MEMORISE
Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan (2 Kings 2:6).
READ:
2 Kings 2:1-15
[1]. 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.
[2]. Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.
[3]. Now the 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?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
[4]. Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho.
[5]. Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
[6]. Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on.
[7]. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
[8]. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
[9]. And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
[10]. So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
[11]. Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
[12]. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
[13]. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
[14]. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
[15]. Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.
EXPOSITION
Playing the second fiddle means submitting oneself to the lifestyle of an individual, or course, even to a fault. It is in essence, to play around, or toy with. It is the act and life of a true disciple. To play the second fiddle means to forget yourself and all what you are, or possess. It is indeed an act of tutelage/apprenticeship. Hard as this kind of life may be, it has been found throughout the ages to be more rewarding and safer in raising future credible generations of successors.
Among biblical notable characters that were true products of this system, to mention a few, were Lot under Abraham, Moses under Jethro, Joshua under Moses, Ruth under Naomi, Samuel under Eli, Elisha under Elijah, the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, and Mark and Timothy under Barnabas and Paul. Some of the early Church fathers in this category are Saint Augustine and Saint Francis. We cannot also forget in this generation, how among others, Joseph Ayo Babalola (1904-1959) grew under Prophet Joseph Fapohunda, Pa Akindadayomi mentored Enoch Adejare Adeboye, and our own President, Samuel Olusegun Oladele under Joseph Bolarinwa Akà ndé, etc
A time will come when the true counsel of the Lord will be sought after, and it shall be accordingly that: *So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah." And Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him* (2 Kings 3:11b-12). Play the second fiddle! It pays! God rewards the faithful in spectacular ways.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 708
1. He leadeth, me O blessed thought!
O words with heav'nly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me!
By His own hand He leadeth me!
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
2. Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,
By waters still, o'er troubl'd sea, -
Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me!
3. Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since 'tis my God that leadeth me!
4. And when my task on earth is done,
When, by Thy grace, the vict'ry's won,
E'en death's cost wave I will not flee
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Thank God for calling and choosing you to be His own.
2. Pray to God for help so as to be able to pass through all the route He has mapped out for you.
3. Pray for the divine grace to play the second fiddle, if need be, wherever and whenever needed.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Zechariah 14;
Malachi 1-4
AUTHOR
CAC Worldwide
Remain blessed
 DATE: Saturday, October 7, 2023 TOPIC: PLAY THE SECOND FIDDLE!){kind=link}