April Twenty-fourth.
ELIJAH'S MANTLE.
"Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him."—1 Kings xix. 19.
ELIJAH, when returning on his way to the wilderness of Damascus, was commanded by the Lord to anoint Hazael king of Syria, and Jehu to be king of Israel, and also to anoint Elisha to be a prophet in his room. Elijah in his journey found Elisha, the son of Shaphat, ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he passed by and cast his mantle upon him. By this act, he was called to the prophetic office, "and he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him." (v. 21.) This significant act of Elijah casting his mantle upon Elisha, is full of interest, because it points out the method by which the prophetic office passed from one to the other. When the spiritual import of the two names, Elijah and Elisha, is seen, many other incidents in the lives of these two prophets will appear fraught with instruction of the highest value to all who are journeying through the wilderness of this life to the promised land of their rest.
The name Elijah, signifies God the Lord, or strong Lord—the Everlasting Mighty one; and Elisha means, God the Saviour, or salvation of God. These two were, in their prophetic character and office, the representatives of the Lord God the Saviour; He alone being strong and mighty to save. Hence it is said, "salvation belongeth to the Lord" (Psalm iii. 8), and that "the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord, he is their strength in the time of trouble."
