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Friendship: Frodo and Sam
October 14, 2004
Submitted By salean
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There was a prophet, his name was Elijah. He was famous in all Israel and Judah because no matter how hard life got he still carried on preaching the word of the Lord. He wanted the sinners of Israel and Judah to repent of their sins and turn back to God. In the end the kings threatened to kill Elijah so he ran into the mountains. That wasn't what God wanted so He sent Elijah back to find someone called Elisha, son of Shaphat.
Elisha was a worker on his fathers farm. When Elijah came to him he was ploughing the fields with oxen. Elijah came to him and asked Elisha to come with him. Elisha said "I will come but first let me say goodbye to my mother and father." After saying goodbye to them he turned and followed Elijah.
Elisha was just a down to earth human who had enough faith in God to follow Elijah wherever he went. He was the least person you would expect to become a prophet. Sam is a very down to earth hobbit. He is a gardener, Elisha is a farmer. Elijah became Elisha's `Master' just like Frodo is Sam's `Master'.
Both Elijah and Elisha know that they will be parted. At every place they go to (on the way to the river Jodan) Elijah says to Elisha "Stay here." But every time Elijah says this Elisha replies "As the Lord lives and as you live I won't leave you." And at every place thay go to the prophets of that place say to Elisha, "Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?" and Elisha would answer "Yes, I know, but don't talk about it."
Elisha tried to push the painful thought of his `master' leaving him to one side. In the depths of his heart Sam must have known that Frodo was leaving. He didn't want to accept it or talk about it though, just like Elisha.
Elisha is upset that Elijah is leaving. When Elijah asks Elisha what he would like as a parting gift Elisha says that he would like a double share of Elijah's spirit. Elijah promises that if Elisha sees him go up to heaven he will receive the gift.
In a way, the gift of Elijah's spirit is like the red book that Frodo gives Sam. In that book the spirits of Frodo and Bilbo would survive. Sam and Elisha were both upset that their `masters' (closest friends) had left but both of them knew that their place was where they were. And they both knew that they would eventually follow in the footsteps of their `masters'. Elisha would eventually go up to heaven and Sam would depart across the sea to Valinor, the land of the elves and the Valar.
Sometimes it is hard to say goodbye. God has a plan for each of us and it will involve leaving people behind, but we must trust God and take the path which He has so carefully planned for us.
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... 9 Comments
Very interesing thoughts. Thank you for sharing.
Comment by Elflet - October 15, 2004 @ 2:57 PM
I always think it is so cool to find scripture where I don't expect it. seeing this was what is called a "God-sighting". thank you for blessing me and reminding me of that great passage in scripture.
Comment by Anaferieall - October 15, 2004 @ 10:57 PM
I did notice that it was a typo but I can't change it... sorry about that....
Comment by salean - October 16, 2004 @ 7:01 AM
That was a very astute analogy, Salean. I like how you are digging into the Word to come up with fresh comparisons. This is your best piece yet.
Comment by Calime - November 8, 2004 @ 3:29 PM
the lord of the rings is the best story/movies ever made peter jackson is the greatest man who ever lived!
Comment by numenor_lotr - February 1, 2005 @ 5:19 PM
Thank you so much for all your kind words. I'm very flattered that you all think it is so good. So yeah, thanks.
Sal
Comment by salean - March 30, 2005 @ 8:11 AM
I myself am a christian, and I LOVE to see LotR compared to the bible! After all, Tolkien himself was a christian!
Hannon le
God Bless!
~|Ainuve Lenwa|~
Comment by Ainuve_Lenwa - April 20, 2005 @ 1:18 PM
that was very enlightening to me....i had thought of some origional comparisions but not that way! i had never thought of it like that.... THANK YOU SO MUCH! I absolutely love LOTR so .....i'll never forget that.
~Lothinor
Comment by Lothinor - December 30, 2005 @ 3:03 PM
Comparing LOTR to the Bible is to laugh.
@ - Ainuve Lenwa: Tolkien was a Catholic.
Comment by Sauron - July 23, 2009 @ 7:36 AM