Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
The setting is practical building work, for the sons of the prophets were building a house for themselves when a borrowed iron axehead was lost. The miracle that recovered it honored everyday manual work and met a practical difficulty, saving the worker from distress and loss as an ever-present help to Elisha and those he served. The student himself put out his hand and took up the recovered axehead in the course of that manual work, joining the training of the prophets to useful labor.
In the schools of the prophets physical work was combined with mental instruction, with teachers and students uniting together in practical agricultural labor in the open air. This union of vigorous physical exercise with study gives the animal passions a healthy outlet and keeps them in proper bounds. It strengthens the muscles, encourages proper circulation of the blood, and helps preserve the body from disease. It is also a great help to spirituality.
The school of the prophets was a place where workers were instructed and trained for God's work, and it is God's plan and pattern for schools and institutions now to be erected for the education of workers. That pattern is to be followed as closely as can be understood, with simple, humble buildings in simple style rather than elaborate institutions. Its teachers not only know the truth but do the Word of God and answer by appeal to Scripture with "It is written". Missionary work is always to be connected with the school to help those who are fallen, degraded, wounded, bruised, and ready to perish. Means should be put into the treasury to create and increase such facilities even though the coming of the Lord is near.
The setting is practical building work, for the sons of the prophets were building a house for themselves when a borrowed iron axehead was lost. The miracle that recovered it honored everyday manual work and met a practical difficulty, saving the worker from distress and loss as an ever-present help to Elisha and those he served. The student himself put out his hand and took up the recovered axehead in the course of that manual work, joining the training of the prophets to useful labor.
In the schools of the prophets physical work was combined with mental instruction, with teachers and students uniting together in practical agricultural labor in the open air. This union of vigorous physical exercise with study gives the animal passions a healthy outlet and keeps them in proper bounds. It strengthens the muscles, encourages proper circulation of the blood, and helps preserve the body from disease. It is also a great help to spirituality.
The school of the prophets was a place where workers were instructed and trained for God's work, and it is God's plan and pattern for schools and institutions now to be erected for the education of workers. That pattern is to be followed as closely as can be understood, with simple, humble buildings in simple style rather than elaborate institutions. Its teachers not only know the truth but do the Word of God and answer by appeal to Scripture with "It is written". Missionary work is always to be connected with the school to help those who are fallen, degraded, wounded, bruised, and ready to perish. Means should be put into the treasury to create and increase such facilities even though the coming of the Lord is near.