As the Lord Liveth, and as thy Soul Liveth, I will not Leave Thee…

 2 Kings 2

This chapter fascinated me.  The ministry of Elijah was coming to an end and he was getting ready to pass his mantle on to his younger protégée, Elisha. On the day that this would happen Elijah takes Elisha to four different cities. Their starting point was Gilgal. First off, I loved that no matter how Elijah and even the prophets of the day tried to dissuade Elisha from following Elijah on to each different city, Elisha’s reply was always the same…

As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.

Praying that the Lord would grant me this same tenacious spirit that no matter my circumstance I would not look to the left or to the right but up and unto my God. Oh, Father, by Your Spirit may my heart always abide, obey and follow hard after You.  

I was also curious as to why God chose those particular cities to bring both Elijah and Elisha through on that last day.  I went back to each one in my Bible and was blessed as I read the stories associated with them and the lessons learned.  Verse one of 2 Kings 2 says this…

And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 

Gilgal - After 40 years of wandering this was the first place the Israelites stopped after crossing over into the Promise land.  It was where the generation that had not been circumcised were circumcised. 

Rend your heart and not your garment…

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.—Romans 2:28-29

Beloved…the Lord our God wants our hearts. To obey is better than sacrifice. He is 

near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart. These He will not despise

And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.—2 Kings 2:2a

The next stop was Bethel which is translated the house of God. It is where Jacob saw in a dream the angels of God ascending and descending on a heavenly ladder. It was where God promised him that He would be with him wherever he went. When Jacob woke up he said this:

16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." 17 And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"Genesis 28 (emphasis mine)

No matter our circumstance…no matter where we find ourselves we, as believers, are in Christ.  He will never leave us or forsake us. He will complete the good work He began in us.  He will see us through this life and as we take our last breath here, His eternal arms will bear us up to be with Him forever. 

And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.—2 Kings 2:4

The third city Elijah stopped in was Jericho whose walls were high and seemingly impregnable. Here, the Lord fought for His people using their obedience to bring about victory. We are not sufficient for anything we face, but the Spirit of God who dwells in us IS. It is He who fights for us. Beloved…Go in His strength. The battles are always His, not Yours. 

And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.-2 Kings 2:6

The final destination for Elijah and Elisha before Elijah was translated and Elisha would pick up his mantle was the Jordan River. The Jordan is where the priests took that step of faith into the waters of the Jericho River and as they did the waters were parted and dry land appeared. 

We walk by faith through this life…not by sight. We, as believers, are to be directed, guided and empowered by His Spirit. We are to depend on Him and not ourselves. Step by precious step. 

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 

Father, I am so thankful for Your word to us and the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. Thank you for their testimony.  Thank you most of all for Your Son and the gift of His Spirit who dwells in our hearts. 

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart..—Hebrews 4:12

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:14-16

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2