Category: 2 Kings

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

It is instructive to place these four miracles beside those of Jesus. Jesus’ first was with the water pots at the wedding at Cana. He fed the 5,000. He raised Lazarus to life. Remember that Biblical miracles cluster mainly around Moses, Elijah & Elisha, and Jesus. Their history and doings testify that Jesus is not some accidental figure of history, but God’s own Christ and prophet.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in Your law, who seek You with their whole heart, who do no wrong and walk in Your ways.

“So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.”

We read of a number of miracles in this passage, including this of the first-fruits (barley loaves and fresh grain) – Which mirrors that of the loaves and the fishes in the new testament!

We see that Elisha has been given significant spiritual power by God, a conduit for God’s power to work miracles.

Moses, Elijah and Elisha – These are prophets who did many wondrous things while on earth, and they point us to Jesus.

Jesus was a prophet like no other – And more, He is our great High Priest, our mighty King!

It is a wonderful assurance for us that we believe in a saviour who is not only lord of the earthly realities, but also the spiritual ones.

We believe in a king who conquered death itself and has dealt with sin, bringing us from death into a glorious life!

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* Dear Lord God,

Thank You for these stories of Your working through Elisha.

Thank You that we see Jesus writ clear.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This history reveals the decay, the entropy at work in human society, which is the result of sin. When a strong leader dies, everything can fall apart. Jehoshaphat gets involved because he allied his family with Ahab’s. Godly people are capable of great foolishness. Joram heard Elisha, saw what happened, and yet did not come to believe.

SJA Notes

* Lord God Above, You are good, Your steadfast love endures forever. In our distress we call on You, and You answer us and set us free.

“This is a light thing in the sight of the LORD.”

Here is a good reminder of the limitations we often place on our prayers.

We can fall into the habit of only seeking God for little things, which is important, but then ignoring the bigger things.

We can get used to throwing our worries at God like He is a fire and our cares are sticks and He will burn them up without anything from us.

We can forget about our sin, and only bring our wants.

We can stop being thankful, and grow more selfish.

This passage is a strong reminder of who it is we pray too.

The LORD, the GOD of Hosts, the KING of kings, the LORD of lords – Creator, Sustainer, Life-Giver!

We can be encouraged here to ask God for what is harder-won, spiritual blessings, a growing understanding of the heavenly realities.

A heart of thankfulness for what God has done, is doing and has promised will be done.

For the salvation of our friends and family, that they might come to know Jesus as Lord!

To wrestle with what it means to cast our cares on Him – To listen for the still, small voice that shows us the way through.

* Father God,

Thank You for saving us, Lord God.

Please save those around us.

For the lost and lonely, the frail and sick, the proud and worldly, the extremes and the in-betweens – Please save them Lord!

Thank You for Your work as Father, Son and Spirit.

Please grow within us a heart for the lost.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Elisha is confirmed as the prophet to succeed Elijah by the presence of miracles. God is with Elisha as He was with Elijah. Elijah and Elisha’s talk reveals that death for Elijah was not the cessation of life but today being with Him in paradise. Resurrection hope is not just a New Testament hope or belief.

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, great is Your steadfast love toward us, Your faithfulness endures forever – Praise You, the Lord!

“And Elijah went upon by a whirlwind into heaven.”

Here is the miraculous passing from this world to the next of Elijah.

Of mortal man there are only two recorded people who did not bodily die, and Elijah is one of them (the other is Enoch, see Genesis ch 5).

Why is this important for us?

What happened here?

Elijah went to be with the Lord!

That very day he met with Jesus in glory.

We know that Elijah was one of the two who appeared on the mount of transfiguration with Jesus (Matthew 17).

How good it is that in the salvation Jesus won we are able to meet with Him!

That through the Holy Spirit we are able to meet with God at any time!

Casting our cares on Him, delivering over our worries, giving Him praise and thanks and the honour that is due His Name.

* Gracious God,

You alone are holy, and You alone are true.

Thank You that even though we were Your enemies – Still You meet with us in the person of the Son, our Saviour, Jesus.

Thank You Lord!

Please forgive us this day, wash us clean from our sin – refresh us to sing Your praised.

Amen.