Day #184

Sermon - Audio
2 Kings 1-4 - Audio
2 Kings 1-4 - Reading

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Apr 5: 2 Kings 1-4 (Much of today’s commentary comes from the work of Professor John Stek who taught at Calvin Seminary.)

2 Kings 1.1-18

Elijah has his last confrontation of his prophetic ministry with Ahaziah, Ahab’s son. Ahaziah is ill and sends his people to the god of another country to find out if he will survive. Elijah steps in and deliver’s Yahweh’s message. Ahaziah is determined to silence this bothersome prophet once and for all. He sends armed men to arrest him. As on Mt. Carmel, Yahweh shows his power by fire and the troops are burned. Only when there is humble submission is there safety.

2 Kings 2.1-25

The end of Elijah’s 20 year ministry comes to an end. As it comes to an end it is filled with symbolism. The prophet who has presented a powerful challenge to the evil reign of Ahab and Jezebel journeys from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to Jordan--reversing the path the people took when they entered the promised land. Like the people of Israel Elijah crosses the Jordan on dry ground. Elisha’s cry of the “chariots and horseman of Israel” proclaim that Elijah had been the true leader of Israel.

Elijah, thus, dies as Moses did--on the other side of the Jordan. His leadership, like the of Moses, is confirmed by a watery ordeal, and the fact that his body cannot be found also reflects the death of Moses. Elijah is the second Moses.

Like Moses, Elijah has a Joshua. His name is Elisha. (Joshua means “a savior”; Elisha means “salvation of God”). That Elisha is the new Joshua is confirmed by his seeing Elijah leaving in the fiery chariot, Elijah’s mantle being given to him and his crossing the Jordan on dry ground. He is also given a double portion of Elijah’s spirit which is the inheritance of the firstborn.

Elisha’ ministry will be one of salvation and judgment. We see it immediately as the sons of the prophets receive water and mocking youths are judged and die.

2 Kings 3.1-27

Jehoram seems to have learned a bit from his father and brother: he has gotten rid of Baal, but he has kept the cult that Jereboam had put in place in Dan and Bethel.

With a new king on the throne Moab rebels (as often happened when a new king came to rule). Jehoshaphat, not learning much from his poor alliance with Ahab, joins Jehoram in a battle against Moab. God brings victory when it looks like all is lost.

The last verses of this chapter are simply unclear. Whatever happened it caused the attacking armies to withdraw.

This chapter serves as a transition to the account of the ministry of Elisha.

2 Kings 4

2 King 4.1-8.15 give us an account of the ministry of Elisha. His ministry is filled with miracles that remind us of some of what Elijah did but even more of what Jesus will do. Another interesting piece is that Elisha is shown to have a double portion of Elijah’s spirit by the fact he does exactly twice as many miracles as Elijah (his last miracle will happen after he is dead! 1 Kings 13.20-21).

Throughout 2 Kings 4-8.15 we find that this is Elisha’s story. The name of the king is never mentioned. The miracles that are done are done for the godly remnant in Israel--a series of miracles such as Israel would not experience again until the coming kingdom of God and Jesus, the last great Joshua. Jesus’ story like Elisha’s is the story of a nation delivered by a prophet rather than a king, a story of blessings on Gentiles rather than on Israel (see Naaman’s story).

Of Elisha it will be said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horseman”. In an interesting twist we see that Jesus is the new Elisha and John the Baptist is the new Elijah.