) 16 that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. 17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over the Jordan.

1. Seems that the priests stood in the midst of the dry Jordan river holding the ark as ALL ISRAEL safely crossed on dry ground. What does the ark represent? Jesus

2. Notice the name of the town the Jordan river was dried up or heaped up from (vs 16)? Adam to the salt sea

In realizing the salvation of the soul, we receive participation in the presence, nature, and purpose of the Lord. To be a co-heir with Christ is to participate in Christ

3. Knowing that the Jordan was the river that had to be crossed to enter into the promised land, how do we cross into the promised land in our lives?

Death but symbolically, the ark (Jesus) is present to safely help us navigate death.

4. So for Elijah and Elisha, what does it mean to walk across the Jordan on dry ground? They are co-heirs with Christ who may or may not have to experience death.

This may become clearer as we go on.

2 Kings 2:9

9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 

1. Elisha/Elijah go across Jordan

2. Elijah asks Elisha what he can do for him.

3. Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. 

1. Isa 61:7 

Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them.

2. Let's read the entire chapter..

Isa 61:1-2 ASV

1 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 

1. Who else quotes this verse? 

Jesus

2. Luk 4:17-21

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,  Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor:  He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives,  And recovering of sight to the blind,  To set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.

 

Septuagint?

Isa 61:1 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; he has sent me to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken in heart, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; 2 to declare the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of recompence; to comfort all that mourn;

So Jesus reads…

Isa 61:1-2 ASV

1 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 

Jesus reads halfway through the 2nd verse. So He suggests that his early 3.5 year ministry stops before "the day of vengeance". 

What 'day' might this be?

The 7th day

Isa 61:3 ASV

3 to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified. 

1. Who are these that mourn in Zion?

2. Why are they given garland for ashes? What do the ashes represent? The state of Zion heading into day 7.

3. Garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Why do they have a spirit of heaviness?? Heaviness because of the mourning and sorrow from lack of growth

4. Notice that they "may be called trees of righteousness". Why is it states this way? Because they will grow from day 7 onward

Notice the bad state of His people, and how in or after the "day of vengence", the restoration and growth occurs.

Is 61:4

4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. 

1. Notice the four terms used to describe the previous:

1. Old wastes

2. Former desolations

3. Waste cities

4. Desolations of many generations

2. The double portion will:

1. Build

2. Raise up

3. Repair

Is 61:5-6

5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers. 6 But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. 

Is 61:7-8

7 Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them. 8 For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

1. Vs7 Double portion

1. No more shame

2. No more dishonor

3. This will be reflected in the life of Elisha as we shall see. Dishonor and shame won't be tolerated

2. Vs8 why does God say "I hate robbery"

1. What has God been robbed of? Spiritual offspring

Isa 61:9-11 

9 And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed. 

1. Thyatira promise to overcomers

Rev 2:26-27 

26 And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations: 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:

2. Philadelphia promise to overcomers

Rev 3:9 

Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Is 61:10-11

10 I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

1. Bride and bridegroom are mentioned

2. The earth during day 7, finally  brings forth it's buds

3. For instance, maybe we see this verse manifested:

Joh 14:12 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father.

2Ki 2:10-11

10 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 if not, it shall not be so. 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

4. Elijah says that the only way this double portion will be given is if Elisha sees him when he is taken. Is Elijah testing Elisha's devotion?

5. A chariot and horses of fire appear, separating the two men and Elijah is taken to heaven by a whirlwind

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2 Kings 2:12-

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither; and Elisha went over. 

15 And when the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho over against him 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. 16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there are with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master, lest the Spirit of Jehovah hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. 17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. 18 And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho; and he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?