Exhortation Station

1 Kings 19:19,21 — “So he [Elijah] departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him…²¹ So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.”

In this passage, we see Elijah’s call to Elisha to follow him.  Elijah had just spent forty days and nights on Mount Horeb after fleeing from Jezebel.  Shortly after coming down from the mountain, we see Elijah meeting with Elisha.  What is intriguing to me about this passage is the picture of Elijah throwing his mantle (i.e. his cloak) on Elisha.  Later, we see this mantle mentioned again:

2 Kings 2:11-13 — “…And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. ¹² Elisha saw it and cried out, ‘My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. ¹³ He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan.”

It seems to me the passing of Elijah’s mantle to Elisha is a picture of responsibility, power, and authority being passed down from one generation to the next.  Let’s go back a few verses and see with what zeal Elisha took on that mantle of responsibility. 

2 Kings 2:9 — “When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.’ And Elisha said, ‘Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.’“

Wow, what a request!  We see that Yah answered Elisha’s prayer, because (based on what is recorded) it seems Elisha went on to do about twice as many miracles as Elijah did.  Elisha did not merely accept the mantle of Elijah reluctantly.  He truly took on the mantle of Elijah, and he did it with gusto.

The Bible, in fact, often makes use of the metaphor of “putting on” things as one would put on a garment.  Let’s look at some other passages…

Job 29:11-17 — “…when the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it gave witness of me, ¹² Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. ¹³ The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. ¹⁴ I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. ¹⁵ I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. ¹⁶ I was a father to the needy, and I investigated the case which I did not know. ¹⁷ I broke the jaws of the wicked and snatched the prey from his teeth.”

This one is particularly impactful to me because it shows specific out-workings of being clothed in righteousness.  I encourage you read this passage again and soak in every word of what Job says here.  May we be like that! 

Let’s look at a few more, highlighting specific things we are instructed to “put on.”

Romans 13:12,14 — “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light…¹⁴ But put on the Lord Yahshua Messiah, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”  Ephesians 4:24 — “…put on the new self, which in the likeness of Elohim has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”  Ephesians 6:11 — “Put on the full armor of Elohim, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”  Colossians 3:12 — “So, as those who have been chosen of Elohim, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  1 Peter 5:5 — “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…”

Finally, let’s look at Revelation 19…

Revelation 19:7-9 — “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. ⁸ It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'”

In conclusion:  When we put on a garment, it goes with us wherever we go.  Likewise, we must “put on” Yahshua, the armor of light, the new self, humility, etc. as we would put on a garment, allowing them to permeate and envelop every thought, action, and circumstance.  Let us embrace the responsibility passed down to this generation.  Let us not merely accept this mantle with reluctance, but rather let us take on the mantle with zeal.  As Yahshua’s bride, let us put on “the righteous acts of the saints” so that we will be ready for His coming!