Bible Study for Sermon 2/19/2012 
Church Calendar:  Transfiguration Sunday
Scripture Focus:  2 Kings 2:1-12

In Wednesday night Bible Study the class just finished looking at what the New Testament says about Evil:  the cosmic war and original sin.  Therefore, the mind set of the New Testament is different from most of ours.  We are much more mundane usually. 

In the Scripture that I am focusing on this week is the story of Elijah's ascension into heaven which is the climax of this infamous prophet's career.  He served during the reigns of three of the Northern Kingdom's most notorious kings (Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah), which were known for their apostasy (Their deliberate rebellion, or ignoring of God's will and way).  The bulk of Elijah's career fell during the reign of Ahab.  The event depicted in today's reading comes from the end of Elijah's tumultuous confronta-tion with Israel's rulers.  The national struggle to keep the faith while living under the three notorious rulers was indeed trying for all who wished to live under God's way.  Elijah has fought the fight with Evil personified in Omri, Ahab, and Ahaziah. 

The narrative is constructed as a travel story:  Elijah (whose name means "God is my God!") and his protege successor Elisha (God has granted salvation!) are traveling to Gilgal (v. 1) to an unknown destination in the Transjordan (the eastern side of the Jordan River).  The story begins with these words:  "Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind" (v.1).  The story is a transitional story from Elijah to Elisha,  "God is God!" to "God has granted salvation!".

The "whirlwind" is one of several natural manifestations of the divine presence, and it was an especially fitting setting for the earthly end of a prophet whose previous encouter with the God was also in violent atmospheric conditions (2 Kings 18:20-40).  The Hebrew word used here, "se'arh" signifies the supernatural use of a natural phenomenon by the God.  God is doing God's stuff. 

Elijah's "translation" into heaven is one of twe depictions in the Old Testament of persons permanently entering God's presence before death (the other Enoch, Genesis 5:24).  This is a preliminary to Christian believers being allowed to exist in God's presence--the Holy Spirit.  Elijah comes to the Mount of Transfiguration along with Moses and God.  This idea emerges from Elijah's association with the Messianic theme.   

The town from which Elijah and Elisha were walking, Gilgal, is close to Bethel, which was undoubtedly a prophet center for Elisha has conversation with them.  They tell Elisha that the LORD will take Elijah today.  Elisha does not wish to be reminded. 

Three times does Elisha refuse to abandon his master.  He says, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you!" 

What will separate you from Jesus?  Only your desire to be separated from Him.  When Elijah asked Elisha what could be done for him before the former's departure, the latter wanted a double dose of the great prophet's spirit.  Elisha was told how that would happen:  by seeing his master ascend into heaven.

There is this biblical mindset that we need to note:  listening to and believing the instructions of the master.  This is not something that is natural, but supernatural.  To experience and believe what we are reading about here can be understood and dillusional  Elisha is watching Elijah being taken into God's presence.  Again, Elisha does not like it:  his master is gone.  The tears his clothes in grief. 

Asking for a double dose of Elijah's spirit is a request to remain in intimacy with his master.  This is the type of successor Elisha wishes to be; to not lose the master.    Sure enough Elisha witnessed the ascension of his master and received the spirit that Elijah had and was. 

Elisha was the next generation of God-inspired, God-filled individuals.