2 Kings 2:1-5: a reflection

1When the LORD was about to take Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2Elijah said to Elisha, “Please wait here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” He said, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.” 4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please wait here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” He said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” He answered, “Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.”

As the time draws near for Elijah to be taken from him, Elisha shows a steadfast devotion that will not be turned aside. Again and again Elijah tells him to stay behind, Please wait here; and again and again Elisha refuses: As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. When others remind him that his master will be taken today, he tells them to hold their peace; he will not be distracted or turned away. Elisha clings steadfastly to Elijah to the very end, refusing to leave him, refusing to be turned aside, determined to stay with him through to the last.

Notice Elisha's steadfast refusal to be turned aside. Elijah gave him every opportunity to stop, to stay behind, to turn back; others reminded him of what was coming, as if to loosen his hold. But Elisha would not be moved: I will not leave you, he said each time, holding fast, refusing to be turned aside from staying with his master to the end. His devotion was steadfast, not wavering, not distracted, not turned away by the invitations to stop or the reminders of others. He clung to Elijah, determined to stay through to the last, and his steadfastness held all the way. He would not leave; he would not turn aside.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too are called to a steadfast devotion that will not be turned aside. In our devotion to God, to what is good, to the calling we are given, there are many invitations to stop, to turn back, to be distracted or turned aside; but Elisha held fast, refusing to leave Elijah, refusing to be turned away. There is a place for a steadfast devotion that will not be turned aside, that holds fast to the end. Do not let the invitations to stop or the distractions of others turn you aside from a steadfast devotion; hold fast, as Elisha refused to leave Elijah. Hold fast with a steadfast devotion that will not be turned aside, refusing to be distracted or to give up, as Elisha said to Elijah, I will not leave you, and stayed with him to the end; for there is a place for a steadfast, undistracted devotion that clings to the end, and we are called to hold fast rather than being turned aside from what we should cling to.

Lord, as the time draws near for Elijah to be taken from him, Elisha shows a steadfast devotion that will not be turned aside. Again and again Elijah tells him to stay behind, please wait here; and again and again Elisha refuses: as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. When others remind him that his master will be taken today, he tells them to hold their peace; he will not be distracted or turned away. Elisha clings steadfastly to Elijah to the very end. Show me Elisha's steadfast refusal to be turned aside. Elijah gave him every opportunity to stop, to stay behind, to turn back; others reminded him of what was coming, as if to loosen his hold. But Elisha would not be moved: I will not leave you, he said each time, holding fast, refusing to be turned aside. His devotion was steadfast, not wavering, not distracted, not turned away. He clung to Elijah, determined to stay through to the last. Take that to my heart, for I too am called to a steadfast devotion that will not be turned aside. In my devotion to you, to what is good, to the calling I am given, there are many invitations to stop, to turn back, to be distracted; but Elisha held fast, refusing to leave Elijah. There is a place for a steadfast devotion that holds fast to the end. Keep me from letting the invitations to stop or the distractions of others turn me aside from a steadfast devotion; help me hold fast, Lord, as Elisha refused to leave Elijah, clinging to the end rather than being turned aside from what I should cling to.