November 23

"And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet." 2 Krsos 13:20, 21.

HERE we see the Moabites did not come in a large army, but in particular bands, to pillage and alarm. It shows us in how undefended a state at this period the country must have been. But what has this to do with the death and burial of Elisha? The one is mentioned in connection with the other, and has a reference to the exclamation the king made in his dying-chamber, "O my father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!" And see, would the historian say, see how soon this began to be exemplified. Does this cause seem inadequate to the effect? Who has not observed the importance of individuality? When Goliath came forward challenging, all the army of Israel fled. What a terror was Samson to the Philistines! They could do nothing till they had got rid of him. There are persons who are the life, the soul of a party or a community. What enterprises for the glory of God, and the spread of the gospel, have originated from one Christian! The death of a minister has been the signal for the division and dispersion of a congregation raised by his talents and zeal. "I know," says Paul, "that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."

What is there peculiar here? The intimation of the historian is constantly and variously held forth in the Scripture at large. There we see the regard God pays to his people. "Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it; so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all."

"Oft have our fathers told, Our eyes have often seen, How well our God secures the fold Where his own sheep have been."

The ungrateful world despises them. Yet how much do even they owe to the presence and the prayers of the saints. By them blessings have been obtained or continued. They have withholden or removed judgments. They have been the "healers of the breach, the restorers of paths to dwell in." Shall not we love them? Shall not we pray for their increase?

But here was a thing very accidental as to the persons employed. They were a funeral party, and were going to carry the corpse farther; but seeing a number of their invaders, and wishing to make a timely escape, they hastily laid it in the grave of Elisha, which happened to be at hand. But how wonderful was the result! "When the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet." Here the Papists come—and to what other place can they come so well?—to find something to favor the doctrine of relics. Which of their churches is not furnished with the supposed remains of saints? Some of these saints, too, were little better than demons. But allowing them to have been real saints, what profit is there in their bones when they go down to the grave? The virtue here was not in the bones of Elisha, but in the power of God. And what a stupendous miracle was it! "Surely, had not the people been blind and impenitent, they must have been brought to repentance." So we think; but who said, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither would they be persuaded though one rose from the dead?" Whether there were as yet any Sadducees in Israel we know not. If there were, they here saw a proof and an instance that the dead can be reanimated; and it matters not, as to the miracle of the fact, whether it took place two days after death, or two thousand years. God alone could have done it. And why should it be thought a thing incredible that God should raise the dead? His power is almighty, and we see what changes and revivals it is continually producing in nature. But with us the subject admits of no doubt. We believe—the Lord prepare us for it—that "there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust."

The fathers—where are they? and the prophets—do they live for ever? No; the dearest, the greatest, the most useful of his servants die. But "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." We are losers; but to them, to die is gain. They are privileged in it; they are privileged by it. And it is desirable to be near them living, dying, and dead; in time, and in eternity. "Gather not my soul with sinners." I would "take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew; saying, I will go with you, for I have heard that God is with you." "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me."

God can honor his servants after they are in their graves. The memory of the just is blessed, and useful too. Yes; you may be the means of awakening and enlivening persons after your death—not by quickening their mortal bodies, but their souls, which were dead in trespasses and sins—not by your bones, but by your example, which will still operate; by your instructions, which shall still speak; by the prayers you offered; by the books you gave; by the minister you educated; by the place of worship you built while you were yet living.

Every thing should lead us to the Saviour. How much any of the Jews at this time knew of the Messiah we cannot ascertain. But we know, that because he died we shall live. We know that if we were planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. He made the grave his own by residence and consecration. Behold the place where the Lord lay! Into this grave we must descend. But we shall arise from it not only living, but immortal—not like this man, to die again, but to die no more, death having no more dominion over us. "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they rise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."