The Double Portion

And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.’’ — 2 Kings 2: g.

There are few things more inspiring in this world than a sunset. I recall vividly the privilege given me of riding through the Royal Gorge in the Rocky Mountains just as the day was dying out of the sky. I had had the opportunity of standing in the morning of the same day upon Pike’s Peak as the sun came up, when the mountain peaks, one after the other, were disclosed through the mists, and their snow-capped heads glistened like diamonds, when suddenly, as lO a slight change in my view-point was made, they became like the very gates of heaven, and a more glorious privilege of witnessing a sunrise, it seemed to me, was never given to mortal man.

But the evening of that day was quite as great an inspiration, when the little stream that ran beside the railroad track seemed like a thread of gold and the foliage on each side of the creek took on the various colors of the rainbow. I say again, there are few things more inspiring in nature than the setting of the sun.

A few days later I saw the sun go down in what is called the Golden Gate; and, as his track was left upon the sea, it seemed in his departure as if he had marked out the way up to the very gates of heaven. The sight was grand. On the plains of North Dakota once again, after the stormiest of days I

THE DOUBLE PORTION. i i

saw the most remarkable sunset of my life. Now the skies were all aglow with grandeur; now the clouds were banked together like choirs of angels; now they are changed to the golden streets of heaven; and now once again they rise before me as the train whirls away to the east, and they actually seem like the very throne of God as I have thought of it. A sunset is always fascinating, and it is a general rule that, the stormier the day, if the sunset is visible at all, the more beautiful the death of the day.

It is also a principle that men generally close their life as they live it. In the light of this statement, this journey of Elijah’s, during which Elisha asks for the double portion of his spirit, is a fitting close of his remarkable career.

Yet one is almost discouraged as he studies such a character as Elijah. He seems to dwarf us with his greatness; and, when we contrast with his ability to bring down fire from heaven, to lock up the clouds of the skies, and to hold the key and unlock them at his pleasure, our own weakness in prayer and the feebleness of our faith, he seems to us like some grand mountain peak, and we not for a moment worthy to be compared with him.

But, when we remember that the power of Elijah was not his own, and that the secret of his greatness was the indwelling of the Spirit of God, then discouragement gives way, and hope is born within us. And, when we read in the word of God that all the power of God is within our reach if we but obey him, our hearts bound within us for joy. If this power were really Elijah’s, we might as well give up the story in its very beginning; for the model could not be copied, the ideal could never be realized, the vision would only mock us. But when we learn that man’s weakness may be coupled to God’s strength, and that the connecting link is faith, there is no reason why any one should be downcast as he studies; but exactly the opposite spirit should possess him. It is said that, if one would command a force, he needs only to obey the law of it; therefore, if we would command God, we need only to yield to him the most implicit and perfect obedience and trust.

It is well for us to see Elijah and Elisha together as we study such a subject, for no two men could be more thoroughly unlike. It has been said that Elijah resembles John the Baptist in his earnestness and fervor, while Elisha more fitly represents Jesus in his gentleness and love. Elijah differs from Elisha as the lightning differs from the sunbeam; but it is not to be forgotten that there may be quite as much power in the sunbeam, and in many cases more power than in the flash of the lightning. At least, it is more easily controlled. And I doubt not that Elijah and Elisha are put together that we may understand that power was just as really present in the experience of the one as in that of the other, for it is a difficult thing for us to imagine power in quietness. We more often think of it as being present in that which is exactly its opposite.

I. It is a good thing to see them walk together, these two men of God, and to notice the places where they tarry. We find them at Gilgal. It has been said that this is properly the place of apprehension. We find them at Bethel, and this is said to be, literally, the way of access. We study them at Jericho, and Jericho is hostility to the world. Finally we see them at Jordan, which is typical of the judgment. It is when they pass Jordan that Elisha receives the double portion of the spirit of Elijah. If it is the desire of any one who reads this word to have a double portion of the Spirit of our Master, it will be necessary for him first to go to Gilgal, where he may really appreciate the fact that this blessing is for him if he desires it; for him then to depart and go to Bethel, and find the way of access to blessing, which is always in the complete submission of one’s will to Christ; for him to take his stand at Jericho and be against the world in everything.

There has never been a clearer call than to-day for nonconformity to the world on the part of the Christian.

One may receive power in perfect surrender; he retains power only by constant, living fellowship with Jesus Christ; and he can have fellowship with Christ only when he is separated from the world. Finally, one never really appreciates what it means to dwell in communion or to live the life of surrender until he has passed through the Jordan experience, where he has reckoned his old nature to be dead and where he makes positively no provision for the flesh.

We find that, as they went along from place to place, these two men talked together. This is a picture of what may be realized in the life of every Christian. It is not mysticism to say that a person may have such a realization of the presence of Christ that Christ would be nearer to him than the dearest earthly friend. It is only faith. If one were to cultivate the habit of fastening his thoughts upon Christ as he walked the streets, sat in his home, or went about his business, he would find that day by day he would come to be like Him who was “altogether lovely.” Thus to come into fellowship with Jesus Christ is to gain a victory over the things of the world and the things that are simply questionable.

“I have heard the voice of Jesus;

Tell me not of aught beside.

I have seen the face of Jesus,

And my soul is satisfied.”

It is not possible for one to do inconsistent things as a rule if he is thus in constant communion with his Lord.

I find, also, as I study Elijah and Elisha together, that it is not a good thing for one to make plans for his own life. God has a plan for every l8 THE SURRENDERED LIFE.

life. Happy the man who finds that plan and adapts himself in everything to it. Elijah prayed that he might die under the juniper-tree, and, if God had taken his plan, he would have been buried in the desert, and the moaning winds would have sung his requiem. But God’s plan was altogether different, and instead of the desert for his burial-place God had for him a chariot of fire, which swept him in great grandeur and glory up into the very highest heavens. Paul never gave us better advice than to apprehend that for which we have been apprehended. If we only find out God’s will and do it, our lives shall be filled with peace and blessing.

God asks only for our will, and he is a happy man who reaches the place where he holds back nothing from God. It is said that a celebrated bishop of the Church of England had made a complete sacrifice of everything in his life except his affection for his wife. She was an invalid, and he felt that he could not yield her up, she had been so long upon his heart. Both husband and wife were passing through the severest spiritual struggle, and one day the good bishop reached the place where he said that he could even give up his wife to Christ. With tear-wet cheeks he came into her room to tell her that he had gained the victory, only to be met with the response that she, too, had crossed the line and had yielded everything to Christ.

During the night she died after her lingering illness; and, strange as it may seem, and yet not strange, when they rapped at the door of the bishop in the morning, his heart, too, had ceased to beat, and he, too, stood in the presence of his God. God only wanted their wills; and, when they had been yielded to him, he would not allow them to be separated even for a minute of time, and he bound them together for an unending eternity.

II. What did Elisha mean when he said, “I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me”? Certainly not that he should have twice as much spirit as Elijah; but I am sure he must have meant to request of his master what was ever counted the elder brother’s portion of an inheritance. In Deuteronomy, the twenty-first chapter, seventeenth verse, we read that the elder brother’s portion was always double. N ow Elijah is going away, and Elisha wants that which has made him so acceptable to God, and so powerful with the people.

Is there a double portion of the Spirit for us, do you think? We have but to read John, the tenth chapter and the tenth verse, to find that there is an answer to this in the affirmative: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Some people stop merely with the possession of life; but this is not the whole plan of God, and it is his will that every hour of every day the waves of the life of our blessed Christ should roll in upon us.

The Rev. F. B. Meyer tells of his journey to the Mediterranean Sea, where he discovered what he thought was a tide, and yet that sea is tideless. When he began to study it, he found that there was a connection between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and what he thought was the tide was the rolling in of the waves from the Atlantic Ocean from the tide of that great sea; and Mr. Meyer has said that there will be an apparent tide in the Mediterranean Sea until it drains the Atlantic dry; that is, so long as the channel is kept open. So there will be for every one of us a constant influx of life and overflow of blessing so long as the channel between ourselves and Christ is kept unhindered. The smallest secret sin held and cherished could stay the coming of this marvellous blessing.

III. What are the conditions?

I. We must desire the double portion of the Spirit only that we may live for God’s glory. Not that we may win souls for Christ, not that we may go as missionaries, not that we may have peace. It is a far better position for one to occupy than any of these when he reaches the place when he can say, “I have no ambition either to win souls or to go to a foreign land, but only that my life might be for the glory of Him who bought me with his own precious blood.”

a. We must bring clean vessels to him. Mr. Moody has said, God does not require golden vessels, neither does he seek for silver ones, but he must have clean ones. And because of the fact that Jesus Christ is our mediator before the Father, it is possible for one to keep himself “unspotted from the world,” for “the blood of Jesus Christ” is cleansing “us from all sin.”

3. The possession of the double portion of the Spirit must be our greatest desire. If we permit anything to occupy a higher place in our affections than this, the blessing will tarry and the experience may never be ours.

4. We must keep our eyes constantly fixed upon Christ. The secret of all power is with him, and power is not an experience; but Christ is the very power of God himself. When the eyes are fastened upon him, it is a very easy matter for God to bestow the blessing. As Elijah and Elisha walked along, and Elisha made the request, Elijah said to him, “Thou hast asked a hard thing; but, if thou wilt keep thine eyes fastened upon me, thou shalt have it.” When they had crossed the Jordan, and the chariot of fire came near, and Elijah stepped in and was lifted heavenward, Elisha seemed unable to speak for a moment, and then he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof!” And Elijah took his old mantle, and dropped it from the side of the chariot of fire, and it fell upon the shoulders of Elisha, and he had his reward.

Keep your eyes fixed upon the taken-up Master, who is ever at the right hand of God; and you have learned the deepest secret of abiding peace and power.

IV. What are the effects of the possession of the double portion of the Spirit?

I. It may not mean greatness among men. Elisha did not bring down fire from heaven, neither did he lock up the clouds for a season. His ministry was of an altogether different sort. He visited the poor widow whose sons were about to be sold into bondage, and freed her from her sorrow. He went into the home of the Shunammite and raised her boy, thus filling her with rapturous joy. Your possession of power may never make you prominent among men, but your life will at once become very pleasing to God.

a. It does mean constant victory over sin. Let no one say that he can of himself forsake his sins; for, while individual shortcomings may be overcome, yet back of all these individual sins burns a fever which only the touch of the Physician’s hand can stay. But let every one rest assured of this one fact, that, while it is not at all a question as to whether we can. keep ourselves from sinning, — we know we cannot, — it is altogether a ’ question as to whether he could keep us if we would give him the right to do it. When one has passed through the experience of complete surrender, of perfect trust, of unwavering faith, he has reached the place where he is so firmly united to Christ, not only in fact but in experience, that Christ pushes out from his life that which has been his constant overthrowing and the secret of his failure. I beseech you, claim at once the double portion of the Spirit.