2 Kings 1
Ahaziah did evil in the eyes of the Lord (1 Kings 22:52) and has an
accident that causes him to be bed ridden. He inquires of a false
god Baal-Zebub to see if he will recover 1-2. Elijah is told to
rebuke him for this. The Lord's message: Why does he not inquire of
the Lord, who is in Israel 3-5. The Lord declares he will not
recover but die 6-8. The king send for Elijah 9. Each captain and
company with him are consumed by the fire of God went they call him
the 'man of God' 9-12. Note: The Lord does this to affirm that
Elijah truly is a man of God and represents the one and only true
God. It also illustrates that a man or woman of God is kept by the
Lord till his/her work is done. The third captain and group come
with humility and the Lord tells Elijah to go with them this time
13-15. He gives Ahaziah the same message. 'You will certainly die
!' so says the Lord 16b-17. Note: God has the power of both life
and death. Each day we have and every breath we take is because the
Lord has ordained it. Praise Him for the gift of life and for hope
in death because Jesus is alive and has saved us ! Because Ahaziah
had no sons Joram becomes king in his place 17b.
2 Kings 2
Elijah is about to be taken by the Lord into heaven. He is one of
two in Scripture who did not see physical death but was translated
into the Lord's presence supernaturally. (Enoch was the other
individual - Genesis 5:24). Elijah travels around (in ministry) and
tells Elisha, his attendant to remain at each place. Elisha
refuses. He wants to be near Elijah. 1-6. Note: Are you and I
desirous and committed to godly mentors to the level that we don't
want to miss out on being with them ? The Jordan river is parted so
they could cross it. Fifty of the prophets see this 7-8. Elijah
offers Elisha a request. Elisha asks for 'a double portion of your
spirit' 9. Though difficult, he agrees if Elisha sees Elijah when
he is taken up 10. Note: Do I long for the Holy Spirit in greater
portions in my life ? No ministry or effective service for the Lord
can happen without His work in and through you and me ! Just then a
'chariot of fire' appears and separates the two and Elijah is taken
into heaven by a whirlwind 11. Wow ! At this Elisha saw him no more
12. Note: When the Lord calls His saints home to be with Him, I
wonder if it includes a demonstration of God's glory in the process
? (see: 2 Peter 1:11 KJV). As Elijah is taken his cloak (mantle)
falls and Elisha picks it up 13. He is able to part the Jordan and
cross it as he calls on the Lord 14. His request is granted for the
spirit to rest upon him 15. The prophets gather around Elisha, as
their new leader. They insist on trying to find Elijah, but Elisha
knows better. They do not find him. He is gone (to be with the
Lord) 16-18. Note: They understood that the Spirit of God can pick
up a person and put them somewhere else. This did not seem strange
to them, nor impossible. Do we really believe God to act in
supernatural ways in our lives and in the lives of fellow believers
? God did move Philip in this way (Acts 9:39-40). Oh, to be that in
step with the Spirit of the Living God ! The Lord works through
Elisha to heal bad water. It becomes wholesome 19-22. Note: God can
heal and meet our temporal needs. Elisha is jeered by a group of
'thugs' 23. Elisha curses them in return and two bears maul 42 of
them 24. He then ends up in Samaria (capital of the Northern
kingdom). Note: It is a dangerous thing to mock the things of God
or His people. The Lord does not over look this and those,
who act this way (in their foolishness) can bring the curse of the
Lord upon themselves (2 Thessalonians 1:4-10).
2 Kings 3
Joram becomes king over Israel and does evil in the eyes of the
Lord 1-2. He clings to the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn from
them 3. It is one thing that sin clings to us, but when we cling to
sin, that says volumes about where are heart really is before the
Lord. Moab rebels against Israel and Judah join forces along
with the king of Edom 4-8. Lacking water, the king of Israel cries
that the Lord wants their defeat 10. Godly Jehoshaphat rightly asks
for a prophet of the Lord to inquire of the Lord for them with this
need 11. Elisha is summoned 12-13. It is because of Jehoshaphat
that the Lord takes notice of the need 14. Note: I wonder how many
people are blessed by the Lord because His people are present. The
Lord taking notice and providing because of them ? Thank God for
His saving and sustaining grace. A harpist plays and the hand of
the Lord comes on Elisha revealing what they are to do 15. They are
to dig ditches and the Lord would fill them with water,
supernaturally ! 16-17. This is easy for the Lord, so is victory
over Moab (the enemy) 18. Note: I find it significant that the Lord
supernaturally provides the water but the people still have part in
defeating the enemy 19,24-25. Also, the water the Lord provided to
sustain also serves to bring confusing to Moab, which leads to
their defeat 20-24. Note: What the Lord can do is not limited, for
with God all things are possible. Yet in some manner He is kept
from acting by the lack of faith on the part of the believer (see:
Mark 6:4-6). How I need more faith in Him. Lord please grant me
(us) that ! The king of Moab fails to reach the king of Edom in
battle 26, and as a result sacrifices his own son 27. Note: I do
not know why he would do this.