Old Testament # 29
“He Took Up … the Mantle of Elijah”
2 Kings 2; 5–6
Introduction
When we witness, as we did very recently, the succession of a new prophet as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we speak in terms of the symbolic mantle falling on this chosen man. This terminology comes from the transfer of the office from Elijah to Elisha. Strictly in LDS terms, that office in the Melchizedek Priesthood—the calling of Prophet to the Church—is held by one man, thus as Elisha put on Elijah’s mantle, he assumed that office. And, dramatically, as Elijah had wielded priesthood power by “using” the mantle to divide the waters of Jordan for them to cross over, so did Elisha perform the same miracle with the same mantle to return over Jordan.
1. Elisha succeeds Elijah as the prophet.2 Kings 2:1–18.
Last Sunday I talked a little bit about President Nelson and a just a few of the changes he has implemented in the short time he has worn that mantle.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that “the great need in the world today is not for the Lord to send a prophet to reveal his mind and will. He has done that; we have a prophet; we are guided by many men who have the spirit of inspiration. The great need today is for men to have a listening ear and to give heed to the words that fall from the lips of those who wear the prophetic mantle.” (Ensign,May 1974, p. 73.)
We don’t know how long Elisha was with Elijah but Ahab had died and both kingdoms were ruled by a Jehoram (no relation to each other as far as I know). I believe, though, it was a relatively short time. But even in that short time, their bond was such that Elisha vowed to Elijah “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee” (2 Kings 2:6). We all have callings in the Church, do we have such absolute fidelity to our leaders or companions. How much as President Nelson learned from the First Presidency and members of the Quorum of Twelve over the years? How much can we learn to prepare us for what is to come? I am asking myself as well, but how much do we discount what the prophet asks us to do. Over again President Nelson has iterated the importance of receiving revelation. And I wonder if I am doing what I should to develop and increase my own spiritual capacity to receive revelation. What is holding me back?
2. Elisha heals Naaman of leprosy.2 Kings 5.
I mentioned the video I have posted in the additional material at the end of this blog. It really is a beautiful interpretation of the scriptural account of Naaman. In later chapters we see Israel at war with Syria, so politically it is a little strange that the captured Israelite girl provides the means for the Syrian to be healed by a Hebrew prophet, and that the communication goes between the two kings.
The Jordan I saw on my recent trip to Israel very much resembles that shown in the video—slow flowing and muddy. Hard to think that anything would wash clean in it, let alone disease. And in fact, Naaman unfavorably contrasts Jordan with rivers in Syria. But, obviously, it is obedience and faith that are important here, not the performance. For those of us who have been to the temple, the words exactnessand honorwith regard to our covenants are familiar. And because Naaman finally realized this, his leprosy was healed and he converted to the worship of Jehovah. We don’t hear anything else about Naaman other than a brief mention in the New Testament.
But we do hear about Elisha’s servant Gehazi. Now he may have decided that they needed practical things and saw Elisha’s refusal of Naaman’s offer of payment as impractical, but the fact that he hid the silver, etc. tends to imply there was some thought of personal gain, and instead, as a leper himself now, Gehazi lost everything. If Naaman’s ritual washing in Jordan prefigures Christ’s baptism, Gehazi’s betrayal of Elisha has to parallel Judas’s later betrayal.
3. Elisha guides Israel in a war with Syria.2 Kings 6:8–18.
Once again we have a very familiar story that portrays perfectly the need to rely on God rather than the arm of flesh. I came across this amazing discourse by Elder Maxwell which will serve to conclude this blogpost. I hope that we (and especially I) can keep my eyes and ears open for guidance from the Lord and His servants. And not let the “distracting churn” of modern technology keep me from that guidance.
Uncertainty as to world conditions does not justify moral uncertainty, and distracting churn will not cover our sins nor dim God’s all-seeing eye. Furthermore, military victories are no substitute for winning our individual wars for self-control. Nor do the raging human hatreds lessen God’s perfect and redeeming love for all His children. Likewise, the obscuring mists of the moment cannot change the reality that Christ is the Light of the World! Let us, therefore, be like the young man with Elisha on the mount. At first intimidated by the surrounding enemy chariots, the young man’s eyes were mercifully opened, and he saw “horses and chariots of fire,” verifying “they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kgs. 6:17, 16). Brothers and sisters, the spiritual arithmetic has not changed!
Our own intellectual shortfalls and perplexities do not alter the fact of God’s astonishing foreknowledge, which takes into account our choices for which we are responsible. Amid the mortal and fragmentary communiques and the breaking news of the day concerning various human conflicts, God lives in an eternal now where the past, present, and future are constantly before Him (see D&C 130:7). His divine determinations are guaranteed, since whatever He takes in His heart to do, He will surely do it (see Abr. 3:17). He knows the end from the beginning! (see Abr. 2:8). God is fully “able to do [His] … work” and to bring all His purposes to pass, something untrue of the best-laid plans of man since we so often use our agency amiss! (see 2 Ne. 27:20).[1]
Additional Material
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