Elisha Succeeds Elijah
March 26, 2020
Commentary
Following his return across the Jordan, Elisha was faced with three situations that confirmed his call. The first situation established his authority. The 50 prophets from Jordan did not realize that Elijah had permanently been ushered into the presence of God. Therefore they searched futilely for three days to see where God might have dropped him. Elisha reminded them that he had told them they would not find him. No doubt this experience marked Elisha as a man of leadership.
The second situation distinguished his power. The citizens of Jericho were faced with a problem. This ancient city had trouble with its water supply. The leading men of the city came to Elisha asking if he could help them. Taking salt, a cleansing and preserving agent, he sprinkled it on the contaminated spring and the waters were made good. This was clearly miraculous.
The third situation established him as a person of great respect. The older men were always to be treated with respect. As Elisha left Jericho and was traveling to Bethel (a distance of 20 miles) he was met by a band of rowdy teenagers. This gang mocked and made fun of Elisha and implied that if he was such a great prophet of the Lord, he should go up to heaven as Elijah had reportedly done. As a result Elisha called down a curse on the villains and all 42 were mauled by two bears. This miracle identified him as a person of great respect and a representative of the living God.
Application
Today, Christ’s death has made the forgiveness of my sins possible, making me acceptable to God (Heb. 9:9-15). God stands ready to forgive me when I come to Him in faith.
Ezekiel 43:13– 27 (NET)
13 “And these are the measurements of the altar: Its base is 1¾ feet high and 1¾ feet wide, and its border nine inches on its edge. This is to be the height of the altar. 14 From the base of the ground to the lower ledge is 3½ feet, and the width 1¾ feet; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, 7 feet, and the width 1¾ feet; 15 and the altar hearth, 7 feet, and from the altar hearth four horns projecting upward. 16 Now the altar hearth is a perfect square, 21 feet long and 21 feet wide. 17 The ledge is 24½ feet long and 24½ feet wide on four sides; the border around it is 10½ inches, and its surrounding base 1¾ feet. Its steps face east.”
18 Then he said to me: “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: These are the statutes of the altar: On the day it is built to offer up burnt offerings on it and to sprinkle blood on it, 19 you will give a young bull for a sin offering to the Levitical priests who are descended from Zadok, who approach me to minister to me, declares the Sovereign Lord. 20 You will take some of its blood and place it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and on the border all around; you will purify it and make atonement for it. 21 You will also take the bull for the sin offering, and it will be burned in the appointed place in the temple, outside the sanctuary.
22 “On the second day, you will offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering. They will purify the altar just as they purified it with the bull. 23 When you have finished purifying it, you will offer an unblemished young bull and an unblemished ram from the flock. 24 You will present them before the Lord, and the priests will scatter salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord.
25 “For seven days you will provide every day a goat for a sin offering; a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without blemish, will be provided. 26 For seven days they will make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, so they will consecrate it. 27 When the prescribed period is over, on the eighth day and thereafter the priests will offer up on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings; I will accept you, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Illustration: Respect For The Parent is Important
According to psychologist William Damon, respect for the parent who exercises proper authority leads to respect for legitimate social institutions and to respect for law. In his book The Moral Child, Damon writes, “The child’s respect for parental authority sets the direction for civilized participation in the social order when the child later begins assuming the rights and responsibilities of full citizenship.” Damon calls this respect “the single most important legacy that comes out of the child’s relations with the parent.” (Michael G. Moriarty, The Perfect 10: The Blessings of Following God’s Commandments in a Post Modern World, p. 1)