Old Testament Prophets #2: ELISHA
http://jimandrachel.net/tag/prophets/
http://walkwiththeword.org
OT prophets:
900 – 400 BCE
Prophets’ work often had 2 components: enact a parable,
articulate a message
Curriculum:
Old Testament Challenge: Pursuing Spiritual Authenticity.
John Ortberg, Zondervan, 2004.
Commentary:
New International Biblical Commentary, 1 & 2 Kings.
Iain W. Provan. Hendrickson Publishers, 1995.
Extremely snarky, irreverent, but surprisingly useful
abridged/condensed story of the Bible:
God is Disappointed in You. Mark Russell and Shannon
Wheeler. Top Shelf Productions, 2013.
2 Kings
“Somewhere along the line, God and the Jews
became more than just friends. In fact, God
considered himself to be married to the Jews…. (It)
was a tempestuous, rancorous affair. The Jews were
always … flirting with other gods, while God would
lose his temper….
Every now and then, God would appoint a prophet to
act as a sot of marriage counselor. These prophets
were always trying to patch things up between God
and the Jews.
(Russell, p. 60)
The prophet Elijah’s
marriage counseling
career had come to an
end. For his retirement
party, God sent a golden
chariot, which came
swooping down from the
sky and carried Elijah…up
to heaven. Elijah’s
marriage counseling
practice passed on to his
protégé, Elisha.
(Russell, p. 60)
http://www.markmallett.com/
“To help him with his work, God granted Elisha
miraculous powers. Elisha traveled the country,
using his powers to remind the Jews of the spark
they once felt for God. Most of the miracles
Elisha performed were quite practical and
helpful. …
“Wow, thanks, Elisha!” people would say.
“Maybe we can work things out with God, after
all.”
(Russell, 61)
2 Kings 6:14-23
So the King of Aram sent horses and chariots (to the
city where Elisha was) and a great army; they came
by night, and surrounded the city. When an
attendant of Elisha’s, the man of God, rose early in
the morning and went out, an army with horses and
chariots was all around the city. His servant said,
“Alas, master! What shall we do?”
He replied, “Do not be afraid, for there are more
with us than there are with them.” Then Elisha
prayed: “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may
see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the servant,
and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and
chariots of fire all around Elisha.
1. What if God’s reality is always greater than the
fearful realities which surrounds us?
Even when the odds are ridiculous?
When have you felt like that – surrounded by
difficulties bigger than yourself? or more numerous
than you can count?
Where was God already at work around you?
What could you see at the time?
What could you only recognize in hind sight?
Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than
there are with them. 2 Kings 6:16
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
You, dear children, are from God and have
overcome them, because the one who is in you is
greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John
4:4
Right.
So how should we then live??
(Francis Schaeffer, L’Abri, 1976)
With RADICAL COMPASSION
2 Kings 6:18 – 23
When the Arameans came down against him, Elisha
prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people,
please, with blindness.” So he struck them with
blindness as Elisha had asked.
Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is
not the city; follow me, and I will bring you to the
man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria
(about 11 miles south).
As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O
Lord, open the eyes of these men so that they may
see.” The Lord opened their eyes, and they saw that
they were inside Samaria.
When the king of Israel saw them he said to Elisha,
“Father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” He
answered, “No! Did you capture with your sword and
your bow those whom you want to kill? Set food and
water before them so that they may eat and drink;
and let them go to their master.”
So he prepared for them a great feast;
after they ate and drank, he sent them on their way,
and they went to their master.
And the Arameans no longer came raiding
into the land of Israel.