The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 229

their l1and, even when they see no results of their labour I "He that goctb forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing bis sbea.ves with him." Work done for God never dies. Stay not your hand in the matter of your own spiritual life. Persevere in the conflict with your besetting sins. Persevere in the cultivation of Christian graces. Use the arrow of the Lord's deliverance. Put on the whole armour of God. Persevere also in prayer for others. Never give up as hopeless a single soul. Stay not thine hand. You can't do much for them, perhaps, but God can. Lay the case of erring child or godless friend before God in prayer. Ask him to open their eyes, .Ask the Lord Jesus to lay his band upon them-to speak the word only, and they shall be made whole. Persevere also in (Jhristian work. " Be not weary in well-doing." Leave no work unfinished for which God gives you the strength and the means. Perhaps we have been shooting too few arrows, making too little effort in God's cause. Seek the guidance of God's hand and the power which God's presence gives, and then go forth to will victories for him.-C. H. I. Vera. 20, 21.-A resu"ectim and its lessons. This miracle was wrought, in a time of prevailing unbelief, to teach a lesson to a faithless age. Strange sight indeed-for those who were engrossed with the sensual pleasures of the present world, thus unex- pectedly to be brought face to face with the power of the Unseen I I. GoD's POWER TO RAISE THE DEAD. Here was something which their heathen gods could never do. Heathenism, agnosticism,-these systems bring no comfort to the bereaved and sorrowing spirit, Christ alone has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. None but he has ever dared to say," I am the Resurrection and the Life." II. THE UNDYING INFLUENOE OF GOOD MEN. "Non omnis moriar" was the saying of the old heathen poet. But the humblest Christian who is faithful to God may have confidence that his influence for good will continue long after he bas passed away from earth. 1. Elisha's words were to continue. The prophet was dead, but his words still lived. His words were the words of God. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." We see in the twenty-fifth verse how Elisha's prediction to Joash was literally fulfilled. Three times Joash defeated the Syrians :and recovered the cities of Israel. Elisha's words still remain, to be our consolation and comfort. 2. Elisha's work remained. The memory of his faithfulness to God, of the wonders he was able to do by God's presence with him, remained to be a help and stimulus to many faithful servants of God when Israel was growing worse and worse. A good man's influence-who can tell how long it may last, or what unexpected places and persons it may reach ?-C. H. L Vers. 1-21.-The death of Elisha. "In the three and twentieth," etc. The Book of Kings is, to a large extent, a record of crime, and of crime of the most heinous and aggravated character. The terrible monstrosities recorded are, for the most part, ascri- bable, directly or indirectly, to kings. In this very chapter we have a sketch of two of those monarchs who have been among the greatest curses of their race. Jehoahaz, son and successor of Jehu King of Israel, whose reign was disastrous to the kingdom to such a degree that his army was all but utterly destroyed, and had become like the dust on tbe "threshing-floor;" and Jehoash, who for three years was associated with his father in the government, and who, when his father was swept away, was a cun;e to the world for sixteen years. The only portion of this chapter which requires notice is from ver. 14 to ver. 21. These verses present to us four subjects of thought-a great man dying; a good man leaving the world interested in posterity; a wicked man regretting the event; and a dead man exerting a wonderful influence. I . .A GREAT MAN DYIN<l. "Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died." The whole history of Elisha is not only the history of the marvellous, but the history of loyalty to Heaven and of devotion to the interests of the Israelite race. But here we find this great and good man dying. Elijah, his master, had escaped death and had been borne to heaven in a chariot of fire, but Elisha had to die in the ordinary way of mankind, through sickness. It is true he was an old man ; threescore years had passed since he commenced his prophetic ministry. For a great many years we are told nothing about him, but no doubt he had been actively and usefully ~ed. U. KINOBo T  274 THE SECOND DOOK OF THE KINGS. [cH. xm. 1-25.