READING FOR NOVEMBER 11, 2025: Tuesday: 2 KINGS 2, 1 PETER 1, PSALM 119:1-8                 2 KINGS 2 Prophetic Authority Dramatically Transfers from Elijah to Elisha

Many organizations prepare detailed succession plans. This transition from Elijah as Israel’s major prophet to Elisha’s assuming that role is unlike any of them. First Elijah told his assistant Elisha to stay at Gilgal so that he could travel to Bethel by himself. Just like Ruth said to her mother-in-law Naomi, Elisha said he would not leave Elijah. When they reached Bethel, a group of prophets asked if Elisha knew the Lord would take Elijah that day. Elisha said yes, but don’t tell anyone else. Then Elijah told Elisha to stay there while he went to Jericho. Again, Elisha said he would not leave. The prophets in Jericho also asked Elisha if he knew the Lord would take Elijah. Elisha’s response was the same as before.

Then, Elijah told Elisha that he was headed to the Jordan River and that Elisha should stay in Jericho. Either Elijah didn’t like Elisha’s company, or he was testing his commitment to Elijah’s mission. As we could guess, Elisha refused to leave Elijah. When they arrived at the Jordan River there was a group of 50 prophets watching them from a distance.  They saw Elijah strike the water with his coat to make a pathway of dry ground for them to cross over. After they crossed the river, Elijah asked Elisha if he wanted anything before the Lord took him. Elisha boldly asked for a double portion of God’s spirit that had rested upon Elijah. This might not mean twice the amount, but it could be like the double portion of the inheritance that a father usually bequeathed to his eldest son. Elijah was Elijah’s spiritual son, after all. Elijah said he would receive it if he observed God take him away.  How could Elisha miss it? Immediately a chariot of fire descends, and Elijah is swept up to heaven in a whirlwind. What a way to go. 

Elisha tears his clothes as a sign of grief. He then picks up Elijah’s coat. A gesture that most reference sources give as the origin of the expression “taking up the mantle.” When he struck the river with the coat, once again the waters parted. This convinced the watching prophets that Elisha had indeed been given the spirit of Elijah. Of course, now Elisha became the focus of people who had great needs. Such is the responsibility of those who have been greatly blessed in ministry. The men of the city complained that their water was too polluted to be useful. Thus, one of Elisha’s first great miracles was to clean up the local environment to make it more productive for the residents.  Remember that God has given us a stewardship role.

The last episode in this chapter has long puzzled this writer. As one who had long been mostly bald, it is hard to understand why Elisha was so sensitive about being mocked for his baldness. Upon closer reading, it appears the ridiculing boys were mostly making fun of him because he wasn’t also taken by the Lord--perhaps wishing that his ministry for God wouldn’t impact them. Also note that Elisha didn’t resort to violence himself but cursed them in the name of the Lord. The Lord, not Elisha, carried out vengeance by unleashing the two bears.

READING FOR NOVEMBER 11, 2025 CONTINUED: 1 PETER 1, PSALM 119:1-8                               1 PETER 1 The Apostle Peter wrote this letter to whom he calls exiles, who were Christians scattered throughout five regions of present-day Turkey. It seems they were not exiles in the same sense as Jewish Christians, who were driven out of Israel. Verse 18 implies that they were Gentiles because they “were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors.” Thus, they likely weren’t part of God’s original covenant people. They also were exiles in the sense they were “foreigners” because their true home was in heaven (vs. 18). This is our status, too, as citizens in heaven while we are resident aliens here in York- town, Indiana. Verse two states what their (and our) purpose is while on earth: to obey Jesus Christ. It would be instructive to read all the commands of Jesus in order to better understand our purpose. One that stands out, because it was His final command: “Go, therefore, and make dis- ciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Peter offers a blessing to God on behalf of all of us who have been born again. Can we all articulate the time in our lives when we went from death to life? One danger in the experience of Methodists is to believe rebirth occurred when we were baptized as infants. Unless some of us were child geniuses in the extreme, we did not have the cognitive abilities to realize we were lost in sin, needed to repent, believe Jesus died and rose, and trust Him as Lord. If we have been born again, rejoice in this salvation, and understand its eternal value. Peter says we have the spiritual resources to withstand the trials in this life. Peter said the great prophets foresaw these blessings in Jesus, even though they did not experience the same blessings we enjoy. Even angels are interested in this great gospel. So, we need to act in obedience and holiness. We need to realize our time on earth to obey is fleeting. We need to fervently love each other. And we need to live in light of the eternal truths of the Bible.

PSALM 119:1-8 This longest chapter in God’s word is fittingly all about God’s word. We learn that we will be blessed if we actually live according to His Word. It increasingly seems that folks work hard at explaining why it no longer applies instead of conforming to it and experiencing its blessing. Of course, it will be at odds with our sinful culture. That’s why we need to read it.

There is much talk today about wanting justice. Such a concept demands that there is an objective standard of right and wrong against which to measure our actions. The Bible claims to be that unchanging standard. Otherwise, justice is up for grabs to whomever is the most powerful. The Psalmist states the Bible is God’s precepts, God’s statutes, God’s commands, and God judgments. He absolutely affirms that God inspired human writers to convey God’s will to us. This is also what Jesus affirmed: “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished” (Matt. 5:17-18). We will see the Apostle Peter affirm the same truth in his letters.