1 Kings 19:19-21 So he departed there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth… I. Among other practical lessons suggested by the calling of Elisha, let us note THE VARIETY OF CHARACTER AMONG GOD'S SERVANTS. Never were there two individuals more opposite than these two lights of this age in Israel, — alike in training and in mental temperament. The one was the rough child of the desert, without recorded parentage or lineage. His congenial and appropriate home the wilds of Cherith — the thunder-gloom of Carmel — the shade of the wilderness juniper — the awful cliffs of Sinai; — a direct messenger of wrath from Heaven — THE PROPHET OF FIRE! The other is trained and nurtured under the roof of a genial home — mingling daily in the interchange of domestic affection — loving and beloved. And there are the same remarkable, the same beautiful diversities, to this hour, in the Church of Christ. Luther and Knox — the Elijahs of their times, — had their vocation in preparing the way for the Zwinglis and Melanchthons — the gentler messengers of peace; — blasting the rocks, — digging out the rough, unshapely, unhewn block, — to put it into the hands of these more refined sculptors to polish into shape and beauty. II. We may gather, as a second lesson, THE HONOUR GOD PUTS ON THE ORDINARY SECULAR OCCUPATIONS OF LIFE. Elisha is found, — not engaged in temple worship in Jerusalem or Samaria, not even in meditation and prayer in the retirement of his father's dwelling, but at his plough — driving before him his team of oxen. This is another of the reiterated lessons in Scripture as to the dignity and sacredness of labour, and the Divine recognition of it. III. Once more — observe, in the case of Elisha and his parents, THE SPIRIT OF JOYFUL SELF-SACRIFICE MANIFESTED AT THE CALL OF DUTY. Great, undoubtedly, as was the honour of becoming the consecrated prophet of God; — we cannot think of his acceptance of the high office, without, at the same time, having suggested the idea of self-renunciation. What a lesson for us, this abnegation of self for God and duty. What have we surrendered of our worldly ease, our pleasures, our money, our children, our advantages, for Him and His cause? What have we done to disarm the power of besetting sins,by cutting off, like Elisha, the occasion of them, — saying, "Let oxen, implements, tackling, all go, and perish in the flames, if they rob our hearts of Christ, or Christ of our hearts"? Matthew locked the door of his tollhouse behind him: he would never enter it again. The magicians of Ephesus burnt their magical books that they might never more incur the risk of being involved in their sorceries. (J. R. Macduff, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. |
    |