September 6 - 2 Kings
(Download the January - June 2010 Bible Reading Plan Here.)
Introduction
This book records the collapse and captivity of the kingdom of Israel (chaps. 1–17) and the kingdom of Judah (chaps. 18–25). Spiritual decay led to political and social deterioration. In spite of the ministries of the prophets and the frequent chastenings God sent, Israel and Judah rebelled against the Lord and had to be judged. This is a warning to individuals (Prov. 29:1) and nations (Prov. 14:34) to listen to God’s Word and obey it.
2 Kings 1
“What kind of man was it?” (v. 7) is a key question. The messengers described Elijah’s physical appearance, but they left out the most important thing. Elijah was “a man with a nature like ours” (James 5:17), but he was also a “man of God” (vv. 9–13). The physical description in verse 8 is incidental, yet that is what most people emphasize in their lives.
He was guided by the Lord. Elijah knew what was happening because he listened to God’s voice (Ps. 25:4–5, 14). We today do not hear an audible voice, but we have His Spirit within us and His Word before us.
He glorified the Lord. The very idea of the king going to a false god for help! Elijah wanted Ahaziah to know that Jehovah alone was the true God and that the king had better bow humbly before the Lord.
He trusted the Lord to care for him. Elijah was one man against fifty-one soldiers, but the Lord protected him. Had the soldiers completely forgotten the fire that came down on Mount Carmel? The third captain humbled himself, and God spared him and his company.
He did the Lord’s will. He delivered the message to the king as he was commanded to do.
Can God’s people today be men and women of God? Certainly! Ponder 1 Timothy 6:10–12 and 2 Timothy 3:14–17.
The Man of God |
The title “man of God” was given first to Moses (Deut. 33:1), then to Samuel (1 Sam. 9:6–7), Elijah (1 Kings 1:9–13), Elisha (2 Kings 4:9), David (2 Chron. 8:14), and Timothy (1 Tim. 6:11). You need not be a prophet to be a godly person, nor do you display your godliness by calling down fire from heaven (Luke 9:51–56). God wants us to use “coals of fire” and turn enemies into friends (Rom. 12:14–21). |
Companions. Elisha’s ministry began with Elijah saying, “Go back!” (1 Kings 19:20). Now Elijah is saying, “Stay here!” Elisha did not go back but faithfully served Elijah about ten years. And Elisha did not linger at Bethel or Jericho but walked with Elijah to the very end. Think of what Elisha would have missed had he tarried! King Jehoshaphat was wrong to ally himself with the king of Israel (1 Kings 22), but Elisha did not withdraw from him because of that. The presence of the king of Judah was the only thing that motivated Elisha to help the kings in their plight. God still had a lamp in Judah for the sake of David. Elisha ministered to individuals and accepted the hospitality of friends. He was like Jesus Christ in that respect, while Elijah was more like John the Baptist: alone, rugged, a preacher to the nation. Although God equips different people to work in different ways, He is Lord of all (1 Cor. 12:1–11). It is too bad people do not recognize this fact and receive the ministry no matter who the minister is (Luke 7:31–35; 1 Cor. 1:10–17). Three Important Questions What are your answers to the three questions the prophet asked the Shunammite woman? “Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband [or wife]? Is it well with the child?” (2 Kings 4:26). Servants. Servants played a major role in this miracle. The young Jewish girl gave a faithful witness for the Lord, and God used her testimony to get Naaman to visit Elisha. Naaman’s servants encouraged him to obey the prophet, and his obedience led to his healing and his faith in Jehovah. No matter who or where you are, God can use your service. (See John 15:15.) They Became Lepers In the Bible, leprosy is used as a picture of sin (Lev. 13). Gehazi became a leper because of covetousness and deception. Miriam became a leper because of criticism and envy (Num. 12). King Uzziah became a leper because of pride (2 Chron. 26:16–23). If God did this to people today, would you be a leper? The hidden sins of the spirit are dangerous (2 Cor. 7:1)! Doing the impossible (1–7). All that we have is “borrowed,” loaned to us by the Lord to get His work done (John 3:27). You can lose your cutting edge even while serving the Lord. But be honest about it, stop trying to chop without an ax head, and ask the Lord for help in recovering it. He alone can do the impossible if you trust Him. When times are tough, people may respond in the following ways:
September 7 - 2 Kings 2
Spectators. The students had knowledge without experience. They were just spectators, yet they tried to tell the prophet what was going on! Elisha was not a spectator; he was right in the middle of what God was doing. What good is our knowledge of spiritual things if it does not make a difference in our lives?
Doers. Elisha did not build a monument to Elijah. Instead, he trusted Elijah’s God and did miracles. We cannot live in the past, on the past, or for the past. We must accept the heritage of the past and trust the living God for power today. There were problems to solve and needs to meet, and Elisha trusted God to help him. God’s servants may leave us, but God’s Spirit goes on working.
Mockers. They were not little children; the youths were old enough to know better. They mocked Elijah’s going to heaven (“Go up!”) and Elisha’s personal appearance, and God rightly judged them for it. Today, God is patient with the mockers (2 Pet. 3), but one day, His judgment will fall on them.
September 8 - 2 Kings 3
The lack of water reminded all three kings that God was in control and their combined power meant nothing without Him. Samson had a similar experience (Judg. 15:18–20). The same water that meant salvation to the three armies brought defeat to overconfident Moab. (See Exod. 10:21–23; 2 Cor. 2:14–16.)
Hoping to get some good out of the war, the king of Moab attacked Edom alone, but he failed to conquer. In desperation, he even sacrificed the crown prince. The deed was so repulsive to Judah and Moab that they left the field in great anger against Israel for ever getting them involved. When you join forces with those who do not love God, you never know what will happen to embarrass or offend you or to disgrace the Lord’s name.
September 9 - 2 Kings 4
A husband died, yet God met the needs of the family (vv. 1–7). A son died, yet God raised him and restored the family (vv. 8–37). A group of prophets almost died because of poisoned stew, yet God removed the danger (vv. 38–41). A group of believers would have died from starvation, but God multiplied the bread and sustained them (vv. 42–44). All of these miracles remind you to give God what you have and let Him do what He wills.
Gehazi is declining spiritually, but the consequences will not appear until later. He was unkind to the Shunammite woman (v. 27; see also Matt. 15:23; Mark 10:13; Luke 9:49), and he had no power to help her. He went through the motions, but no life came. You can fellowship day after day with people of power, like the prophet Elisha, and still backslide. Beware!
September 10 - 2 Kings 5
Suppositions. The king of Syria thought the king of Israel could perform the miracle, and the false assumption almost led to a war. Naaman supposed that Elisha would use some religious ritual to remove the leprosy, and the supposition almost led to his going home still a leper. Gehazi supposed that he could get away with sin, but God judged him.
Selfishness. Naaman was healed completely by God’s grace, but Gehazi robbed God of glory by asking Naaman for gifts. The Syrians would think that they had to pay God to get His help. Gehazi lied to Naaman, to Elisha, and to himself, but he could not lie to God. Gehazi became poor by getting rich.
September 11 - 2 Kings 6
Knowing the unknowable (8–12). Because Elisha knew what the enemy would do, Israel had the opportunity to escape surprise attacks. If you study God’s Word, you can know the strategy of Satan and be able to defeat him.
Seeing the invisible (13–17). Many times we are afraid of the enemy because we walk by sight and not by faith. If God and His hosts are for us, who can be against us?
Accomplishing the unthinkable (18–23). Knowing that Elisha was his real enemy, the king of Syria tried to capture the prophet. But Elisha captured them, and he did it with prayer and kindness (Rom. 12:19–21; 2 Cor. 10:3–6). In the East, eating together is equivalent to making a covenant, so those soldiers could never attack Israel again. September 12 - 2 Kings 7
Blaming. Like his evil father Ahab who blamed Elijah for his woes, King Joram blamed Elisha for the plight of the city (1 Kings 18:17; 2 Kings 6:31), when in reality it was his own fault. He tore his clothes and wore sackcloth, but the king’s actions did not impress God as long as his heart was hardened (2 Kings 6:30; Joel 2:12–14).
Doubting (1–2). The officer did not believe the word of God, and his unbelief caused his death (vv. 17–20). God will open the windows when we obey Him (Mal. 3:10).
Reasoning (3–8). The four lepers were logical in their reasoning: “If we give up, we will die. If we give in to the enemy, we may die, or we may live. Let’s surrender to the enemy.” But there was no enemy! God scattered them with a noise!
Sharing (9–16). The lepers moved from giving up and giving in to giving out. Sharing the good news helped to save the city. We are living in a day of good news. Are you sharing it? We are here not to give in or give up but to give out.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1997, c1991). With the word Bible commentary (Le 15:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.