365 Reflections

2 Kings 4:8–10 (ESV) One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.” The woman at Shunem shows incredible hospitality to the prophet in a time when prophets were not in high regard. Elisha is so moved he feels the need to bless her to in some way repay her. 2 Kings 4:13–14 (ESV) And he said to (Gehazi), “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answer...

2 Kings 4 is a series of miracles Elisha performs for those in the service of the Lord. One after another, those who follow the Lord despite the nationalized paganism of Israel are saved and secured by the power of God active in the prophet's ministry. The first story is the salvation of a widowed mother in debt and about to starve. 2 Kings 4:1 (ESV) Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” Consider the facts of this woman's case. She is widowed. Her husband who served and feared the Lord died too soon. On top of this, she's in debt and her sons are about to be enslaved. Perhaps his service to the Lord in a faithless nation cost him dearly and now his sudden death lays heavy on his family. Perhaps he was wreckless with money or perhaps he was one of those staving prophets hidden by Obadiah in E...

2 Kings 3 turns back from attention to the prophets to attention to the kings of Israel and Judah. The Northern kingdom of Israel suddenly loses tribute from Moab and a battle is called by the son of Ahab, Jehoram. However, Jehoram is unsure of his ability to win so he enlists the help of Judah and King Jehoshaphat as his father Ahab had done years earlier. As they make their way to the battle, they encounter a serious problem of no water for their troops. 2 Kings 3:9–10 (ESV) So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. 10 Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” The king of Israel here represents the typical half-hearted believer. The moment trouble strikes they immediately blame the Lord for their problems. Jehoshaphat functions as both the voice of rea...

No matter what you do, no matter how careful you are, no matter how much you seek to honor the Lord, some people will just not like you. Such is the case for Elisha, fresh off the healing of the Waters of Jericho he comes to Bethel. He is retracing the steps he took with Elijah before the ascension. What was wonderful ministry and impact in one city becomes a place of disparagement in the next. That is how it can be at times: 2 Kings 2:23–25 (ESV) He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”  What you have here is a group of worthless sons who see no value in the prophet or those older than they. They pick out his appearance and vent their disrespect. Scripture identifies them as scoffers. Psalm 1:1 (ESV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers ; Our wo...

The Church is an intergenerational movement built on the leading fathers and mothers investing in and believing in the sons and daughters of successive leaders. Yet one of the great obstacles of many future leaders is their own lack of confidence once the torch has been passed. It's very hard to start in ministry. You go in a moment from being brothers and sisters with the flock of God to being their shepherd and spiritual parent. This hurdle keeps many great leaders from reaching their potential. Yet Elisha wonderfully exhibits the pathway forward by taking the mantle from Elijah and using his God-given authority to serve the needs of those Elijah left in his care. First, after the departure of Elijah, Elisha takes the cloak that fell from Elijah and performs a repeat of Elijah's last miracle: 2 Kings 2:13–14 (ESV) And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fal...

2 Kings 2:1–2 (ESV) Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. What impresses me about Elisha is his earnest desire to have the same spirit and kind of ministry as Elijah. We know from our position in human history that Elijah is beloved and respected around the world. But in HIS day, Elijah was vilified, hated and seemed in many ways to fail on the stage of human affairs.  Yes, Elijah did stop the heaves from raining through his prayers and yes he did call down fire from heaven. But his ministry was still disregarded by many as Israel grew more apostate and her kings led the way. So it is incredible how much desire there is in Elisha to have the same ministry and spirit as Elijah. Even Elijah...

The book of 2 Kings opens with a familiar refrain. The kings of Israel are refusing to listen to the voice of the Lord through His chosen prophets. Now the name "Kings" is really ironic because the kings are not great at all. It is the prophets, those who speak for the Lord that carry Israel along through these tumultuous times. The book begins with King Ahaziah, the son of the wicked King Ahab having an accident and seeking the god of "Baal" for notice on whether he would recover. At this time the word of the Lord comes to Elijah: 2 Kings 1:3–4 (ESV) But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? 4 Now therefore thus says the LORD, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah went. When Ahaziah hears that Elijah h...

Having heard the truth from the prophet Micaiah about his demise, Ahab is still certain that victory awaits in his quest to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead. He won't make it back alive. The scriptures record how Ahab meets his demise in spite of his best efforts to manipulate events to ensure his own safety. 1 Kings 22:29–33 (ESV) So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they tu...

In 1 Kings 22, three years have gone by after Ben-Hadad was spared by Ahab because he promised to return the land he had taken. Three years later and Ben-Hadad has not come through on his promise. Now Ahab grows weary of waiting and seeks both help from Jehosaphat, king of Judah and the council of his prophets as to whether or not he should make war to regain Ramoth-Gilead. 1 Kings 22:5–6 (ESV) And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the LORD.” 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-Gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” Jehoshaphat is ready to help but he wants to hear from the Lord first. Ahab calls his own prophets who seek to please him and they assure him of total victory. Jehoshaphat is not impressed. He wants to know if there's a prophet of the Lord. Ahab's response i...