Sermon for July 24th, 2016

2 Kings 2:1-15

1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10 He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.

12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

15 When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”

Elijah Rock: Chariots of Fire

In today's scripture passage, the prophet Elijah sets out a final test for his student, Elisha, to see if he is truly called to be the next great prophet of Israel.

I'm reminded of a story about a couple whose son had graduated from college, but was still living with them at home. The parents were a little worried, since the son couldn't seem to make a decision about his future career. So the father decided to do a small test.

On the kitchen table one morning, he carefully laid out a twenty-dollar bill, a Bible, and a bottle of whiskey. Then he and his wife hid just outside the kitchen, pretending they had already left for the day.

The father told his wife, "If our son takes the money, he will be a businessman, if he takes the Bible, he will be a preacher, but if he takes the bottle of whiskey, I'm afraid our son will be a no-good drunk."

At about 11:30 in the morning, the son finally came downstairs and saw the items laid out on the table. Peeking around the corner, the couple watched as their son picked up the twenty-dollar bill, and slid it in his pocket. After that, he took the Bible, flipped through it, and put it under his arm. Finally, he grabbed the bottle of whiskey, opened it and took an appreciative whiff to be assured of the quality. Then he left the house, carrying all three items.

The father slapped his forehead and said: "This is worse than I could ever have imagined!"

"What? asked the wife. "Our son is going to be a politician!"

Obviously, Elisha does a little better on his test in today's scripture reading.

I. Elijah - the man, the myth, the message.

Elijah's constant message = Yahweh is king (chariots as a symbol of wealth and power and status and kingship)

II. Elisha - Transition Elijah as Moses, Elisha as Joshua. Fathers and sons. Moving into the real. Elijah came from nowhere, went back to nowhere. But Elisha is "son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah" Progression: Elijah = Yahweh is my God / Elisha = God is my salvation

III. You and Me. A sense of calling. Mantle = glory. (talent? gift?) Roll it up and strike the water.