It is in my heart to write what the Lord seems to impress on my spirit this day. This morning, my devotion continues and I am in 2 Kings 2:1-11.
Three times, before leaving this world in a whirlwind (v11), the elder prophet had to separate from the younger man to finish the work God had given him. Three times, before "going home," he comforted the younger man with these words, (v2, 4 & 6) "I will not leave thee." The reassurance came after being told by "well-meaning 'friends,'" that the old man was gonna be "taken away." (V3 and 5).
- Were these men watching to see if Elisha would stand the test?
- Were they hoping to be in his shoes by way of being under the watchful eye of the revered and respected Elijah?
Elisha was fully aware it was near the time of the older mans departure from this earth. Clearly, the old prophet saw anxiety in the young man and gave him the reassurance necessary to see Elisha through until he "took up the mantle." (V13).
The words used in the title of this post remind me of Another who said the same thing. Deuteronmy 31.6, when Moses was going to hand for the leadership to Joshua. Then again in Hebrews 13.5, the writer reminds the reader of this great truth.
It would seem the Holy Spirit is nudging my heart with this great truth today. Next door a soul is in the balance, maybe two. Bad news was given yesterday and although I was not called for, I went. One question came from the tormented soul's mouth, "I've asked forgiveness but feel no peace as others have explained." My only response was to "let go of whatever was between the heart and God." It is all of Him and none of our works.
I do not know the outcome of this conversation yet but I can see the mighty hand of God in the circumstances that brought a beloved son from afar to the side of the loved one.
Yes, Lord, like Elisha I will say to any who question the circumstances, "Yea, I know it, hold ye your peace." (V3).
ET us note
that Christ delights to think upon His Church, and to look upon her
beauty. As the bird returneth often to its nest, and as the wayfarer
hastens to his home, so doth the mind continually pursue the object of
its choice. We cannot look too often upon that face which we love; we
desire always to have our precious things in our sight. It is even so
with our Lord Jesus. From all eternity "His delights were with the sons
of men"; His thoughts rolled onward to the time when His elect should be
born into the world; He viewed them in the mirror of His foreknowledge.
"In Thy book," He says, "all my members were written, which in
continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them" (Ps.
139:16). When the world was set upon its pillars, He was there, and He
set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of
Israel. Many a time before His incarnation, He descended to this lower
earth in the similitude of a man; on the plains of Mamre (Gen. 18), by
the brook of Jabbok (Gen. 32:24-30), beneath the walls of Jericho (Josh.
5:13), and in the fiery furnace of Babylon (Dan. 3:19, 25), the Son of
Man visited His people. Because His soul delighted in them, He could not
rest away from them, for His heart longed after them. Never were they
absent from His heart, for He had written their names upon His hands,
and graven them upon His side. As the breastplate containing the names
of the tribes of Israel was the most brilliant ornament worn by the high
priest, so the names of Christ's elect were His most precious jewels,
and glittered on His heart. We may often forget to meditate upon the
perfections of our Lord, but He never ceases to remember us. Let us
chide ourselves for past forgetfulness, and pray for grace ever to bear
Him in fondest remembrance. Lord, paint upon the eyeballs of my soul the
image of Thy Son.
