Foundations: 2 Kings - Day 7

Read: 2 Kings 6:8-7:20

As Elisha continues, we discover the role he played in Israel’s international affairs. Israel is at war with their northeastern neighbour Aram. God gives Elisha prophetic insight about Aram’s military strategy. Elisha tells the king and Israel thwarts Aram’s plan of attack. This scene plays out so many times that the king of Aram assumes that one of his men is spying for Israel. The Arameans surround the city of Dothan to capture Elisha. Elisha’s servant becomes fearful when he learns they are surrounded by Aramean armies. Elisha, trusting in God, tells his servant to fear not. As Elisha prays, God shows the servant that they are actually surrounded by heavenly armies and chariots of fire. Those who are with Elisha are greater than those who are with his enemy (6:16). So too, God is with us as we wage spiritual warfare, and He is greater than any that may come against us. While your enemy may seem to be a giant compared to yourself, he is a speck of dust compared to the Maker of the Universe. Next, God blinds the Arameans, in response to Elisha’s prayers. Israel’s king asks Elisha what he should do with these Aramean captives. Elisha’s response (v 22) indicates two things. First, the captives were won by God, not by Israel’s king. It was not up to the king to decide their fate. Second, the Law commanded that they love and serve their enemy (Exodus 23:4). By providing for, and then releasing, the Arameans, Israel reflected God’s character. Israel created an opportunity for peaceful relations with their neighbour. Now, Aram would be the sole aggressor in any future attacks, reflecting on their own morality.

Sure enough, Aram attacked again, and besieged Israel’s capital, Samaria (6:24). The siege lasted long enough that a great famine occurred. The king of Israel blamed Elisha (v 30-31). “If Elisha had only let me put the Arameans to death,” thought the king, “we would not be on the edge of starvation.” As the king pursues Elisha with evil intentions, Elisha relays a message to the king. In one day, the siege and famine will be over. The king’s officer scoffed, thinking this impossible. Elisha declared that the officer would die for his unbelief.

Again, we witness God’s faithful fulfillment of His promise. That night, four lepers discover that the Aramean camp is empty. The next day a delegation from Samaria investigates. It is true! The Arameans are gone! God had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of a great army, so they fled. As the scramble to pillage the Aramean camp for food and supplies begins, the unfaithful officer is trampled. God’s word, again, is fulfilled.

Prayer and Journaling

1.   Ask God to show you an area where you are experiencing spiritual opposition. Ask Him to show you a word, thought, picture, or Scripture verse that indicates how He is bigger than your enemy.

2.  Sometimes loving our enemies is difficult. It may even seem unwise, just as it seemed unwise to release the Arameans who would later attack again. Ask God to show you one or two practical ways you can love your enemy this week.

3.   We are not only commanded to love our enemies, we are also commanded to pray for them (Matthew 5:44). Pray for the person(s) God showed you in the above question. If you aren’t sure how to pray you can ask God for direction. You can also simply pray blessings over this person(s) that you would like to receive in your own life!

Foundations: 2 Kings - Day 6

Read: 2 Kings 5-6:7

This passage is a continuation of 2 Kings 4, retelling Elisha’s ministry to individuals. Chapter 5 relays the healing of Naaman, commander of Aram’s army. When Naaman is struck with leprosy, God sovereignly moves to bring him to Elisha. Naaman’s wife’s maidservant had been taken captive from Israel as a little girl. Year later, she still remembers Elisha and suggests that Naaman visit the prophet. The king of Aram agrees and sends Naaman to the king of Israel. Here we see the king’s inadequacy as he cannot help Naaman (v 7). When Elisha hears of the situation, he summons Naaman. Rather than addressing Naaman personally, Elisha gives directions through his messengers. Naaman is to bathe in the Jordan River seven times to receive healing. At first Naaman shows disdain at this directive. However, his servants wisely compel him to obey. How often do we scoff at God’s directions, thinking our methods are wiser? One prays to grow in service, expecting his heart to be immediately filled with tender feelings of goodwill toward others. Meanwhile, God is asking him to simply pick up a dish towel or a broom. Another prays for financial provision, expecting immediate blessing. Meanwhile God wants to first bring her through a period of hardship, that He might provide different (and more eternal) blessings. We must be willing to lay down our methods and expectations at God’s altar.

Naaman displays a great turnaround in this story. First, he lays his prejudices aside to obey God. Second, he returns to thanks Elisha. He does not take this answered prayer for granted. Naaman offers financial gifts to Elisha. Elisha politely declines these gifts. While it is not a sin for believers to receive gifts, or for professional ministers to accept a salary, God leads Elisha differently here. Elisha practically displays to the newly converted Naaman that money is not the benefit of following Yahweh. Yahweh Himself is the greatest gift we can receive. Naaman is now so zealous for Yahweh that he insists on bringing home soil from Israel on which to build an altar. In a world where gods were associated with specific countries, it would seem natural that Yahweh’s altar should be built upon Israeli soil. Naaman had yet to learn that “the earth if the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1 NIV).

After offering thanks, Naaman asks for one indulgence. He requests permission to kneel in Rimmon’s temple. This will not be an act of worship to Rimmon, but an act of respect to Naaman’s king. Nimmon knows that bowing before another god, whether in worship or not, is a sin. We cannot use this story as license to pretend to serve anyone other than Yahweh. However, Elisha knows that Naaman in young in his faith. His heart is in the right place, even if his actions display immaturity. In the next scene, Elisha punishes his servant Gehazi for sinning. Gehazi sought the financial reward that Elisha specifically rejected. Since Gehazi lives closely with Elisha we can assume he has a degree of spiritual maturity. His sin was direct rebellion. We can see in this story that sin birthed from intentional rebellion must be treated differently than sin birthed from immaturity. Both dishonour God and require wholehearted repentance. However, immaturity requires mercy, while rebellion may require justice.

This section of stories closes with Elisha blessing one of his fellow prophets. The company of prophets associated with Elisha is growing. In fact, they have become so large that they require a bigger building to meet in! What a wonderful problem to have! As the prophets work to build a new meeting shelter, one loses his axe head in the river. Axe heads were rare at the time, making them very expensive. Having to buy a new axe head for his lender would ruin the prophet. Elisha again responds with compassion. He works a miracle and retrieves the axe head, saving his friend.

Prayer and Journaling

1.  Is there a situation in your life where you are struggling to submit to God’s methods? Maybe you think your prayers should be answered differently or you’re having difficulty believing that God can turn a season of hardship into blessing. Pour your heart out to God. Confess any pride or lack of trust in your heart. Ask God to affirm to you that He is good and He “works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

2.  When we sin out of immaturity, God longs to forgive us and give us grace to sin no more. He does not condemn us if we repent! Ask God to show you any areas where you walk in false condemnation.

3.  Pray for believers in Canada today. Ask God to grow our spiritual maturity. Pray that we would rejoice in obeying God, even while His methods are still a mystery to us. Pray that we would repent from our rebellious natures. Pray that, when we sin out of immaturity, we would quickly receive God’s forgiveness and reject self-condemnation.

Foundations: 2 Kings - Day 5

Read: 2 Kings 4

2 Kings 4 begins a series of stories about the prophet Elisha. These stories are related in two groups. The first group (4:1-6:7) shows Elisha ministering to individuals. The second grouping (6:8-8:15) shows Elisha ministering to the leaders in international affairs. Nobody’s entire life can be contained in one book. It is probable that Elisha ministered in many circumstances not recorded in the Bible. However, the Holy Spirit chose to permanently record certain stories for a purpose. One such purpose is to show that God relates to people on a heart level. For example, His ministry is not effected by our gender or socioeconomic status. The first two stories in this passage illustrate this well. Elisha ministers to a poor widow and a rich married woman. At the time, women and men were not treated as equals in society. Women were dependent on the men in their lives for survival. Here, God tries to correct mankind’s imbalances by showing particular compassion to women. Because he was a man of God, Elisha viewed people with God’s eyes. Society’s labels did not alter how Elisha treated people. When the widow approached Elisha, his response was not to be bothered. Surely many would have “more important” things to do than help a lowly widow. Elisha, operating out of a heart of compassion, responded, “How can help you?” He lived to treat people as God treats people. Likewise, Elisha did not disdain the rich while elevating the poor. He humbly received hospitality from the Shunnamite woman and blessed her in her time of pain. Elisha performed a miracle that echoed his mentor, Elijah, to help this woman (1 Kings 17:7-24).

The second two stories in this section tell of God’s miraculous provision for His followers. In the first, Elisha is with a company of prophets in Gilgal. A famine is ravaging the region. One of the company unwittingly prepares a stew with poisonous gourds. God, through Elisha, heals the stew, allowing the prophets to eat. Next, we see God work through Elisha to multiply a small amount of food to feed one hundred men. This miracle foreshadows Jesus multiplying the fish and loaves (Matthew 14:13-21, 15:32-39). As Jesus’ followers were breaking the bread, they surely remembered the prior work of Elisha. They must have thought, “Who is this man, that he can perform miracles fifty times greater than the prophets of our forefathers?” We must remember that the miracles in Scripture, be they performed through Elijah, Elisha or Jesus, occurred only through the power of God Himself. When we long to see miracles and breakthrough in our own lives, we must remember that they will not come by our strength, nor by our power, but by God’s Spirit (Zech 4:6).

Prayer and Journaling

1.  History remembers Elisha as compassionate to all people, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, age, or marital status. If someone were to write a book based on your life, what would you be remembered for?  Do these things reflect a life that is being transformed by Jesus?  Ask the Holy Spirit to bring clarity to you on these things. 

2.  Ask God to show you one act of compassion you can do today and one you can do over the next week. Commit to following through on whatever He shows you.

3.  Miracles and breakthroughs come by God’s power alone. Think of one miracle you need personally, one needed for a friend or family member, and one needed for the church. Release these needs to God through prayer, acknowledging that only He can move mountains, and pray for these miracles to happen!

Foundations: 2 Kings - Day 4

Read: 2 Kings 3; 1 Kings 12:25-32

The focus now shifts back to the political history of Israel. Before delving into current affairs, Chapter 3 mentions King Joram’s character. He was not as evil as his (grand)parents, Ahab and Jezebel. However, he still affirms the public worship of the calves established by Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:25-32). It is interesting that Joram rejects Baal-worship, while adhering to a different branch of idol worship. Looking to the origin of the calf idols brings clarity to this question. Jeroboam saw that the Southern Kingdom had an advantage: their capital city, Jerusalem, contained Yahweh’s temple. The Israelite king feared that if his citizens went to Jerusalem to worship, their loyalty would return to the house of David and the kingdoms would re-unite. This would end his position of power. Thus, Jeroboam created a false system of worship within his own borders. He hoped to satisfy his subjects’ drive to worship and maintain their loyalty to the Northern Kingdom. Subsequent kings maintained the calf-worship because it was the key issue on which the division of the two kingdoms lay. Joram could repent of Baal worship, but this repentance had no cost. Repenting of the calf worship could cost him his kingdom. True repentance is that which comes regardless of personal cost.

Moab is southeast of Israel, bordering the eastern coastline of the Dead Sea and the southern Jordan River. It became a vassal state to Israel in the time of David. “David also defeated the Moabites …. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought tribute” (2 Samuel 8:2 NIV). In other words, David did not fully absorb the Moabite territory into Israel. They had an inferior status and were required to pay annual taxes to Israel. However, in daily affairs they retained a degree of independence. When the kingdom split, Moab became a vassal state to the North. Moab had begun to rebel during the reign of Ahaziah (1:1). Now Joram is king and he sees the importance in immediately dealing with this uprising. Moab’s tribute was an important source of income for Israel (v 4). Knowing that the task was too great for his armies alone, Joram seeks the allegiance of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat agrees and suggests attacking Moab from the south, through Edom. Edom, laying between Judah and Moab, was Judah’s vassal state (2 Samuel 8:14).

As the kings of Israel, Judah, and Moab march, their hope begins to dim. They are completely out of water. Jehoshaphat suggests inquiring of a prophet and Elisha’s name is put forward. While Elisha at first declines, he eventually agrees because he respects King Jehoshaphat. At the direction of the Lord, the kings and their men fill the valley with ditches, trusting that God will fill the ditches with water. Their faith is rewarded. The ditches fill with water, which reflects light to make the valley appear to be filled with blood. The Moabites assume that the armies of the three kings slaughtered each other, so they move forward to pillage the camps. However, they walk into their own demise. The Israelites invade the territory, kill the rebellious Moabites, and destroy anything good in their land. The king of Moab tries and fails to attack the Edomite camp. The Moabites are now desperate. The king resorts to sacrificing his own son in an attempt to please the bloodthirsty false god, Chemosh. This sacrifice repulsed even the evil Israelite king, prompting him to return home.

Prayer and Journaling

1.  Reflect on your repentance.  Do you repent of all sins, even the ones that seem to benefit you, or only of sins that bring obvious detriments? Ask God to give you a heart of true repentance out of reverence and love for Him.

2.  Spend time in confession today. Ask God to reveal any sins hidden in your heart. Confess and ask God to show you any practical steps you need to take in repentance.

3.  Just as the Israelites and their neighbours, the Moabites, worshipped false gods, many of our neighbours worship false gods. Pray for people you know who do not serve Jesus. Pray that God would open their eyes to the futility of other religions and the powerful truth found in the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Foundations: 2 Kings - Day 3

Read: 2 Kings 2

The death of Ahaziah and subsequent crowning of Joram sets the context for 2 Kings 2. In this time, people clung to political power until death, at which point the next of kin typically became king. In contrast, 2 Kings 2 provides us with a picture of how God transfers authority in His kingdom. It was God who named Elijah’s successor, not genetics (1 Kings 19). Elijah did not cling desperately to his role. In fact, he immediately began training Elisha to take over his ministry. During this training Elijah and Elisha developed a close relationship. It is likely that they spent many hours ministering to people and seeking the Lord together. Now, Elijah is about to be taken into heaven. Three times he insists on Elisha staying back. Ever faithful to his friend and leader, Elisha insists on following Elijah until the end. Further, Elisha’s fellow prophets twice confirm that Elisha knew Elijah is about to be taken away. Elisha’s response is heartbreaking: “Yes, I know, but do not speak of it” (v 3, 5 NIV). It is in these tender moments that we are reminded that Elisha was a human with emotions, reactions and opinions, just as we are. His repeated affirmation of loyalty shows that Elisha knew the cost of following Elijah (in this situation, the pain of losing a friend) and decided it was nothing compared to the goodness of loyalty.

Elijah and Elisha miraculously cross the Jordan River (v 7-9). Then Elijah asks if there is anything more he can do for his protégé. Elisha requests a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. This reflects the Israelite law that granted the firstborn son a double portion of his father’s inheritance (Deut 21:17). Elisha viewed Elijah as his spiritual father. He respected, served, and loved Elijah as a son would a father. Now he knew that it was time to take Elijah’s place, just as a son takes the place of his father. And just as a son mourns his father, now Elisha mourns Elijah (v 12).

The rest of 2 Kings 2 consists of three miracles God works through Elisha, which confirm the transfer of prophetic authority. First, Elisha parts the waters of the Jordan, just as Elijah had previously (v 8, 14). Watching this, the company of prophets agrees that, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha” (v 15 NIV). The company of prophets insists on searching for Elijah. Elisha knows this search is futile, but he relents, ashamed that he would be seen as disrespectful of his master. The second miracle happens as God works through Elisha to heal the waters of Jericho. The city would be an ideal settlement if the water were not polluted. Elisha asks for a new bowl, one free of ceremonial impurity. He fills it with salt, a common element in biblical sacrifices (Lev 2:13, Ezek 43:24, Matt 5:13, Col 4:6). With this salt, Elisha purifies the water.

The final miraculous work we witness has a less positive tone. Youths ridicule Elisha as he is travelling. Their insult “baldhead” does not refer directly to Elisha’s physical appearance. Rather, it is a reference to the custom of travellers to cover their heads and a jeering remark about association with Elijah. The youths were mocking the prophetic office more than they were mocking Elisha. One of the costs associated with following God is not caring about one’s reputation. We must care more about what God thinks of us than about what other people think of us. However, when the world has a negative opinion of God because of their negative opinion of us, God is not pleased. As seen in 2 Kings 1, it is a serious offense to God to ridicule His prophets. God’s holiness demands reverence. Thus, Elisha calls a curse upon these youths. Two bears appear out of the woods and maul forty-two of the mockers (v 24).

Prayer and Journaling

1.  Elisha treated Elijah as a spiritual father. Think of how God commands parents, children, and siblings to treat each other. Who are “spiritual family members” in your life (these may or may not include your physical family members)? Ask God to show you how He wants you to relate to these people.

2.  Elisha knew that a cost associated with being a prophet was not caring about his reputation in man’s eyes. Do you care more about what people think of you or what God thinks of you?  Talk to Jesus about this, asking Him to reveal truth to you. 

3.  The early church often referred to one another as brother, sister, father, mother, son and daughter. Pray that the Church today would grow in unity to become a family. Pray that believers across denominational lines would grow in loyalty and sacrifice for one another. Pray that mature believers would readily disciple younger believers and that younger believers would hunger for the wisdom of their more mature counterparts.

Foundations: 2 Kings - Day 2

Read: 2 Kings 1

Israel’s king, Ahab has just died. He is widely known as the most evil king in Israel’s history (1 Kings 16-22). Now his son, Ahaziah, is king of the Northern Kingdom. The writer uses the Moabite rebellion as a timestamp for this story of Ahaziah. We will read more about the rebellion itself in 2 Kings 3.  King Ahaziah has fallen and injured himself.  Wanting to determine the outcome of his injury, Ahaziah sends messengers to inquire of the Philistine god, Baal-Zebub. While this is happening, the angel of the Lord meets the prophet Elijah with a message: “Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? … You shall surely die” (v 3-4, NASB). Interestingly, Jesus using the name of this particular false god to refer to Satan, “the prince of demons” (Matthew 12:22-28, Beelzebub is the Greek form of Baal-Zebub). Through Elijah, God is rebuking Ahaziah for seeking prophecy through demonic powers rather than the True God, Yahweh.

Upon hearing this message, Ahaziah sends a delegation to meet Elijah. The text does not explicitly say that this is an unfriendly delegation. However, Elijah’s response indicates that the group was likely sent to punish the prophet, not commend him. Further, the king would not have sent a captain with fifty of his men with a positive message. This was an arrest warrant which was likely to prove difficult. The captain mocks Elijah, calling him, “man of God,” and commands Elijah to come down from the mountain. Elijah replies: If I am truly a representative of God, you must face the consequences for your actions. Elijah then calls down fire from heaven to consume the captain and his men. It is not a minor offense to mistreat the words of the Living God. This scene is then replayed as Ahaziah sends out a second delegation.

Finally, Ahaziah sends a third delegation to meet Elijah. This time, the captain takes a different approach. Instead of mocking Elijah, the captain begs for mercy. The captain heard what happened to his peers and fears the same fate awaits his own men. At this time, the angel of the Lord appears to Elijah. He promises Elijah safety and commands the prophet to go to the king. Elijah obeys and shares his prophetic message face-to-face with King Ahaziah. As God’s word in unfailing, the king dies of his ailments. Ahaziah’s brother, Joram then takes the throne of Israel.

Prayer and Journaling

1.  It is important that we revere the words of the Lord. When God speaks to you (promises, direction, correction, etc.), do you believe Him? Do you trust that God’s words will come into being?

2.  Elijah had faith that God would answer his prayers and bring down fire from heaven. What are you praying for in your life right now? Do you believe that God will respond to your prayers?

3.  Spend time praying for the area(s) you mentioned in the previous question. Ask God for direction in how to pray for this area and then pray what He shows you. Ask Him to grow your faith by giving you a greater trust in the things He speaks to you.

Foundations: 2 Kings - Day 1

Foundations:  The Book of 2 Kings

24 Day Devotional

2 Kings records the history of Israel and Judah. It reveals God’s amazing patience, faithfulness, and justice. In this book we read of godly kings and sinful ones. We read of the importance of leaving a legacy. We read of personal repentance and the eventual exiles of Israel and Judah.

2 Kings 17:7 (NIV)

“All of this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt” 

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Introduction

As its title suggests, 2 Kings is a continuation of 1 Kings. Thus, in order to fully grasp the events in 2 Kings, we must first review the events of 1 Kings. The book of 1 Kings begins with the death of David, King of Israel and man after God’s own heart. After a brief rebellion from David’s son, Adonijah, the kingdom is passed to Solomon. Solomon begins his reign humbly, asking God for wisdom. He continues on to build the Temple. Despite his early success, Solomon falls into sin by marrying multiple wives and following their false gods. After Solomon’s death, tragedy strikes. The nation is divided. The Southern Kingdom (Judah) follows Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. The Northern Kingdom (Israel) follows Jeroboam. The story continues by tracing the successive kings in both kingdoms. Some kings are good, making steps to lead their nations toward the true God. However, most kings are evil, establishing idol worship and moral depravity in their lands.

Even in the midst of their rebellion, God remains faithful to His people. He sends several prophets to urge the nations to repent. The most well-known of these prophets is Elijah, who dominates the latter portion of the 1 Kings narrative. God works miracles and displays His glory through Elijah. 1 Kings closes as Elijah passes on his prophetic role to Elisha, a key player in 2 Kings.

We see some consequences to sin in 1 Kings. God destroys the lineages of Kings Jeroboam, Baasha and Ahab. However, in 1 Kings, it is mostly the rulers who face consequences for their sins. They are judged before the general population because they chose to set the nation on the path of destruction. Their lives are also set as a warning to Israel: repent or you also will face the wrath of God. In 1 Kings, God remains patient with the people of Israel and Judah, delaying their judgment that all would have the opportunity to repent.

In 2 Kings, we will see the ministry of Elisha, the continued rebellion of leaders, the glimmers of hope in godly rulers and the eventual judgments of Israel and Judah.

Prayer and Journaling

1.  Looking over Israel’s history, we see moments of righteousness, but also a decline into greater and greater sin. Reflect on your life and your actions. Is the general tone of your story one that pursues God and His righteousness, or one that pursues sin and selfish desires? Repent as necessary. Ask God to meet with you through your study of 2 Kings. Ask Him to mould you into His image as you pursue Him.

2.  Pray for Israel today. A country’s political leadership has an immense capacity to influence the nation for good or evil. Pray that God would meet the current leaders of Israel and teach them the truth of their Messiah, Jesus. Pray that God would also prepare the next generation of government to lead the nation in following His ways. Pray that Israel’s leaders would be followers of Yahweh – Father, Son, and Spirit – so the nation might be led toward Him.