prophets and kings-第36节
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according to the world of the Lord。〃 1 Kings 16：34。
Not far from Jericho； in the midst of fruitful groves； was one of the schools of the prophets； and thither； after the ascension of Elijah； Elisha went。 During his sojourn among them the men of the city came to the prophet and said； 〃Behold； I pray thee； the situation of this city is pleasant； as my lord seeth： but the water is nought； and the ground barren。〃 The spring that in former years had been pure and life…giving； and had contributed largely to the water supply of the city and the surrounding district； was now unfit for use。
In response to the plea of the men of Jericho； Elisha said； 〃Bring me a new cruse； and put salt therein。〃 Having received this； 〃he went forth unto the spring of the waters；
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and cast the salt in there； and said； Thus saith the Lord； I have healed these waters； there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land。〃 2 Kings 2：19…21。
The healing of the waters of Jericho was accomplished； not by any wisdom of man； but by the miraculous interposition of God。 Those who had rebuilt the city were undeserving of the favor of Heaven； yet He who 〃maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good； and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust；〃 saw fit in this instance to reveal； through this token of compassion； His willingness to heal Israel of their spiritual maladies。 Matthew 5：45。
The restoration was permanent； 〃the waters were healed unto this day； according to the saying of Elisha which he spake。〃 2 Kings 2：22。 From age to age the waters have flowed on； making that portion of the valley an oasis of beauty。
Many are the spiritual lessons to be gathered from the story of the healing of the waters。 The new cruse； the salt； the springall are highly symbolic。
In casting salt into the bitter spring； Elisha taught the same spiritual lesson imparted centuries later by the Saviour to His disciples when He declared； 〃Ye are the salt of the earth。〃 Matthew 5：13。 The salt mingling with the polluted spring purified its waters and brought life and blessing where before had been blighting and death。 When God compares His children to salt； He would teach them that His purpose in making them the subjects of His grace is that they may become agents in saving others。 The object of God in choosing a people before all the world was not
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only that He might adopt them as His sons and daughters； but that through them the world might receive the grace that bringeth salvation。 When the Lord chose Abraham； it was not simply to be the special friend of God； but to be a medium of the peculiar privileges the Lord desired to bestow upon the nations。
The world needs evidences of sincere Christianity。 The poison of sin is at work at the heart of society。 Cities and towns are steeped in sin and moral corruption。 The world is full of sickness； suffering； and iniquity。 Nigh and afar off are souls in poverty and distress； weighed down with a sense of guilt and perishing for want of a saving influence。 The gospel of truth is kept ever before them； yet they perish because the example of those who should be a savor of life to them is a savor of death。 Their souls drink in bitterness because the springs are poisoned； when they should be like a well of water springing up unto everlasting life。
Salt must be mingled with the substance to which it is added； it must penetrate； infuse it； that it may be preserved。 So it is through personal contact and association that men are reached by the saving power of the gospel。 They are not saved as masses； but as individuals。 Personal influence is a power。 It is to work with the influence of Christ； to lift where Christ lifts； to impart correct principles； and to stay the progress of the world's corruption。 It is to diffuse that grace which Christ alone can impart。 It is to uplift； to sweeten the lives and characters of others by the power of a pure example united with earnest faith and love。
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Of the hitherto polluted spring at Jericho； the Lord declared； 〃I have healed these waters； there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land。〃 The polluted stream represents the soul that is separate from God。 Sin not only shuts away from God； but destroys in the human soul both the desire and the capacity for knowing Him。 Through sin； the whole human organism is deranged； the mind is perverted； the imagination corrupted； the faculties of the soul are degraded。 There is an absence of pure religion； of heart holiness。 The converting power of God has not wrought in transforming the character。 The soul is weak； and for want of moral force to overcome； is polluted and debased。
To the heart that has become purified； all is changed。 Transformation of character is the testimony to the world of an indwelling Christ。 The Spirit of God produces a new life in the soul； bringing the thoughts and desires into obedience to the will of Christ； and the inward man is renewed in the image of God。 Weak and erring men and women show to the world that the redeeming power of grace can cause the faulty character to develop into symmetry and abundant fruitfulness。
The heart that receives the word of God is not as a pool that evaporates； not like a broken cistern that loses its treasure。 It is like the mountain stream； fed by unfailing springs； whose cool； sparkling waters leap from rock to rock； refreshing the weary； the thirsty； the heavy…laden。 It is like a river constantly flowing and； as it advances； becoming deeper and wider； until its life…giving waters are spread over all the
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earth。 The stream that goes singing on its way leaves behind its gift of verdure and fruitfulness。 The grass on its banks is a fresher green； the trees have a richer verdure； the flowers are more abundant。 When the earth lies bare and brown under the summer's scorching heat； a line of verdure marks the river's course。
So it is with the true child of God。 The religion of Christ reveals itself as a vitalizing； pervading principle； a living； working； spiritual energy。 When the heart is opened to the heavenly influence of truth and love； these principles will flow forth again like streams in the desert； causing fruitfulness to appear where now are barrenness and dearth。
As those who have been cleansed and sanctified through a knowledge of Bible truth engage heartily in the work of soulsaving； they will become indeed a savor of life unto life。 And as daily they drink of the inexhaustible fountain of grace and knowledge； they will find that their own hearts are filled to overflowing with the Spirit of their Master； and that through their unselfish ministry many are benefited physically； mentally； and spiritually。 The weary are refreshed； the sick restored to health； and the sin…burdened relieved。 In far…off countries thanksgiving is heard from the lips of those whose hearts are turned from the service of sin unto righteousness。
〃Give； and it shall be given unto you；〃 for the word of God is 〃a fountain of gardens； a well of living waters； and streams from Lebanon。〃 Luke 6：38； Song of Solomon 4：15。
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Chapter 19
A Prophet of Peace
The work of Elisha as a prophet was in some respects very different from that of Elijah。 To Elijah had been committed messages of condemnation and judgment； his was the voice of fearless reproof； calling king and people to turn from their evil ways。 Elisha's was a more peaceful mission； his it was to build up and strengthen the work that Elijah had begun； to teach the people the way of the Lord。 Inspiration pictures him as coming into personal touch with the people； surrounded by the sons of the prophets； bringing by his miracles and his ministry healing and rejoicing。
Elisha was a man of mild and kindly spirit； but that he could also be stern is shown by his course when； on the way to Bethel； he was mocked by ungodly youth who had come out of the city。 These youth had heard of Elijah's ascension； and they made this solemn event the subject of their jeers； saying to Elisha； 〃Go up； thou bald head； go up；
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thou bald head。〃 At the sound of their mocking words the prophet turned back； and under the inspiration of the Almighty he pronounced a curse upon them。 The awful judgment that followed was of God。 〃There came forth two she…bears out of the wood； and tare forty and two〃 of them。 2 Kings 2：23； 24。
Had Elisha allowed the mockery to pass unnoticed； he would have continued to be ridiculed and reviled by the rabble； and his mission to instruct and save in a time of grave national peril might have been defeated。 This one instance of terrible severity was sufficient to command respect throughout his life。 For fifty years he went in and out of the gate of Bethel； and to and fro in the land； from city to city； passing through crowds of idle； rude； dissolute youth； but none mocked him or made light of his qualifications as the prophet of the Most High。
Even kindness should have its limits。 Authority must be main
