A DOUBLE PORTION OF HIS SPIRIT

PROCLAMATION

“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 portion of thy spirit be upon me.’ ”  2 Kings 2:9 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  After some time the prophets came to Elisha and told him that on that day The Lord would take his master Elijah away.  He told them that he knew that would happen. (2 Kings 2:1-3)  Later Elijah and Elisha went to Jericho and the prophets there also told Elisha that his master would be taken away.  Elijah told Elisha to wait there but Elisha would not leave him so they both went on to the Jordan river.  There Elijah smote the river with his mantle and the river parted and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. (2 Kings 2:4-8)  Then Elijah said to Elisha what shall I do for thee before I am taken away.  Elisha said he wanted a double portion of his spirit.  Elijah told him that if he sees him after he is taken away then it shall be so.  As they walked on and talked, a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind into heaven, and Elisha saw it. (2 Kings 2:9-11)  Elisha cried out to God, tore his clothes, then went and stood by the bank of the Jordan river.  He took the mantle of Elijah and smote the waters of the Jordan and they parted.  After he crossed over the prophets came to him and said the spirit of Elijah was upon him.  The fifty servants that were with them spent three days searching the mountains and valleys for the body of Elijah but could not find it. (2 Kings 2:12-17)  When they came back to Elisha, who stayed in Jericho, they told him so and he said that he had told them not to look for him.  Then they complained about the bitterness of the water in the city.  Elisha told them to bring him a new cruse full of salt which he cast into the spring of the water and The Lord healed the water. (2 Kings 2:18-22)  As Elisha was going to Bethel, some of the children of the town mocked him and called him names.  He turned to them and cursed them in the name of The Lord.  Then two female bears came out of the woods and killed them. (2 Kings 2:23-25)  This is the punishment which God promised the people in His covenant with them if they were hostile towards His prophets. (Leviticus 26:21-22)

APPLICATION

1 Be careful what you ask God for; you just might get it and all that comes along with it.  2 To whom much is given, from him will much be required. (Luke 12:48)  3 We are to use our God-given gifts to be a benefit and a blessing to others. 4 Parents have the responsibility to teach their children to obey the word of God and respect the man of God, or there will be disastrous consequences for the parents and the children.