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2 Kings 11 The False Queen Usurped by the True King

1/31/2016

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2 Kings 11
To me, the history of Ancient Israel and Judah is thrilling and enthralling. This true story is better than any blockbuster Hollywood could imagine. It is the drama of God’s love, His promise, and His keeping of that promise to redeem His people. It is a thrilling love story filled intrigue as the antagonist tries over and over to destroy Jesus and His bride. But God promised salvation and the enemy will not and cannot win. Let’s delve into another exciting chapter of the this epic story.
After Jehu killed Ahazia and Joram, he reigned in Israel, but what happened in Judah? Ahazia was killed and someone had to reign in his place. His mother saw that her son was dead and she didn’t mourn, she didn’t cling to her grandchildren for comfort, she decided it was her turn to rule. She couldn’t risk losing the power she enjoyed and wanted more of it. Verses 1-3 read,
“Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. 3 And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land.”
Athaliah decided she had to reign, she became a false queen to Judah. Like Pharaoh who feared the Hebrews and Herod who feared a king greater than himself, this evil woman tried killed the entire royal family, her own children and grandchildren so that she would not lose power. And like Miriam did for Moses and Joseph did for Jesus, Jehosheba rescued baby Joash from mass murder. She escaped death and sacrificed her life to save the people of Judah and the Davidic line.
The child was raised in The House of the Lord, taught by priests and cared for his nurse and his aunt. For six years he stayed hidden there while Athaliah reigned and claimed to be the rightful ruler of Judah. But she forgot that The Lord had promised David that his throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:16). We cannot thwart God’s plans. We cannot undo His Word. So The Lord would make sure David’s line stayed on the throne. Athaliah declared herself the queen, but the true king was coming. Her feigned reign went on for six years. Verses 4-12 continue the story.
“But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of the Carites and of the guards, and had them come to him in the house of the Lord. And he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the Lord, and he showed them the king's son. 5 And he commanded them, “This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, those who come off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king's house 6 (another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards) shall guard the palace. 7 And the two divisions of you, which come on duty in force on the Sabbath and guard the house of the Lord on behalf of the king, 8 shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”
9 The captains did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.10 And the priest gave to the captains the spears and shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of the Lord. 11 And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house on behalf of the king.12 Then he brought out the king's son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”
It is the seventh year, the Sabbath year God brings rest and freedom from captivity, slavery, and tyranny. Leviticus 25 describes both the Sabbath year (the 7th year) and the year of Jubilee (the seventh 7th year). The year of Jubilee brought redemption from debt and slavery. People could be redeemed it was a foretaste of Heaven and the coming Messiah.
In the seventh year of Joash’ time in hiding it was time for the true king to be revealed. The guards only had to be shown that Joash was alive and the real king to win their allegiance. They carried out their plan on the Sabbath Day. They brought the young king to the courtyard and crowned him in front of all the people who had come to worship the Lord. There was a lot of celebration, the noise was so loud that Athaliah heard it. Verses 13-16 continue the riveting story.
“When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 14 And when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 15 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.” 16 So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses' entrance to the king's house, and there she was put to death.”
When Athaliah heard the celebration and came to see what was happening she saw the anointed king and understood immediately that she had been usurped and her monarchy was over. She accused the people of treason, the very same crime she had committed. I think that is the case for many of us, lost or saved. We point the finger at people who are committing the sin we are committing ourselves. The false prophet will accuse Christians of idolatry because we refuse to worship the image of the beast. Athaliah charged the priests and guards with treason, the act she committed to make herself queen. The lost accuse the saved of hypocrisy while they ignore the contrasts in their own lives. Christians accuse one another of false piety or pride and overlook the fact that the accusation makes us self-righteous and prideful.
Athaliah’s blood would not sully the Temple, she was brought to the palace and executed there, along with anyone who followed her. Then with their rightful king in his place, the people of Judah rededicate themselves to the Lord. Verses 17-21 read,
“And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, that they should be the Lord's people, and also between the king and the people. 18 Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest posted watchmen over the house of the Lord. 19 And he took the captains, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching through the gate of the guards to the king's house. And he took his seat on the throne of the kings. 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king's house.
21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.”
Their rededication, renewed the covenant or reminded them again that they were God’s people and He was their God. It was not just a ceremony, a declaration, or lip-service. It was backed up with action. They removed Baal. They removed the false queen from the throne and placed the rightful king in his rightful place. When we make Jesus our Lord, whether it be the first time or the seventh time, we have to intentionally remove the idols from our lives, take ourselves (our false monarch) off the throne of our hearts and put Jesus, the True King there instead.  The declaration that Jesus is Lord is not enough, He must actually be the Lord to us. Romans 10:8-10 puts it this way,
“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Saying it alone is just empty words. It is the addition of understanding in your heart who Jesus is and putting faith in Him to be who He is that justifies and saves.
God’s Word cannot be undone. He made a covenant with David that his throne would be established forever. Jesus Christ reigns on that throne today. We can put our faith in Him, the King of kings, Faithful and True, or we can put our faith in the false monarchy of ourselves. We can be allegiant to money and our own strength or we can put our trust in The LORD.
God’s Word will always come to pass. One Day Jesus Christ will return and the false king and false prophet and everyone who followed them will face the price for their treachery. But whoever puts their faith in the Lord will be saved. Where is your allegiance? Who is really on the throne of your heart? Is it Jesus Christ or you?
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2 Kings 10 Passion for the Whole Word of God

1/30/2016

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For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God Acts 20:27
For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God Acts 20:27
2 Kings 10
Today we continue the story of Jehu, who was anointed king of Israel and then assassinated the Ahazia, King of Israel and Joram, king of Judah in obedience to The Lord. He then watched as Jezebel’s eunuchs threw her out of a window and let dogs eat her from the street. But he was not finished. God had told him, “And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.” (2 Kings 9:7-10).
Jehu was passionate about this mission from God. He cleverly and zealously pursued his calling. It was no small undertaking. Verses 1-3 read,
“Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of the city, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying, 2 “Now then, as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, fortified cities also, and weapons, 3 select the best and fittest of your master's sons and set him on his father's throne and fight for your master's house.” 
What Jehu told the guardians was basically, ‘I’m coming to make war on you and kill all of you, and you better hope some of those kids can be your king in battle.’ Verses 4-5 record their reply.
“But they were exceedingly afraid and said, “Behold, the two kings could not stand before him. How then can we stand?” 5 So he who was over the palace, and he who was over the city, together with the elders and the guardians, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and we will do all that you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your eyes.”
God made sure that everyone had heard about Ahazia and Joram’s deaths. They were so filled with fear simply by his reputation that they eagerly surrendered their charges and submitted to Jehu as their king. Verses 6-8 continue the account.
“Then he wrote to them a second letter, saying, “If you are on my side, and if you are ready to obey me, take the heads of your master's sons and come to me at Jezreel tomorrow at this time.” Now the king's sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were bringing them up. 7 And as soon as the letter came to them, they took the king's sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. 8 When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king's sons,” he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.”
Jehu had only to lift a pen to continue his mission for God. He had obeyed and the Lord had grown his reputation. Now he could look at every person and show them what God had done. Verses 9-11 read,
“Then in the morning, when he went out, he stood and said to all the people, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him, but who struck down all these? 10 Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the Lord has done what he said by his servant Elijah.” 11 So Jehu struck down all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, all his great men and his close friends and his priests, until he left him none remaining.”
But the task was not yet done, there was more. Jehu was dogged in his fervor for this one command form God. He was not going to leave any part of it undone. And the more he continued the greater his reputation grew and the more he was cemented as Israel’s king. Verses 12-14 read,
“Then he set out and went to Samaria. On the way, when he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds, 13 Jehu met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah, and he said, “Who are you?” And they answered, “We are the relatives of Ahaziah, and we came down to visit the royal princes and the sons of the queen mother.” 14 He said, “Take them alive.” And they took them alive and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two persons, and he spared none of them.”
The people Jehu met were not blood related to Ahab, they were relatives of Ahazia. When Jehu asked them who they were they could have identified themselves as servants King Jehu, Israelites and children of God, or any number of ways. But they identified themselves as relatives of Ahazia. Because they declared themselves that way, it showed they refused to submit to Jehu as king. Their pride made them Ahabites, even when their blood did not. They took Ahazia’s name and he had taken Ahab’s name. They chose their allegiance and they chose their destiny.
Jehu then met someone else on the road. Verses 15-17 say,
“And when he departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. And he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart true to my heart as mine is to yours?” And Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand. And Jehu took him up with him into the chariot. 16 And he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” So he had him ride in his chariot. 17 And when he came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped them out, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke to Elijah.”
Jehonadab declared his loyalty to Jehu and so he was allowed to go with Jehu and see what he did. There was no one in Ahab’s line left, but there were still worshippers and prophets of Baal. Jehu’s vehemence for this one command was not over yet. Verses 18-27 describe Jehu’s cunning plot to destroy everything to do with Baal in Israel.
“Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal. 20 And Jehu ordered, “Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they proclaimed it. 21 And Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other. 22 He said to him who was in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out the vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out the vestments for them. 23 Then Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that there is no servant of the Lord here among you, but only the worshipers of Baal.” 24 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.
Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and said, “The man who allows any of those whom I give into your hands to escape shall forfeit his life.” 25 So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal, 26 and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Baal and burned it. 27 And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day.”
Jehu’s great sacrifice was every worshipper, prophet of Baal, the temple, and the pillar. He turned the idol’s worship and place of worship into a toilet. Now he had carried out his command from The Lord and he could settle onto Israel’s throne. Verses 28-36 read,
“Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel. 29 But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan. 30 And the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” 31 But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.”
“In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel: 33 from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the Valley of the Arnon, that is, Gilead and Bashan. 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 35 So Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.36 The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.”
Jehu was passionate for one command God had given him. He was passionate against two groups of people Ahab’s line and Baal worshippers. He was not passionate for all of God’s Word. He chose which commands he would obey and which he would disregard. He let the false religion that Jeroboam had set up to untruly worship God stand. God honored Jehu’s partial obedience partially. His sons would reign for four generations, not seven, not one thousand, just four. God began to cut off parts of Israel and prepare them for Judgement because of Jehu’s partial worship of God.
Jehu was passionate against Ahab, not passionate for God. Don’t we sometimes do that too? We pick one or two commands that suit us and we are all about it. We wear the banner of anti-something instead of the banner of Christ. We picket against this group or that because of their blatant hate for God, but we do not remember how deeply God loves them. We pretend we hate the sin as much as God does, but we don’t love the ‘sinner’ in spirit or in truth. Picketing, slandering, and spurning are not definitions of love. Love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, this is a description of Jesus, and how we are to be as bearers of His image. It is not warm feelings or words it is action.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Like Jehu, God gave us a mission too. Matthew 28:18-20 records it.
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus gave us two commandments which He said were the crux of all the commandments of Scripture. Matthew 22:37-40 reads,
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Our mission involves teaching people to observe all Jesus commanded us to do. He commanded us to love God with our entire beings and so love people and care about them the way we care about ourselves. He then made it profoundly simple by telling us how to do that. John 13:34-35 says,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Believer, be zealous for God, all of Him. Be passionate for His whole Word and all His people. Do that by love. Love is active and tangible. Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Choosing one part of His word or character and disregarding the rest is making a false religion and that is called idolatry.
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2 Kings 8:16- 2 Kings 9 There is a War; Choose your Side

1/29/2016

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If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15
If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15
2 Kings 8:16- 2 Kings 9
Chapter 8 of Second Kings ends with an account of the subsequent kings of Israel and Judah. Both Jehoram son of Joram, king of Israel and Ahaziah, the king of Judah ruled and did evil in The Lord’s sight. Both were like Ahab and both were related to him. Jehoram was married to Ahab’s daughter. Ahaziah was also related by marriage to Ahab’s line. Both of these men chose to enter into Ahab’s relations both in name and sin. Even though Ahaziah was sinning in Judah, the Lord remembered His promise to David and chose not to destroy Judah for Salvation’s sake. Chapter 8 verses 28-29 talk about Ahaziah.
“He went with Joram the son of Ahab to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29 And King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.”
There was no reason for Ahaziah to leave the fighting with his uncle. But he did. He left the fighting to others so that he could check on how things were with Joram. Chapter 9 continues the narrative about the war against Syria and Hazael. God would not let Ahab’s descendants continue to lead His people further down the path to destruction. God’s Son would bring salvation to the world through Judah and so He appointed someone to destroy Ahab’s line. Verses 1-10 read,
“Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tie up your garments, and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2 And when you arrive, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. And go in and have him rise from among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber. 3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and flee; do not linger.”
4 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 And when he came, behold, the commanders of the army were in council. And he said, “I have a word for you, O commander.” And Jehu said, “To which of us all?” And he said, “To you, O commander.” 6 So he arose and went into the house. And the young man poured the oil on his head, saying to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. 7 And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.” Then he opened the door and fled.”
Elisha’s acolyte did as Elisha told him and gave Jehu God’s word. God did not forget the horrible things Jezebel had done to His prophets, He did not forget the evil she had worked and He didn’t forget that she had taught her children to be as evil as she was. Vengeance is God’s. He chose Jehu to carry it out for Him.
Children of God never have to be concerned about payback. We trust God. We know who He is. We understand He is Sovereign and Just and Faithful. God raised up Jehu to avenge the blood of the prophets and He raised up Jesus Christ, our Lord to avenge the blood of the martyrs and all the Christ followers who suffer for His name’ sake. Knowing this can actually help us love them more. Romans 12:17-21 says it like this,
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Jehu was anointed as king while the king still reigned. It called for action on his part and choices on the part of the people. Verses 11-13 read,
“When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him, “Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the fellow and his talk.” 12 And they said, “That is not true; tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and so he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’” 13 Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”
The men had a choice to believe God and follow Jehu or to continue following Joram. The men all trusted God enough to know it was He who appointed their king. God had anointed Jehu and so they proclaimed him their king. But now they had to make it official and had to follow through with Jehu’s calling. He would not have to visit the battlefield to obey God. Sovereign God had worked it out so that the kings of Judah and Israel were not with their people fighting Hazael. Verses 14-16 say,
“Thus Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Syria, 15 but King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) So Jehu said, “If this is your decision, then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel.” 16 Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram.”
God had vowed to protect Judah but Joram and Ahazia would have to pay for their evil and for their choice to become part of Ahab’s family. Neither Joram, Ahazia, nor anyone else in Jezreel or Ramoth-gilead knew about Jehu’s anointing yet. Verses 17-22 read,
“Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’” 18 So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu said, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” And the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” 19 Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, “Thus the king has said, ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” 20 Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”
21 Joram said, “Make ready.” And they made ready his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his chariot, and went to meet Jehu, and met him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
Both Joram and Ahazia should have been on the frontlines with their people. But they were cowards who cared about themselves above all else. Joram was wounded but not so badly he couldn’t ride a chariot, which takes considerable strength and skill to maneuver. Joram did not need his nephew to visit him while he “recovered.” They were both away from the war, not protecting and fighting for their people because they were selfish cowards. As each messenger went to find out what was happening, Jehu gave them the choice to follow him. Their king’s actions were not theirs. Their allegiance was theirs to give. Each messenger asked if the war had ended. Jehu said, “nope but the war is not yours, follow me.” Jehu offered peace to the king’s messengers but he didn’t offer it to Joram. Verse 22-26 describe what happened next.
“And when Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” He answered, “What peace can there be, so long as the whorings and the sorceries of your mother Jezebel are so many?” 23 Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahaziah, “Treachery, O Ahaziah!” 24 And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart, and he sank in his chariot. 25 Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, “Take him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember, when you and I rode side by side behind Ahab his father, how the Lord made this pronouncement against him: 26 ‘As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons—declares the Lord—I will repay you on this plot of ground.’ Now therefore take him up and throw him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the Lord.”
Jehu told Joram exactly why he was about to die and that the war was the direct result of his sin and his choice to continue Jezebel and Ahab’s evil. When Joram heard that he reeled around and fled like the coward he was. But Jehu’s arrow went straight to his heart and he died. And just as The Lord had said Ahab’s line would be destroyed. But this was just the beginning. Verses 27-29 describe Ahaziah’s death.
“When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him also.” And they shot him in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.
29 In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.”
Ahaziah bolted just like Joram had, but his pusillanimity did not save him. He was buried like a king only because of the goodness of his ancestors and the promise of God to protect Judah. Jehu did not stop God’s mission with the two kings, there were many more people to punish before he was finished. Verses 30-37 reads,
“When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. 31 And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?” 32 And he lifted up his face to the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 33 He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. 34 Then he went in and ate and drank. And he said, “See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter.” 35 But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. 36 When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, 37 and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.’”
Jezebel called Jehu Zimri as an accusation and a curse. Zimri had murdered King Elah and his family and become king for seven days because the army elected Omri king. Zimri died by his own hand when he set fire to the palace (1 Kings 16:9-20). It would be similar to someone being called Judas today. It was a way of saying traitor or betrayer. But Jehu didn’t fall for her taunts and he didn’t fall for her beauty. He looked around the room and asked who was with him. He got his answer as a few of the eunuchs, her servants were happy to throw her out her window. No one was too upset by her death. They ate a meal before Jehu said, “She was cursed but she was royalty so we need to bury her.” But when they went to bury her there was nothing left to bury, the dogs had eaten her. Jehu still was not done, there were many more in Ahab’s family to kill before God’s mission for Jehu was complete. We will read about that in the next chapter.
You have a choice who you will follow. You can follow the King of kings, Jesus or the prince of the power of the air, Satan. Like Joram’s messengers or Jezebel’s eunuchs, many people follow the prince of this world blindly. They don’t know they have a choice or the choice has not yet been given to them. But we know and we can give them that choice.
“Is it peace?” While we are on this earth, it is not peace, it is war with the devil and each must choose a side. Those who think they have not chosen or are even unaware of the sides have chosen Satan. Part of our commission as soldiers in God’s great conquering army is to give them the choice and let them become followers of Christ. Remember you are a soldier and a warrior.  2 Timothy 2:3-4
“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”
You have your orders. Ephesians 6:10-20 reads,
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Emphasis added).
Choose your side. Obey your orders. Give others the choice which they may not know they have.
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2 Kings 8:7-15 Loving and Trusting God Requires Giving the Whole True Message

1/28/2016

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This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4
2 Kings 8:7-15
Elisha had received a word from God for Ben-hadad, the King of Syria and so he obediently went to the home of Israel’s enemy to deliver it. Verses 7-9 read,
“Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8 the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’”
Ben-hadad was sick and he wanted to know if he would recover or die. He was happy to have Elisha there to tell him. He was not a Jewish man, he had no idea how to inquire of God, or what the requirements were. He treated Elisha as more of a soothsayer and magician than a prophet. He paid him very well for Elisha to give him the answer he wanted to hear. But he did recognize Elisha’s authority under The Lord.
Elisha had something to tell Hazael and Ben-hadad, but it was not the answer to the question they asked. Verses 10-13 read,
“And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.”11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” 
Elisha’s answer was that it was not the illness that would kill Ben-hadad but murder. He then went on to tell Hazael that he would be an evil king. Although the man tried to play innocent, he was not. God’s message did not deter him from his mission, it confirmed it for him.  So why would God tell him? He told Hazael that his plan would succeed and that he would be evil because He wanted the aide to know that He is The LORD. He wanted to give him a choice to recognize God as The LORD and humble himself before Him or reject Him. Elisha offered God’s salvation in that moment. What did Hazael choose? Verses 14-15 read,
“Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.”
Hazael lied to his king by not telling him the entire prophecy or message from God. He made the king feel good instead of giving him God’s message. He had been entrusted with a word from God and he did not obey. Elisha said, “Go say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.” Hazael left off the second part of the message for his own benefit. He then killed Ben-hadad in his bed.
Have you ever left off part of God’s message for someone? God tells you to tell someone about His love for them and how He longs for a relationship with them. He tells you to tell them about Jesus. But in your discomfort you stop at ‘God loves you’ or ‘Jesus loves you.’ After all you’re sure that they won’t give their lives to Jesus and they’ll think you are one of those ‘Bible thumping extremist Christians.’ Believer, when we do that we are being false prophets. God gave us a mission. He knows who will accept or reject, we do not. He still wants to give them a choice. He is God. He saves, we do not. We obey or flout His commands. Our obedience to the Lord is one way we love people as Jesus loves them. Our obedience to God is one way we glorify Jesus and so allow people to see Him. Our obedience to love is how people will know we are Jesus’ followers. John 13:34-35 reads,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Is it love to think of our comfort or reputation instead of trusting God has a reason to give someone a message? Is it love to withhold the whole Truth from someone? Penn Jillette, outspoken atheist said, “how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?
“I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”[i]
I want people to see me as a Bible thumping extremist Christian. My goal is to be the image of Christ. I want to be loving, patient, kind, humble, content, peaceful, joyful, perseverant, faithful, good, and self-controlled (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Galatians 5:22-23). When God has a message to give someone and He chooses us to give it, it is imperative to obey. The person’s response is not our responsibility, delivering the message is. Ezekiel 33:7-9 says it this way,
“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”
Every man deserves a choice. Who are we to say he will or will not believe? Who are we to take the choice away from him? God desires a relationship with all people (1 Timothy 2:3-4). He rejoices when the lost turn to Him, even the most evil (Ezekiel 18:23). He honors us by letting us tell the world His message. Who are we to displace The LORD and decide the message should be anything other than whole and true? Romans 10:13-17 reads,
“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Elisha traveled to enemy territory to give God’s word to people who did not believe. He obeyed. He could have been killed for his obedience since Hazael probably had no desire for people to know his insidious scheme. But Elisha loved Ben-hadad, Hazael, and Syria enough to go and even to weep for their future. Do you love and trust God enough to obey Him? Do you love His creation enough to tell them the word of Christ?


[i] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6md638smQd8
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2 Kings 8:1-6 Soon We’ll Be Going Home

1/27/2016

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For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14
​2 Kings 8:1-6
Now if you’ve been reading with me each day, you’re going to realize that 2 Kings is not exactly in chronological order. In the last chapter the famine was in full swing and it was all the way back in chapter 5 that Gehazi’s greed disgraced him and caused him to leave Elisha’s service. Today’s passage begins before the famine and ends with Gehazi still serving Elisha. But this short story was important enough that the author knew he needed to fit it in to the history.
Israel, God’s treasured possession, His very own people often turned to sin. So God in His love was constantly disciplining her and calling her back into a right relationship with Him. It is that way in the world today as well. The world is filled with more lost people than Christ followers. God loves people and He sends out judgements and discipline to call them into relationship with Him. He disciplines us as well by allowing us to go through trials. But for those of us who love God and who are in fellowship with Him, He warns us and gives us a way to make it through. And so was the case of the Shunammite woman who had built a room for Elisha and whose son Elisha had brought back from the dead. She was a faithful woman who had been extraordinarily kind to the prophet. Verses 1-2 read,
“Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.”
The Lord speaks to the faithful if we are faithful to listen. He warns us and prepares us for the trouble ahead. If we obey we can go through the trial easier, or even skip it. Obedience wasn’t easy for the Shunammite. She was wealthy and would have to leave her home. She would have to be a sojourner, a traveler in a land that was not like Israel. She would have had a hard time trying to live as God stipulated, celebrating feasts, moons, and making sacrifices among a heathen people. But God told her to go and so she went. We are like the Shunammite, a people out of place in a place that is not our home among people who do not know who Jesus is. Our citizenship is in Heaven, not in America, the UK, or China (Philippians 3:20). We can feel peculiar among people who do not love Jesus. We are! We are distinctive, appointed, and anointed children of God and citizens of Heaven. We are part of the God’s family, His sons and daughters. We are part of the church, the body of Christ. We are not wanderers. We are citizens of Heaven. Ephesians 2:18-22 says,
“For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
I look forward to going to my home one day. I am sure the Shunammite woman did as well. So when it was time to go home again, she returned immediately. Verses 3-6 read,
“And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land. 4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.”5 And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.”
She gave up everything to obey God and go to Philistia. But when she returned, Gehazi and the king just happened to be talking about her. The Lord made sure the king would show her favor by letting him know, not through her lips but through Gehazi’s, the good she had done for Elisha. So the king not only restored her house and land to her but he appointed his representative to ensure that she also receive all the profits from the land.
God is so good to us. Sometimes we will have to lose earthly possessions for His sake. Sometimes we will have to go places we do not want to go. But He is God and He truly does love us. When the trial is over, He gives us so much more than what we lost. He assigned His Son to make sure that we receive our inheritance. Deuteronomy 30:1-5 reads,
“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. 5 And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers”
This is a taste of Heaven now. When our physical lives are over and we enter into New Jerusalem we will lack nothing. Whatever we gave up on earth will be a treasure in Heaven. Revelation 21:1-4 describes it,
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
God does not leave us alone to suffer. He prepares us and He is with us. When we suffer we only have to remember that and remember that one day we will go home and everything we lost will be restored. We will be kings and queens (Revelation 21:4). I look forward to going home, but I live now in obedience and hope always keeping in mind that God is my God and I am His daughter, my home is waiting for me but God has prepared me to live here and glorify Him.
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2 Kings 6:24-33- Chapter 7 The Blame Game and The Famine in Samaria

1/26/2016

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2 Kings 6:24-33- Chapter 7
Samaria had stopped raiding Israel. But they were still in a war, so they surrounded Samaria and caused a tremendous famine. Things were really bad in Samaria. Verses 24-25 describe it.
“Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver.”
A Donkey’s head is bad enough to consider as food, but pigeon poo is really awful. It was used as food in desperate times since dove’s dung was plentiful. A kab is just a little under a quart and a half. These unappealing foods were what was available and their scarcity made them precious. The famine was horrible. Money was becoming just as scarce as food. People were starving. Verses 26-31 read,
“Now as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” 27 And he said, “If the Lord will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?” 28 And the king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.” 30 When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes—now he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body— 31 and he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.”
The woman was desperate, so desperate that she ate her own child and was angry that the second child to be her meal was hidden. She had sacrificed her son and lived up to her end of the bargain but this other woman had not, and she blamed the king. When he heard how terrible the situation had become he was seriously anguished. He tore his clothes in grief and it was apparent that his sorrow was genuine because under his robes he wore sackcloth. But he chose self-pity and depression instead of turning to God for help.
The woman blamed the king but he couldn’t take the blame himself. He threw the blame on Elisha and vowed vengeance. Did his anger and rash oath fix the problem? No, the woman still had no food and no son. The king had not come up with a solution. He had not turned to God. The king should have gone to Elisha and asked him to inquire of the Lord regarding the famine. But instead he chose to blame God and accuse Him of doing nothing. He chose to look at his resources instead of God’s unending supply. Instead of being the king of his people, he joined them and whined and grieved instead of praying.
Elisha was not blaming God, he was as always in fellowship with The Lord and so he knew the king had sent men to kill him. Verses 32-33 read,
“Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Now the king had dispatched a man from his presence, but before the messenger arrived Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent to take off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door fast against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?”33 And while he was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, “This trouble is from the Lord! Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”
People are so quick to blame God for troubles. It is easier to blame God and be angry with Him than to take responsibility for poor choices. It is easier to cry foul and wallow in pity than to pray give the problem to the Lord. But Elisha did not blame God. Elisha knew The Lord could, would, and was taking care of them. He trusted God to be God in every circumstance. Chapter 7 verses 1-2 record what happened next.
“But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” 2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
A seah is about 7 quarts. The Lord told them that the famine would be turned around completely that good food was going to be so abundant that it would be cheap. He also saved Elisha’s head by it. The king did not send his captain to inquire of The Lord through Elisha, but The Lord chose to give him the message anyway. Before the captain went back to the king to tell him, he scoffed at the idea. It did seem pretty ridiculous. A third of a quart of dove dung was five shekels and Elisha was saying that tomorrow seven quarts of fine flour would be one! That might be like someone saying, tomorrow a gallon of gas will cost you 25 cents. If the message didn’t come from God, you might scoff as well. So the captain sealed his fate. God told him, you’ll see this come to pass but not one taste of the food will pass your lips.
It seems no one but Elisha believed that God would be God. They blamed God for the problem but couldn’t credit Him with the solution. So the Lord set His work into action. Who did he decide to use? Did he choose the self-pitying king, the woman who destroyed her future to save her present, or the farmers who had killed their donkeys for food? No, He chose four unlikely men to save Samaria. Verses 5-10 in The Message read,
“So after the sun went down they got up and went to the camp of Aram. When they got to the edge of the camp, surprise! Not a man in the camp! The Master had made the army of Aram hear the sound of horses and a mighty army on the march. They told one another, “The king of Israel hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to attack us!” Panicked, they ran for their lives through the darkness, abandoning tents, horses, donkeys—the whole camp just as it was—running for dear life. These four lepers entered the camp and went into a tent. First they ate and drank. Then they grabbed silver, gold, and clothing, and went off and hid it. They came back, entered another tent, and looted it, again hiding their plunder.
9 Finally they said to one another, “We shouldn’t be doing this! This is a day of good news and we’re making it into a private party! If we wait around until morning we’ll get caught and punished. Come on! Let’s go tell the news to the king’s palace!”
10 So they went and called out at the city gate, telling what had happened: “We went to the camp of Aram and, surprise!—the place was deserted. Not a soul, not a sound! Horses and donkeys left tethered and tents abandoned just as they were.”
The LORD had terrified the army and sent them running so quickly that they left everything behind. The four lepers at first did what many of us might do, they took for themselves, but when they realized that letting people die was wrong and when they saw how plentiful the food, livestock and money were they did the right thing and reported it to the king. Verses 11-16 of The Message read,
“The gatekeepers got the word to the royal palace, giving them the whole story. Roused in the middle of the night, the king told his servants, “Let me tell you what Aram has done. They knew that we were starving, so they left camp and have hid in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we’ll capture them alive and take the city.’”
13 One of his advisors answered, “Let some men go and take five of the horses left behind. The worst that can happen is no worse than what could happen to the whole city. Let’s send them and find out what’s happened.”
14 They took two chariots with horses. The king sent them after the army of Aram with the orders, “Scout them out; find out what happened.”
15 They went after them all the way to the Jordan. The whole way was strewn with clothes and equipment that Aram had dumped in their panicked flight. The scouts came back and reported to the king.
16 The people then looted the camp of Aram. Food prices dropped overnight—a handful of meal for a shekel; two handfuls of grain for a shekel—God’s word to the letter!”
Now, Samaria was no longer surrounded and could get back to business. They had the abundant supplies of an army to feed them and supply them until their own farms were running well again. God’s word was fulfilled. He kept His promise even though the people had not turned to Him. He provided for them even though they accused and doubted Him. Verses 17-20 continue the narrative.
“Now the king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. And the people trampled him in the gate, so that he died, as the man of God had said when the king came down to him. 18 For when the man of God had said to the king, “Two seahs of barley shall be sold for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,”19 the captain had answered the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he had said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 20 And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate and he died.”
The same man who had sneered at the idea that The Lord could do as He promised was put in charge of distributing the food. The famished people rushed to the gate to buy food and save their lives and the captain was trampled and killed. The people doubted, but God still cared. This man outright mocked God. The people were angry and God remained compassionate. The captain impugned The Lord. He refused to believe that God would save him from his hunger.  The Lord gave him what he expected to get, to die without relief from his situation.
We do face dire situations sometimes. Most of us have not had to face the kind of dearth described in these chapters, but we do go through awful conditions, life and death circumstances, and suffering that threatens to overwhelm. We can get angry with God. Many people do. We can blame Him. Countless people do. God can take our frustration. We can ask, we can cry, we shout. If we charge God for the trouble, shouldn’t we also attribute Him with the solution? But we have to turn to Him. We have to talk to Him. In the listening and receiving we will be calmed. He will show us He is God. We either receive the life He gives or reject it and choose death.
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2 Kings 6:8-23 Elisha lived by Faith not Sight

1/25/2016

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as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
​2 Kings 6:8-23
Your faith or your fear depend on your perspective and in turn your perspective depends on your faith or your fear. This story of Elisha and the King of Syria is an illustration of that point. Verses 8-10 read,
“Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.”
Elisha’s perspective was one in which God was El Shaddai, All-Sufficient Mighty Lord. He had a close relationship to God and his ears and heart were always open ready to receive a word or command. Because Elisha’s perception of the world was through faith, the King of Israel was blessed along with Israel herself. Elisha’s natural vision did not dictate what he knew to be true, his supernatural vision buoyed him. Like Moses before him, Elisha kept his eyes on the Lord, who is unseen to the world (Hebrews 11:27).
The king of Syria was becoming paranoid. It was clear to him that someone was telling Israel’s army their secret plans. He was sure he had a mole. Verses 11-14 read,
“And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.”
It was the king’s servant who explained that Israel had The LORD who knows what is said in secret (Matthew 6:4), and it was Elisha, the man of God who was telling the king their plans. The Syrian king could only see the world in terms of his power and pride. So he devised a secret plan to capture Elisha and to do so with great intimidation. He sent a great army to capture God’s prophet.
Of course The Lord told Elisha and of course Elisha didn’t give in to fear. What is a great army against The Lord of angel armies? Romans 8:31-35 reminds us,
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”
So the Syrian army headed to capture Elisha. Verses 15-16 read,
“When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Elisha’s servant walked out in the morning and his natural eyes showed him a fearsome sight. He reacted to those terrifying circumstances. He turned to Elisha and said, “What should we do?” But Elisha assured his servant that those who were with them were greater than those who were against them. I wonder if the servant looked around and thought Elisha had lost it. He could only see the two of them. Elisha though had The Spirit of God on him just like Timothy, the eventual successor to his title (1 Timothy 6:11). He knew there was nothing to fear. He remained calm because he saw his circumstances through the Spirit’s eyes and not his own. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 reads,
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Not everyone is at the same place as you are in there walk with Christ. Some are less mature, others are more mature. Some have no problem looking at the world through the Spirit’s eyes, others need help. Paul laid his hands on Timothy to impart the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Elisha prayed for his servant to see through God’s eyes. Verses 17-19 read,
“Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And 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.”
Elisha never gave in to fear because he chose to see, hear, and think in the Spirit. He calmly and logically ask the Lord to fight for him. If his deeper vision had saved him, the army that wanted to capture him would lose because they were made blind. God made the army ignorant of where they were and who they sought. Elisha then only had to lead them to the king of Israel. Verses 20-23 read,
“As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.”
Imagine the army’s shock when their eyes were opened and realized where they were. The king of Israel was ready to slaughter them. But once again Elisha’s Spirit perspective pointed out the wiser choice. Rather than kill them and have more troops sent to avenge them and try and capture Elisha and the king, they opened their eyes showed them the greatness of God and even fed them. They saw that Israel had nothing to fear because The Lord is Great. They went home and reported that to their king and he did not dare send more troops against The LORD. They certainly were not going to go again. They could have been killed or held captive, but instead they were shown mercy, given a great feast, and sent home. Elisha showed the men the nature of God.
Elisha revealed God to his servant, to the king of Israel, to the Syrian army, and through them to the Syrian king. We have the onus of revealing The Lord God, Jesus Christ to everyone we can as well. We see The Truth, but they are blind to it. We can ask the Lord to open their eyes. We can demonstrate God’s love and nature to the world, so they can see Jesus.
We see the world through eyes of faith. Hebrews 11:1-3 defines faith this way,
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”
Faith, seeing through God’s eyes moves us to act. It is a way of living. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 in The Message says,
“That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.”
Verses 11-14 of that same chapter read,
“That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It’s no light thing to know that we’ll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That’s why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care. We’re not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we’re on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are. If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.”
Believer, you see the world through supernatural Godly eyes, do not keep that vision to yourself. Pray that God opens the eyes of the people you meet. Live in such a way that they will see Jesus when they look at you.
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2 Kings 6:1-7 Elisha, The Good Teacher

1/24/2016

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For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.  2 Timothy 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:6-7
​2 Kings 6:1-7
Elisha was considered a father to the prophets of Israel. He travelled often and they gathered to him when he was near, to hear what it was God had to teach them. Many also came to his home and stayed with him there so they could learn from him. As a prophet, The Holy Spirit was upon Elisha and he spoke the Word of God to people, including the other prophets who turned around and did the same. Glorifying the Lord has two effects. People seeking God, seeking goodness or betterment will be drawn to the light and so make it possible for them to find God and His righteousness. The people who practice wickedness and seek themselves will be repulsed by the light and try to stay in the darkness. In Luke 8:16-18 Jesus explained it this way,
“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
Believer, whether you have been gifted with prophecy, with teaching, or with pastoring you have the Holy Spirit. You have the Word of God and you are charged with being a light and sharing it. You have to shine that light so that those seeking God will find Him. The more you share, the more you use the gifts God gave you in sharing Jesus, the more He will grow you and your gifts. If you have been gifted with hospitality, yet you do not use that gift to show the world who Jesus is, then that gift will dwindle to non-existence.
You are also charged with learning God’s Word. Acts 2:42-47 describes the believers’ devotion to learning and teaching and the effect that had.
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, tothe breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
The more you receive the Word, the more you give the Word to others. This was the case with Elisha, the father of the prophets and the sons of the prophets who sought to learn from him in order to better glorify the Lord. In fact so many were coming to learn from him that his guest house needed expanding. Verses 1-3 read,
“Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” 3 Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.”
They were not building a permanent place to live, they were building a place that would make the temporary place, the “college dorm” more comfortable. And they all participated. They put effort into their pursuit of the Kingdom of Heaven. They each went out and got a sturdy log from the banks of the Jordan. Learning is important. It is necessary. But we do not learn and do nothing with the degree. We take what we learn and we teach others. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 reads,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”
Teaching others what we have learned, speaking the Word God gives us is a natural part of maturation in Christ. Paul exhorted the believers not remain stagnant perpetual students in Hebrews 5:11-14.
“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
Notice too, that we are to continue learning. We do not keep learning the basics of ‘A is for apple.’ We move on to reading and then comprehension and writing. We keep going and we do not stop learning. We use what we have learned.
Elisha was very aware of his role as a teacher and mentor to the sons of the prophets. When his students asked him to come with them, he didn’t hesitate. And when a “teachable moment” came along, he used it to teach. Verses 4-7 read,
“So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” 6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float.7 And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.”
The circumstance made the man panic. The lost axe head was not his. It had fallen into the deep river and he had no idea how to get it back. He would have to repay a debt and he had no idea how to do it. The same circumstance allowed Elisha to show the awesome power of the Lord. The student was not as spiritually mature as Elisha. Though he had faith, it was not as strong as the father of the prophets yet. Elisha didn’t glorify himself by making a big show. He cut of a stick and threw it in the water and the axe head floated up as if it were now somehow buoyant rather than iron. The student was able to pick it up.
Elisha did not scold the man for not knowing that nothing is impossible with God. He showed him that nothing is impossible with God. He spoke gently and compassionately. He did not only speak, in fact he only asked one question. He acted. He demonstrated God’s loving power and gave the man back the borrowed axe head.
Teaching does not have to be with eloquent words. Leading does not happen with speeches. Elisha went with the men, he led by example, he taught by doing. Let him be an example to us. Believer, are you a student? Are you learning more of the same or more of the mystery? Are you speaking and living what you have learned? Or are you the perpetual student afraid to use the degree you have earned? I encourage you as Paul encouraged Timothy,
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
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2 Kings 5:15-27 Gehazi's Greed

1/22/2016

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But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
​2 Kings 5:15-27
Perhaps you remember yesterday’s devotional about Naaman being healed of leprosy. He was ecstatic to be free of that awful disease. Everything he had gone through and all that had brought him from Syria to Israel to Elisha’s doorstep had culminated in his professing his faith in The One True God, the God of Israel. That new love and commitment inspired him to respond. The best way he knew how was to give money to Elisha in order to pay him for being a prophet. Verses 15-18 read,
“Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. 18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”
Naaman was so grateful he wanted to pay Elisha but Elisha refused. He would not take money for what God had done. Taking money from Naaman would have been like Naaman buying his healing. It would sullied God’s gift to Naaman by making it a transaction. Elisha understood that when a faithful person gave to God his firstfruits, that God would give that to Him for his provision. He had no need for more. The faithful take care of the faithful in service to God. Naaman was not offering the money as a tithe to the LORD, he was offering to purchase the healing. So Elisha refused it and kept the act the gift from God it was meant to be.
Jesus explained it to the disciples as he sent them out to spread the Gospel in Matthew 10:7-11,
“And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.”
Love for money and possessions can eat their way into the soul, especially if one’s faith is weakened or if a person is less mature in his walk with the LORD. The desire for money is a sign that he doesn’t trust God to be God. That desire is the basis for all kinds of sin. Paul said it like this in 1 Timothy 6:6-12,
“But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
We have to be deliberate about pursuing the kingdom of God. We have to be intentional about seeking the fruit of the Spirit and staying free from the pursuit of the material. Elisha’s servant Gehazi heard Naaman’s offer of money and he wanted it. Elisha only wanted to glorify God and sent Naaman home with his gift of peace with God. Verses 19-24 describe what happened,
“He said to him, “Go in peace.”
But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’” 23 And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.”
Gehazi chased Naaman down and told him an elaborate lie to get money from him. Naaman was happy to comply and give the man what he asked for. As Gehazi returned home, I wonder what went through his mind. He had to come up with more lies to explain his whereabouts. He probably imagined how he would spend his ill-gotten gains. I seriously wonder how he thought he might spend that money. He was Elisha’s servant, with him most of the day, every day. He wasn’t going to get a day off and meet his friends at the mall. He wasn’t going to be able to buy himself a new donkey, an iPhone 6s, or anything else without giving away his secret sin. He certainly was not thinking about how awesome God is and how God knew his sin and how close Elisha was to The Lord. He wasn’t thinking that God had already told Elisha what he had done. You cannot lie to The Holy Spirit. Verses 25-27 read,
“He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.”26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.”
Gehazi took payment for Naaman’s healing, so The Lord gave Gehazi Naaman’s leprosy. Gehazi disregarded God’s will over his own. He cheapened the beautiful gift of salvation by making it a business deal. Gehazi gained two talents of silver and four changes of clothing, he was rich. But he lost honor, health, and position.
Gehazi was with Elisha every day year after year. He heard God’s word spoken. He saw the greatness of God manifested repeatedly. He saw a hundred men fed on just a small amount of food, he saw a boy raised from the dead, poisoned stew purified, toxic water cleansed, and dry land flood all at God’s word. But the desire for money slipped in and took over. He chased Naaman’s riches instead of God’s glory. He got the money he sought and lost the kingdom of Heaven. If the love of money could infect his heart in can infect anyone’s heart.
Believer, be careful, be diligent. Fight the good fight and seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Let God be God for you. He is El Shaddai, All Sufficient LORD.
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2 Kings 5:1-15 Naaman and Leprosy

1/21/2016

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2 Kings 5:1-15
The chapter begins by describing Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army. Verse 1 reads,
“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.”
Naaman was a leper but he was still a great commander who was highly favored with the king. He did not let his leprosy stop him. He was also a good master to the slaves and servants of his household. They cared about him. This was the case with an Israeli girl who had been taken from her home and was now a slave for Naaman’s wife. Verses 2-5 read,
“Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.”
Everyone wanted to see Naaman healed. His leprosy had not deterred him from being a mighty man of valor but that didn’t mean he had to like it. His slave wanted him healed, his king wanted him healed, and he wanted himself healed. Whatever problems or difficulties we have in life to not have to stop us from being all God made us to be, but that does not mean we have to say we are okay with the illness, disability or weakness we have. Accepting God as our All in All does not have to mean that we do not seek healing or pass up opportunities for healing when they come our way. Yes, we suffer for Christ’s sake, but that does not mean we refuse relief when the time comes for it to end. God wants to use our suffering for our good, but He also wants to use our healing for our good (Romans 8:28).
So the letter was sent to the King of Israel. Verses 6-7 read,
“And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”
As far as we know this is still Jerhoram, who did not worship idols per se but who refused to worship The Lord as The Lord had prescribed. He read the letter and his reaction was not, “My God can do anything.” His reaction was, “I can’t heal this guy!” Turning to the Lord, just didn’t occur to the prideful king. He assumed the Syrian king was looking for an excuse for war and went into a royal snit over it.
When God wants to do something, He will do it. It was God who put the little girl into Naaman’s household so she could tell him about Elisha. It was the Lord who moved the Syrian king’s heart to let Naaman go. So the Lord also made sure Elisha knew about Naaman. Verses 8-10 read,
“But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”
What do you suppose Naaman’s reaction was? What would your reaction be if you had suffered from a debilitating illness for years, you went to see a healer and his assistant came in and said, “The healer said, go take a shower in the hotel next door and you will be healed?” Would you be overjoyed at the simplicity? Would you go and obey? Would you doubt that such a simple act would cure you? Would you think, “I’ve come all this way to see the healer, he could at least look at me! He could at least pour the water on me himself! Am I so unimportant that he has to send his assistant to me? Heck, I could stay home and take a shower in my luxurious comfortable shower.” Well, Naaman was mad. Verses 11-12 describe it,
“But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.”
Naaman wanted Elisha to make a show of it, to wave his hands and cry out to the Lord. He wanted drama. Some healers today elevate themselves by acting as if it is they doing the healing rather than God. The people who go to them want the drama. They want to elevate themselves a bit too by seeing how much energy must be put forth for them.
But God is God. Nothing is too difficult for Him, nothing is impossible for Him. Didn’t Naaman even take note that God cared so much, Elisha already knew about, prayed about, and received the answer he sought or that God gave Him an answer at all? But Naaman’s servants calmed the commander down and reasoned with him. Verses 13-14 describe it.
“But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
God loved Naaman so much that he had given him a great word. Naaman was too prideful to recognize it, but his servants were not. They cared enough about their master to point out that profound truth to him. They could have been punished or even killed for it, but they loved him and wanted him to be whole again. They had to speak the truth to him. Do you love people enough to tell them about the Word that God sent for them because of His love for them? Do you care enough to want tell them that “by His stripes they are healed” and they can have eternal life?
Naaman listened and he obeyed. He was healed, his flesh was not just clean it was brand new! God’s healing like His salvation is not just wiping away the surface, taking away the problems or the curing an illness. It is complete. It makes us brand new, innocent and righteous. Naaman was no longer a leper, his skin didn’t even show scars from the disease or from the decades of his life. It was like a newborn’s skin which had never been affected by the sun, dirt, time, or leprosy. Jesus heals us from our sin the same way. He doesn’t just forgive our sins and take them away. He makes us new, He makes us righteous. He changes us from sinners to saints.
Naaman was so completely changed that he no longer wanted to follow any other God but The LORD. Verse 15 reads,
“Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.”
We will find out the rest of the story tomorrow. But for now let’s reflect on all that this part of the story taught us. God does use the difficulties we suffer. God used Naaman’s leprosy as the instrument to bring him into a relationship with Him. He used a kidnapped child slave to speak His word. He even used the power of the Syrian king to move Naaman to faith.
What are you suffering? What have you suffered? Maybe the reason is so that He can make you and the people around you more like Him. Maybe He wants to reveal Himself to people. That is most often the good He wants to bring out of the circumstances of our lives. Romans 8:28 is often quoted to comfort a suffering brother. To me, it is much more comforting put back into context. Romans 8:26-30 reads,
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
We are not alone in our struggles. The Holy Spirit is not only with us, He speaks to the Father for us not with words but with the groanings which encompass our pain and our needs. And God works it for our good according to His will. But that good is not so much earthly good as eternal. He uses it to conform us to Christ’s image so that He and we can be glorified. Christ is glorified on the earth since he is already glorified in Heaven. As we look more like Him on earth, we will be glorified perfectly in Heaven.
But our pride, our desire to exalt ourselves and be exalted by others often stands in the way of glorifying Jesus. Naaman’s pride nearly kept him from healing salvation. It was those who easily humbled themselves that could show Him that submitting to God’s word would give him what he needed. Pride stops us from too much. It obstructs us from receiving Christ. It hinders us from walking and maturing in Christ. It stops us from glorifying Him and bring people into the Kingdom. Pride says, “I am god, I do not need The Lord. I can do it.” God doesn’t heal people who refuse to admit they need healing. He doesn’t save people who refuse to admit they need saving. In Mark 2:15-17 Jesus said,
“And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I encourage you today, not to let your struggles overcome you but to let God use them as He chooses to bring you and others to Him. I encourage you to let go of your pride and submit to God. Let Him heal you. Let Him make you completely new, like a newborn. Admit your need, ask for help, and receive the Word He gives you in response. He is God, we are not.
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    Donna Campbell

    As I read the Bible every day, I take what God teaches me, what He says, and write it out. I then share that with you. It gives me a deeper understanding of the Word and I hope that it will encourage you as it does me, to put your love and faith into action.

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