15. The Lost Axe Head (2 Kings 6:1-7)
1 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too limited for us. 2 Please let us go to the Jordan, and each of us take from there a beam, and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live.” So he said, “Go.” 3 Then one said, “Please be willing to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I shall go.” 4 So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.” 6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick, and threw it in there, and made the iron float. 7 And he said, “Take it up for yourself.” So he put out his hand and took it.
Introduction
Chapters 6 through 8 continue the story of the ministry of Elisha in the midst of times of national decay and turmoil. Chapter 6 falls into two main sections. First, it continues the record of the wondrous works of Elisha: (a) he made iron swim (vss. 1-7), (b) he discloses the secret counsels of the king of Syria to the king of Israel (vss. 8-12), and (c) he delivers himself out of the hands of those who were sent to apprehend him (vss. 13-23). Second, it records the besiege of Samaria by the Syrians and the terrible distress the city was reduced to (vss. 24-33). Its relief forms another of the wonders accomplished through the word of Elisha, an accomplishment recorded in the next chapter. Elisha is seen as a great blessing from God to both God’s people and to the nation.
As we continue in our study, we must remember that these historical accounts of Elisha and Israel are not only true, but being a part of God’s God-breathed record, they are also profitable for doctrine or teaching, for reproof or exposure, for correction or restoration, and for training in righteousness that God’s people may be fitted out, equipped for every good work (ministry) in a hurting world (2 Tim. 3:16-17). This means these stories illustrate eternal truths that are relevant for today or any time in history.
While God has varied the way He works in human history from one economy to another, certain spiritual principles never vary, but are eternal as they speak of God’s character, care, providence, and man’s need to walk in righteousness by faith in the love and provision of God. With that in view, let’s begin to examine the condition and the character of the school of the prophets who were growing in numbers in these apostate days through the ministry of Elisha.
The Condition and
Character of the Sons of the Prophets
First, let’s not miss the fact that this account stands in contrast with the story of Gehazi. In contrast to the materialism, the unfaithfulness, and the hypocrisy of Gehazi, we are given a picture of a whole school of men who were faithful, sacrificial, and devoted to the spread of the Word of the God by working toward larger quarters to accommodate their growing numbers. Among God’s people, there are usually some Gehazi-like people, but we should never allow this to discourage us or cause us to become cynical, because if we will look around we can usually find those who are faithful. Our need, as the Lord exhorts us, is to pray to the Lord of the harvest to thrust these out into the fields (Luke 10:2). Or as in Elijah’s day--to get them out of the caves.
Second, we see that Elisha and the school of the prophets of God were growing. As in the ministry of our Lord and the disciples that followed him, the purpose of the ministry and miracles of both Elijah and Elisha was to authenticate the messenger as the one who was truly carrying the message of God. Though the miracles demonstrated God’s love for His people, the primary purpose was to demonstrate the futility of Baal and any way of life that departed from the Lord. God had warned them of this earlier in Deuteronomy with the promises of blessing for obedience and cursing for disobedience. Note what Samuel said in 1 Samuel 12:
20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And you must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile” (emphasis mine).
These were men who were hungry to know the Lord and be used of Him. I am reminded of what God did for Saul in the beginning of his ministry as king before he acted in self-willed rebellion. We read in 1 Samuel 10:26, “And Saul also went to his house at Gibeah; and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him.” In 1 Chronicles 12:22, we are told of the men who “day by day came to David to help him until there was a great army like the army of God.” Later, in verse 32, we read, “And of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with the knowledge of what Israel should do, . . .” Undoubtedly, these prophets were men whose hearts God had touched, but they were also men who had an understanding of what Israel needed and what they should do--become effective heralds of the Word.
The college here spoken of seems to be that at Gilgal, for there Elisha was (ch. 4:38), and it was near Jordan; and, probably, wherever Elisha resided as many as could of the sons of the prophets flocked to him for the advantage of his instructions, counsels, and prayers. Every one would covet to dwell with him and be near him. Those that would be teachers should lay out themselves to get the best advantages for learning.65
The school could just as well have been located at Jericho (see ch. 2:4f).
Third, we are told that the prophets told Elisha, “the place before you where we are living is too limited for us” (vs. 1). With growth we always experience growing pains, particularly the need for more space and resources to continue the growth of reaching, teaching, and building people in the Lord. Growth is always exciting and a desired commodity in ministry. It can be a sign of a spiritually-healthy church, but in our consumer-oriented society that so often depends on Madison Avenue tactics for growth, we must guard against evaluating success or the work of God by names, nickels, and noses.
The strength and value of any school or church is never its methods or it facilities or its nickels (financial resources) or names (who belongs to our church). What counts with the Lord is the message being proclaimed and the biblical change taking place in the character of the people as measured by the Word of God, our index for faith and practice. Bill Hull writes:
The all-too-common measure of greatness is the number of people gathered for worship. If 3,000 people gather, some may make the snap judgment “this is a great church.” Measuring greatness this way has two important flaws. First, numbers themselves do not indicate greatness. Large groups can gather for any number of events, such as lynchings, mob riots, or Tupperware parties. The more accurate observation concerning a large church gathering might be “the number of people gathered here indicates that those leading the church--pastor and the music leader--must be highly talented.” That would be a good and generally true judgment.
The second flaw of such a superficial measure is that you have asked the wrong question. “How many people are present?” The right question is “What are these people like?” What kind of families do they have, are they honest in business, are they trained to witness, do they know the Bible, are they penetrating their workplaces, their neighborhoods, reaching friends and associates for Christ? . . . 66
Fourth, their approach to solving their problem of space shows us a lot about the character of these men, which also speaks highly of the quality and nature of their training. Though without much by way of financial resources (the lost axe head had to be borrowed), they were industrious and hard working. Their lack of resources did not stop them. Each man was willing to do his part to help meet the need. Yet they undoubtedly were ultimately resting in the resources God would supply. “It is not seeing the difficulties that prevents action, but failing to see the resources.”67 They weren’t expecting someone else to do it for them. Further, their humility is seen in that what they were seeking to build was rather simple and rustic. They weren’t expecting or thinking they needed a marble palace. They simply wanted facilities that would meet their needs. “When they wanted room they did not speak of sending for cedars, and marble stones, and curious artificers, but only of getting every man a beam, to run up a plain hut or cottage with.”68
Once upon a time there were four men named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. But Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it. But Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about it, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, and Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody and Nobody did the job that Anybody could have done in the first place. (anonymous)
Fifth, in their request for Elisha’s presence to accompany them, we see their wisdom and humility. Though they too were prophets, they realized their need of the wisdom and support of their mentor and teacher.
Finally, in the consternation of the man over the loss of his axe head, we see a refreshing picture of honesty, respect for the property of others, and trustworthiness. The lost axe head could have been ignored or blamed on chance or covered up in some way, but the words of the prophet, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed,” not only show his deep concern, but it demonstrates his integrity.
I have seen highly gifted young people, some who were in training preparing for the ministry, either lose or break equipment that had been borrowed (and without permission I might add) and never even mention it or offer to replace it. Giftedness can never replace integrity, for spiritual character is what is needed to authenticate our message. It shows that the message has impacted the messenger.
Note, we ought to be as careful of that which is borrowed as of that which is our own, that it receives no damage, because we must love our neighbour as ourselves and do as we would be done by. It is likely this prophet was poor, and had not wherewithal to pay for the axe, which made the loss of it so much the greater trouble. To those that have an honest mind the sorest grievance of poverty is not so much their own want or disgrace as their being by it rendered unable to pay their just debts.69
The Concern
and Character of Elisha
Not only did Elisha give his permission for the project, but he was also willing to accompany them in order to lend his support and encouragement. It was an opportunity for on-the-job training and an opportunity to study these men in their work. It would aid his own ability to minister more effectively to his students. Pastors and teachers alike need opportunities to get to know their flock and to let their flock know them.
Not only did Elisha show interest and concern for the project as a whole, but he demonstrated his involvement even in the smallest of matters as in the loss of the axe head. Of course this incident was no small matter to the man who lost it, but in the final analysis it was a small thing. Rather than write it off as trivial, he reached out to this simple need. When Elisha stepped forward, inquired concerning the place where the axe head went into the water, and made the iron swim with the stick he cut, he was giving this entire school of prophets a wonderful illustration of the sovereign care and providence of God.
God is interested and cares about even the small and trivial incidents in our lives. He tells us to pray about everything and to cast all our cares on Him. Why? Because Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5:7, “He cares for us.” This statement is given as part of the reason and motivation for submitting ourselves under God’s providential hand by casting all our cares, every single one on the Lord.
We might note two things about this statement as it is given in 1 Peter. First, the verb, “cares,” is in the present continuous tense, which here undoubtedly looks at a general truth about God. It reminds us that God always and constantly cares about us. It serves to remind us of God’s unchanging faithfulness and love. Life changes and seems terribly fickle, but God’s care is steadfast and unfailing. Indeed, it is new every morning (Lam. 3:21-23). Second, the Greek text is a little more emphatic than the English translation. Literally, the Greek text says, “for to Him, it is a care concerning you.” This not only says that He cares for us as His children, but that the whole of our care, which He wants us to cast on Him, is very much His personal concern.
The idea is simply this: “Anxiety is a self-contradiction to true humility. Unbelief is, in a sense, an exalting of self against God in that one is depending upon self and failing to trust God. Why worry therefore, if we are His concern? He is more concerned about our welfare than we could possibly be.”70 Furthermore, He is infinitely more capable of caring for us than we are for ourselves.
Matthew 6:25-34 For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. 30 But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? 31 Do not be anxious then, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “With what shall we clothe ourselves?” 32 For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
In this passage the Lord Jesus used basically the same argument to counter anxiety and wrong priorities because of our proneness to anxiety and self-trust. There Jesus reminds us that if God so looks after the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, how much more will He not care for us as our Heavenly Father. The issue then is to put first things first, to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, to rest in His loving care, and not worry about tomorrow. That’s in God hands--even an axe head.
The miracle of the axe head illustrates how God uses our everyday circumstances to teach us about Himself and His providential purpose to work all things for our growth if we will only trust Him, and in that trust, have the vision to see Him at work.
Conclusion
Though the lessons are many, the primary lesson in the lost axe head that was made to float is its message concerning God’s relationship to us, especially as His people in the minutia or the small things of life. May I suggest three things for us to ponder about this primary lesson.
(1) God knows us intimately. No detail of our lives, no matter how small, escapes his loving and omniscient eyes. This is clear from Psalm 139. But this is not just a matter of information. It is a matter of an intimate knowing that stems from an intimate and personal love that has promised to never leave nor to forsake us.
(2) He cares about us. No matter what we may be facing, not only does He know it, but He cares and wants to use it to draw us to Himself, build our faith, and change our lives. The problem is, too often we only want God the Rewarder and not God the Reward; we want a solution, not a Savior or His solution. We must never divorce the responsibility of casting our cares on Him and the promise that He cares for us from the preceding verse, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God . . .”
“Humble yourselves” is not perhaps the best translation of the Greek text. Though this is a command and points to our responsibility to obey and respond, the verb in the Greek text is in the passive voice and would be better understood as “be humbled” or “allow yourselves to be humbled.” It is somewhat equivalent to “submit yourself to the humbling process of God.” But what exactly does it mean to allow yourself to be humbled?
Remember that God wants to bring us to the place of humility, which is the place of God dependence rather than arrogant independence where we seek to run our own lives. Dependence on the Lord honors God because it recognizes our need of Him and His authority, His sovereignty, and His right to direct our lives. Further, dependence is the place of blessing and fruitfulness; it is the branch depending on the Vine.
Suffering is one of the key subjects of 1 Peter. The word suffer or the concept of suffering occurs over 15 times in this book. Peter sees suffering or the trials and irritations of life as one of the necessary elements of life. Why is this?
Well, what does suffering do? As a loving Father, God uses suffering or the experience of the tests and trials as tools to get our attention and to cause us to grow. This is designed to turn us from depending on our human strategies to living by faith in Him. It forces our faith to the surface, puts it to work, and purifies us from a life of dependence on ourselves and our solutions by which we seek happiness as in possessing the details of life (cf. 1:6-9, 13-16, 17-21).
Trials, afflictions, and irritations are all designed by God to help us see our weakness and the insufficiency of our strategies that we might respond to God’s greatness!
On a visit to the Beethoven Museum in Bonn, a young American student became fascinated by the piano on which Beethoven had composed some of his greatest works. She asked the museum guard if she might play a few bars on it. To help persuade the guard, she also slipped him a lavish tip. The guard agreed and the girl went to the piano and tinkled out the opening of the Moonlight Sonata. As she was leaving she said to the guard, “I suppose all the great pianists who come here want to play on that piano.”
The guard shook his head and said, “Paderewski [the famed Polish pianist] was here a few years ago, and he said he wasn’t worthy to touch it.”
That young woman wanted the chance to play the piano that Beethoven had played, but what she got was a valuable lesson in humility. What is humility? Humility is a fitting response to greatness. That applies not only to how people respond to the likes of a unique person like Beethoven, but to how all of us should respond to God.
(3) He is gracious. In the miracle of the axe head, we are reminded again of how God is not only able to do super abundantly above all we are able to ask or think no matter how small or how large the problem, but He is available in His loving care to reach out to us in our need. This is not to suggest that He always will remove the problem or the pain, but it does stress that He is with us through the problem to comfort and give us strength to bear it.
There is a secondary, but still an important lesson to be learned in this story. It shows us the divine approval and value for God’s people to work hard and do things for themselves when they can. We always need to work in the strength which He supplies, but we must put our hands to axe and even reach into the water to pull out the floating axe head when God does work above the natural order of creation.
65 Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible, electronic version, Logos Research Systems.
66 Bill Hull, The Disciple Making Pastor, Fleming H. Revell, Old Tappan, NJ, 1988, pp. 12-13.
67 John White, Excellence in Leadership, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, 1986, p. 47,
70 Kenneth Wuest, 1 Peter in the Greek New Testament, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1942, p. 129.
Related Topics: Prophecy/Revelation, Character Study
16. Surrounded by the Enemy (2 Kings 6:8-23)
Introduction
This section calls our attention to the hostilities that Israel was experiencing with the king of Aram (Syria). The principle source of these hostilities continued in the form of invading bands or plundering parties who would make border raids against the Jews (cf. 6:23) rather than an invasion of an organized Syrian army as mentioned in 6:24.
Elisha Defeats the Plans of the Syrians
(6:8-14)
8 Now the king of Aram was warring against Israel; and he counseled with his servants saying, “In such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 And the man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God had told him; thus he warned him, so that he guarded himself there, more than once or twice. 11 Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 And he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
Each time the Syrians would make a raid into Israel their plans were spoiled through the revelation given by God to Elisha. Elisha would inform the king of Israel who would then take precautions against their invasions. This naturally enraged the heart of the king of Aram (Syria) who first thought that he had an informer among his troops (vs. 11). He was then told of Elisha’s ability as a prophet of Israel to know of the king’s plans, even while he spoke of them in secret (vs. 12).
Obviously, the king of Aram knew that if his plans were to be successful, he would have to do away with Elisha. This meant the prophet became the object of his attack. The king inquired of Elisha’s location, who was at that time staying in Dothan. Upon learning of this, he immediately sent an entire army to surround the city and take the prophet with the obvious intention of putting him to death.
What can we learn from this by way of application?
(1) In this scenario we have an illustration of how Satan, through his various avenues and strategies, is ever seeking ways to attack the people of God as a whole, but especially His teachers of the Word by which they are able to warn and see people (both believers and unbelievers) delivered from Satan’s attacks and plans (Eph. 2:1f; 6:10f; 2 Cor. 2:11; 2 Tim. 2:23-26; 1 Pet. 5:8).
(2) This story also gives us a good illustration of the omniscience of God Who knows the plans of the enemy and Who has provided special revelation for us that we might be informed to protect ourselves from Satan’s attacks through the full armor that comes to us in Christ (Eph. 6:10-18).
(3) If, when we are warned, we do not appropriate God’s provision and armor against Satan’s devices, we have no one to blame but ourselves. Unfortunately, though the king of Israel was quick to listen to the warnings regarding the physical attacks of the Syrians, he was slow to heed the warnings of Elisha regarding his sin and refusal to truly follow the Lord. But is this not typical? People are often ready to heed the counsel of medical doctors in reference to problems of health, but slow to listen the counsel of the Word of God.
Elisha Ministers to His Attendant
(6:15-17)
15 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Of course, God’s people need two things if they are going to appropriate God’s resources against the enemy and experience God’s deliverance. They need insight or illumination, eyes to see the mighty power and provision of God, but they must also believe God and put on their God-given armor that they might take a stand against Satan and his forces. In verses 15-23 we have an illustration of both.
In verse 15, Elisha’s attendant went out seemingly oblivious to both the fact of the enemy and of God’s provision. Like for a lot of Christians, the new day simply meant business as usual. He was going to take care of his chores and had no mind or concern for the spiritual battle around him, which meant he was also completely unprepared for what he faced.
As Christians, we can be the same way. Too often we don’t take our spiritual warfare seriously. We act as though Satan and his kingdom were asleep or posed no problem to us. We go out unprepared spiritually. Consequently, when faced with some form of spiritual warfare, like Elisha’s attendant was, our response is consternation, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” At least the attendant had the good sense to seek the counsel of the prophet, which is more than we can say for a lot of believers who often turn to the world for their advice (cf. Ps. 1). How quick we are to listen to the advice of the world rather than to meditate on the Word.
By contrast, we see Elisha who surely already knew of the surrounding armies. This was no surprise to him, but more importantly, he was focused on God’s surrounding armies who were greater in strength and numbers. By Elisha’s time, the Psalms of David had been written, and whether he had them available or not, certainly he was thinking of the truth of Psalm 27:1-3 and 3:6.
Psalm 27:1-3. The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.
Psalm 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me round about.
In all of this, Elisha was calm, relaxed, and confident, not in himself, of course, but in His God. He not only saw the problem, but he saw the solution and knew the God of the solution. Like Hezekiah who would later face the armies of Assyria, Elisha sought to convey the same truth that Hezekiah communicated to his people in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8.
“Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor because of all the multitude which is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. 8 With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
In verses 16-17 we learn about the three ways Elisha dealt with his servant’s fear: (a) by a demonstration of personal concern through a word of encouragement, “Do not fear,” (b) by biblical instruction designed to give a reason why he should not fear, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them,” and (c) by prayer for the servant’s illumination, “Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’”
Wow! The lessons here are so practical and powerful. How can we minister to the fears of people? Just like this! We need to show personal concern and involvement, provide biblical instruction, and go to the Lord in personal dependence on Him to illuminate them to His resources and sufficiency, for unless the Lord prospers our ministry, our work is futile (cf. 1 Cor. 3:7).
Our tendency, however, is to neglect one or the other of these important ingredients. Either we are impersonal and cold in our teaching and relationships with people, or we are warm and personable, but we fail to communicate God’s truth, or because we are trusting in our personality or skill as a teacher, we fail to pray. We so need to grasp the balance here. God uses people, God uses His Word, but even though God often uses His Word because it is alive and powerful in spite of us, it is prayer that gives power to our personal love and teaching. This is dramatically seen in the life of Paul. Just compare the prayers of Paul in Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:16-21; Philippians 1:9-11 and Colossians 1:9-12.
Elisha is Delivered From the Syrians
(6:18-23)
18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria. 20 And it came about when they had come into Samaria, that Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” 22 And he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.
Though the king of Syria had sent a huge force of horses, chariots, and a large army of men to apprehend one prophet, thinking there was no way Elisha could escape, Elisha knew that all the forces of this king were merely the arm of the flesh and no match for the power of God. So Elisha prayed and asked the Lord to strike his opponents with blindness so that they might not see (or perhaps recognize) the prophet. This prayer was miraculously answered and Elisha led them into the city of Samaria and into the hands of the king of Israel where they were at his mercy. Quoting James Gray, Irving Jensen remarks,
Elisha’s words of verse 19 are not an untruth, as “his real residence was Samaria; and in the end he led them to himself, not to harm them, but to repay evil with good.”71
Below are Matthew Henry’s second and third comments on this passage:
2. When they were thus bewildered and confounded he led them to Samaria (v. 19), promising that he would show them the man whom they sought, and he did so. He did not lie to them when he told them, This is not the way, nor is this the city where Elisha is; for he had now come out of the city; and if they would see him, they must go to another city to which he would direct them. Those that fight against God and his prophets deceive themselves, and are justly given up to delusions.
3. When he had brought them to Samaria he prayed to God so to open their eyes and restore them their memories that they might see where they were (v. 20), and behold, to their great terror, they were in the midst of Samaria, where, it is probable, there was a standing force sufficient to cut them all off, or make them prisoners of war. Satan, the god of this world, blinds men’s eyes, and so deludes them into their own ruin; but, when God enlightens their eyes, they then see themselves in the midst of their enemies, captives to Satan and in danger of hell, though before they thought their condition good. The enemies of God and his church, when they fancy themselves ready to triumph, will find themselves conquered and triumphed over.72
Elisha, whose ministry so often portrays and parallels that of the Lord, brought Syria into this predicament not to kill them, but to communicate by bold demonstration the power, wisdom, and mercy of the God of Israel. What Elisha did demonstrated what he could have done--caused their destruction. But by his acts of a mercy and abundant provision he sought to convince, convict, and even shame them, but not kill them (vss. 22-23).
The king of Israel seemed frustrated and uncertain of what to do and thought only of their destruction as a means of removing them as a menace (cf. vs. 21), but the prophet commanded the opposite--provision and release. The effect of this was an end to the marauding bands of the Arameans, though later Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria) would lay siege to Samaria (vss. 24f). Evidently, in view of the siege that later followed, this had little effect on Ben-hadad, but the immediate cessation of the marauding bands suggest this had some impact on some of the people of Syria. It may well illustrate the truth of 2 Corinthians 2:14-17.
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? 17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.
Elisha’s triumph here was designed to manifest the sweet aroma of God’s love as a fragrance. For some it undoubtedly led to life through the witness of the power and truth that the God of Israel was the true God. But in others, it was a fragrance that led only to their eventual death as they left in the same unbelief in which they arrived. Certainly, in Elisha’s actions, we see one who honestly communicated God’s grace. He sought neither vengeance nor praise nor reward.
Conclusion
This story reminds us that when believers are serving the Lord, especially when training others in the Word and how to teach the Word, Satan will do his best to thwart their efforts. Elisha was the head of a growing and successful school of theology. Further, he was serving his country and God’s people by the exercise of his gifts in demonstrating the power and reality of the God of Israel. This was having a powerful effect against the plans of Satan who was seeking to promote Baalism.
In this story we again see how Satan uses human instruments and all kinds of methods to do whatever it takes to nullify the ministry of believers. But the power of God is always greater. In fact, he often uses these very situations to manifest that power in order to draw men to himself.
We understand the following story was reported by a medical missionary at his home church in Michigan. We aren’t sure from whom this story originated so we are unable to give credit, but it beautifully illustrates our point:
While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, I traveled every two weeks by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This required camping overnight half way. On one of these trips, I saw two men fighting in the city. One was seriously injured, so I treated him and witnessed to him of the Lord Jesus Christ. I then returned home without incident.
Upon arriving in the city several weeks later, I was approached by the man I had treated earlier. He told me he had known that I carried money and medicine. He said, “Some friends and I followed you into the jungle knowing you would camp overnight. We waited for you to go to sleep and planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. Just as we were about to move into your campsite, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.”
I laughed at this and said I was certainly all alone out in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, “No, sir, I was not the only one to see the guards. My Jave friends also saw them and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.”
At this point in the church presentation in Michigan, one of the men in the church jumped up and interrupted the missionary, and asked, “Can you tell me the exact date when this happened?” The missionary thought for a while and recalled the date. The man in the congregation told this side of the story:
“On that night in Africa it was morning here. I was preparing to play golf. As I put my bag in the car, I felt the Lord leading me to pray for you. In fact, the urging was so strong that I called the men of this church together to pray for you. Will all of those men who met with me that day please stand?”
The men who had met that day to pray together stood--there were 26 of them!
The response of the servant to the hosts of Syria shows us how fear can paralyze us. Fear can keep us from serving the Lord, it can keep us from enjoying God’s blessing and power, or it can keep us from moving ahead with a project by giving up or running away.
It is also important that we see the cause of the servant’s fear. Was it because he saw too much? No! It was because he saw too little. He only had eyes to see the problem or the danger. Seeing the problems or the dangers is not wrong. It is wise for it shows us our need and inadequacy. The real problem was what he did not see--the hosts of God and God’s divine presence which always surrounds us like a wall or a shelter in every time of storm.
Finally, this story teaches us the need of patience and prayer. When the servant came back to Elisha, fearful over the enemy that had surrounded them, Elisha was patient and loving. He did not respond with, “You dummy, don’t you see the hosts of God? Man, get your eyes on the Lord! Trust God!” Instead, he encouraged and instructed him. He knew the servant needed spiritual illumination and understanding before he could stand fearlessly in faith.
In closing, let’s look at some principles related to God’s providence and protection, promises, and the principles of Scripture that we can believe and claim.
(1) We need to remember the truth and principle of God’s presence, providence, and provision of angels who act as ministers to believers (see Ps. 91:1-11; Heb. 1:14; 13:5-6).
(2) No problem or danger can touch us without the divine approval and sanction of God. For His own purposes He does allow suffering and difficulties beyond our understanding, but this is always in accord with His eternal and wise will.
As an illustration, we might remember Joseph who was sold into slavery by his own brothers. The only other mention of Dothan is in Genesis 37:17. In search of his brothers Joseph followed them to Dothan where they plotted against him, captured him, and sold him into slavery. We might ask, “Where were the chariots of fire then or the hosts of the Lord?” They were there, but God’s purposes for Joseph were different. There is as much if not more evidence for the hand of God on the life of Joseph through all that followed than for Elisha, yet God never appeared to Joseph and never performed special miracles through him. Rather, He allowed him to be sold into slavery, a condition in that day that could be worse than death. But Joseph had eyes of faith and, regardless of his conditions, he knew he was in the hand of God. Note Joseph’s response in Genesis 50:19-21 when finally, years later, his brothers stood fearfully before him.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Another illustration can be seen in the life of Job:
Job 1:10-12. “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.
(3) Even though Job was wealthy, healthy, and seemingly secure, his life was struck with extreme disasters. It is really not a matter of the degree of the danger one faces. Why? Because without the protection of God, Satan would move immediately to snuff out your life and mine no matter how apparently safe we may think we are--whether driving a car or riding a motorcycle or flying a plane or walking with both feet firmly planted on mother earth. Just a small earthquake can demonstrate that fact.
Psalm 68:19-20 are two precious verses to me. In fact, I remembered these verses every time I mounted my Honda Interstate, which my wife and I rode over most of the western United States.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation.[Selah.] 20 God is to us a God of deliverances; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.
(4) This fact, however, does not mean we are free to tempt the Lord by presuming on His grace by acting carelessly or foolishly. We must act with caution and care in whatever we do. Therefore, I won’t step in front of a eighteen wheeler nor throw myself down from a tall building and expect God to deliver me. When I ride in a car, I will buckle up, not only because it’s the law, but because it is wise. When riding a motorcycle, I’ll wear a helmet, watch the other guy, and seek to drive safely. Our Lord was faced with this very temptation by the Devil:
Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil took Him into the holy city; and he had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will give His angels charge concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, Lest You strike Your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Faith believes God’s promises, but it does not presume upon the Lord by not claiming His promises nor test the Lord by not taking normal precautions.
(5) God has promised to be with us, to give His angels charge over us. Yet, by God’s sovereign will and plan and for purposes of His own, He may allow disaster and suffering as He did with Joseph and Job and Peter and Paul. But such is never the result of the degree of danger, unless we test God by presuming upon Him by acting carelessly. Even then, God may choose to overrule.
What we need are eyes of faith to see and believe God for the fact of the dangers Satan and his hosts may bring against our lives. But we also need eyes of faith to believe God for the fact of His divine presence, sovereign and all-wise plan, and His omnipotent provision.
71 Irving L. Jensen, II Kings With Chronicles, A Self-Study Guide, Moody Press, p. 37 quoting James M. Gray, Chrisitan Workers’ Commentary, New York; Fleming H. Revell Co., p. 187.
72 Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible, electronic version, Logos Research Systems.
Related Topics: Character Study
17. Final Episodes in the Life of Elisha (2 Kings 6:24-7:20)
Samaria Under Siege by Syria
(6:24--7:2)
24 Now it came about after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. 26 And as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” 27 And he said, “If the LORD does not help you, from where shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?” 28 And the king said to her, “What is the matter with you?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ 29 “So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.” 30 And it came about when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes--now he was passing by on the wall--and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body. 31 Then he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today.”
32 Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man from his presence; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?” 33 And while he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him, and he said, “Behold, this evil is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”
7:1 Then Elisha said, “Listen to the word of the LORD; thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine four shall be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’” 2 And the royal officer on whose hand the king was leaning answered the man of God and said, “Behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” Then he said, “Behold you shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
The mention of the siege of Samaria in verse 24 stands in strong contrast to the peaceful conditions that had resulted from the ministry of Elisha. How much later, we are not told, but sometime later Ben-hadad besieged the city of Samaria. One of the messages of the prophets, and this was undoubtedly true of both Elijah and Elisha, was to remind Israel that God had promised blessing for obedience to His covenant with them, but cursing for disobedience. Certainly, the temporary lull brought about by the ministry of Elisha had been divinely designed to remind Israel of God’s steadfast love and ever present involvement with his people. God had sent and authenticated men like Elijah and Elisha by the miracles He performed through these men of God, but typically (especially in the northern kingdom) there was no evidence of repentance by Israel or her kings. So in keeping with His warning in Deuteronomy 28-30, God withdrew his protective hand. As a consequence Israel faced a full-scale Aramean (Syrian) invasion. The Arameans had been so successful they were able to penetrate the land of Israel and put the city of Samaria under siege.
The length and severity of the siege is seen in the extreme famine that led to such scarcity that a even a donkey’s head, on which there is very little meat, was sold for eighty shekels of silver (about two pounds of silver) and a fourth of a kab (an uncertain quantity) of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver (about two ounces). According to the Old Testament law, a donkey was an unclean animal and was not to be eaten under any conditions (see Lev. 11:2-7; Deut. 14:4-8), but the famine was so bad that they not only ignored the laws of uncleanness, but the least edible part of a donkey became very costly. The dove’s dung probably refers to small grain, hence, the NIV has, “a quarter of a kab of seed pods for five shekels,” though in the margin it reads, “dove’s dung.”
But matters grew even worse so that as the king was walking on the wall of the city, probably to inspect conditions, he came across a case of cannibalism. This obviously sickened his heart, but rather than repent of his own disobedience and failure to follow the Lord and accept the fact the famine was a judgment from God for Israel’s disobedience, he looked for scapegoat and not only blamed Elisha, but swore to see him put to death (vs. 31).
Instead of vowing to pull down the calves at Dan and Beth-el, or letting the law have its course against the prophets of Baal and of the groves, he swears the death of Elisha, v. 31.73
Why he blamed Elisha is not stated. Perhaps he thought Elisha should have prayed for a miracle as he had done in the past. Or perhaps he looked back and thought Elisha should have ordered the death of the Syrians when they had them within the walls of their city. The NIV Bible Commentary has this to say of verses 31-33.
Enraged and blaming Elisha for the whole affair, he dispatched a messenger to seize and behead Elisha. When he had come to himself, however, he ran after his messenger, hoping to stay his hand. By divine insight Elisha knew the details of the whole episode and instructed certain elders who were with him to bar the door of the house until Jehoram could overtake his executioners. When the king arrived, he was admitted into the house. Convinced that the Lord had pronounced the doom of the city, Jehoram had all but given up any hope of the Lord’s deliverance. Yet perhaps his realization that all that had transpired was from the Lord carried with it the faintest hope that God would yet miraculously intervene. The restraint of the messenger and the king’s words hint at the faint hope of divine consolation. Such comfort Elisha would proceed to give.74
That Elisha knew the king had changed his mind about his order for Elisha’s death is suggested by the fact Elisha had the elders hold the door against the messenger until the king arrived to revoke the order.
When the king arrived he not only admitted the famine was a judgment from the Lord, but he believed things were so helpless that there could be no solution other than to surrender to the Syrians. Elisha had undoubtedly told the king to repent and wait on the Lord for deliverance, but the king in his unbelief was ready to throw in the towel.
Regardless, the Lord reached out in His grace and mercy and revealed through Elisha that deliverance (the end of the famine and the inflation) would come miraculously on the very next day (7:1). But how could such a sudden deliverance take place? The king undoubtedly believed it for there was no comment from him and he certainly was no longer seeking to take Elisha’s life, but his first officer scoffed at Elisha’s promise just as men today scoff at the promises of the Word.
The aide’s words are filled with ridicule and heaped with sarcasm, as if to say, “Oh sure, The Lord is even now making windows in heaven! So what? Could this word of yours still come to pass?” Whether the aide thought of the biblical phrase (Ge 7:11) or of the heavenly windows of the Baal fertility cult is uncertain. In any case he was skeptical of the whole thing.
The prophet assured Jehoram’s aide that not only would the prophecy come true, but the officer would see it with his own eyes. However, he would not eat any of it! His faithless incredulity would cause him to miss God’s blessing on the people.75
In this scenario, the king despaired and his first officer mocked. Things seem totally impossible. But our extremities are God’s opportunities to demonstrate His power for His own purposes that we might learn He is able to do super abundantly above all we can ask or even think (Eph. 3:20). But consistently, the Lord acts for his people when they come to the end of themselves and find their strength is gone. (Deut. 32:36; 2 Cor. 12:9-10).
Finally, Elisha’s words to the royal officer poses a warning to all of us. He told the officer that though he would witness the miraculous provision, he would not be able to eat of it (see 7:17-18). When we fail to believe the promises of God, we fail to experience the blessings of God whether for salvation or in sanctification.
Hebrews 3:16-19 For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
The Restitution of
the Shunammite’s Land
(8:1-6)
1 Now Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go with your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn; for the LORD has called for a famine, and it shall even come on the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God, and she went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And it came about at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went out to appeal to the king for her house and for her field. 4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please relate to me all the great things that Elisha has done.” 5 And it came about, as he was relating to the king how he had restored to life the one who was dead, that behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealed to the king for her house and for her field. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 When the king asked the woman, she related it to him. So the king appointed for her a certain officer, saying, “Restore all that was hers and all the produce of the field from the day that she left the land even until now.”
In the previous chapter, the northern kingdom experienced a wonderful deliverance and example of the love and power of God, but how quickly they forgot and returned to their idolatrous ways. Here Elisha predicts another famine, which for Israel was a matter of divine judgment for their refusal to return to the Lord and walk with Him according to His Word. And certainly, many believe this is also true with the seeming rise in the number of catastrophic events our nation has been experiencing over the past twenty or so year. Some 15 years ago J. Vernon McGee wrote:
Frankly I believe that the different tragedies that have struck our land in recent years have been a warning to our nation. The earthquakes, hurricanes, storms, and other tragedies that have swept across our land have, I think, been warnings from God to stop and think and change our ways.76
Things haven’t gotten any better. The tragedies just seem to grow all across our land. But are we listening? No! We just want to blame these tragedies on things like global warming (which is probably a hoax promoted by special interest groups or people with certain political agendas) and on warm currents in the Pacific Ocean like El Nio.
With this prophetic revelation given to the Shunammite woman about the famine, we have another contrast in the narrative of the ministry of Elisha. The royal officer scoffed at the prophetic word of the prophet and failed to experience its blessing. But this godly woman of faith, representing the believing remnant in Israel, believed the prophetic word of the prophet and because she acted on her faith and obeyed and left the country, she was blessed and escaped the famine.
Just as Elisha had prophesied, at the end of seven years the famine came to an end and the woman returned to her home from the land of the Philistines. When she returned home, however, she found others were living on her land so she appealed to the king for her house and her field (vs. 3).
As a wonderful illustration of God’s providential care, the king had been talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, about the great things Elisha had done. And as God would have it in His sovereign care, just as “he was relating to the king how he had restored to life the one who was dead, that behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealed to the king for her house and for her field. And Gehazi said, ‘My lord, O king, this is the woman and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life’” (vs. 5). That we might clearly see the emphasis here on God’s sovereign care, the text has the word “behold,” a particle of interjection (the Hebrew, henneh) to arrest the attention, “behold, look, see.”
With the wonderful story of God’s resurrection power and loving care and the sudden appearance of this woman with her son, the king, on hearing of her need, immediately restored “all that was hers and all the produce of the field from the day that she left the land even until now” (vs. 6).
This story clearly illustrates the steadfast love and providential care of God for His people, especially those who walk with Him by faith. We must not conclude from this, however, that the Lord always warns us of famine and restores what we have lost. It simply declares God’s love, concern, power, and ability to do beyond all we can ask or think. Sometimes that means in another time and other ways. No place better expresses the issues here than the author of Hebrews in chapter eleven. Before recounting a long list of those who walked by faith, many of whom were tortured or died for their faith (11:35-40), he wrote:
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (NIV).
At the end of this long list, we read these words,
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect (NIV).
Think what would have happened if the Father had delivered His Son from the cross when He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Rather, He delivered His Son in a better time and in a better way through His glorious resurrection after He had successfully born our sin on the cross. Consequently,
Rom. 5:1-5 . . . having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Do you remember the story about how England was to receive news of the results of the Battle of Waterloo from a previous lesson? Men were stationed on the shores of Europe to flash a signal while men on the English side watched so they could pass the word. If Napoleon won there were to be two flashes; if Wellington won there would be three. Finally, during the night the signals came--first one, then a second, but before the third could be given, that famous fog settled across the channel. The English thought Wellington had been defeated, but at daybreak the truth of the matter was received--Napoleon had been defeated.
That’s the way life is. In this life we often seem defeated, our prayers seem unanswered and our work unrewarded, but God does care and is involved in all the details of our lives. For now, we may not be removed from the famine, have our property restored to us, or a spouse or child, but when the Morning Star arises, that is, when the Lord Jesus comes, He who ends the night and brings the light of day will show us He has answered in a better time and in a better way. It is then that the answer to our prayers will be seen and our work surely rewarded, but in a better time and in a better way.
Elisha Predicts the Treason of Hazael
(8:7-15)
7 Then Elisha came to Damascus. Now Ben-hadad king of Aram was sick, and it was told him, saying, “The man of God has come here.” 8 And the king said to Hazael, “Take a gift in your hand and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’” 9 So Hazael went to meet him and took a gift in his hand, even every kind of good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ loads; and he came and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’” 10 Then Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall surely recover,’ but the LORD has shown me that he will certainly die.” 11 And he fixed his gaze steadily on him until he was ashamed, and the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” Then he answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel: their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword, and their little ones you will dash in pieces, and their women with child you will rip up.” 13 Then Hazael said, “But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.” 14 So he departed from Elisha and returned to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would surely recover.” 15 And it came about on the morrow, that he took the cover and dipped it in water and spread it on his face, so that he died. And Hazael became king in his place.
In this story, we see not only the remarkable way God used the prophet, but we get a glimpse at the heart of the prophet and his love for the people to whom God had sent him to minister, the northern kingdom of Israel. We also see in this story the impact Elisha had made even on his enemies. Ben-hadad, king of Syria, had attempted to capture and kill Elisha, but now the king is old and sick. He is informed that Elisha was in Damascus so he sends Hazael, his trusted servant, to take a gift to Elisha (whom he interestingly calls “the man of God”) and inquire regarding the king’s recovery.
Now think about this a moment. What does this tell us about the heart of man? This king had respect for Elisha. He knew the prophet was truly a man of God and knew things ordinary men could not know. He had heard of the miracles God performed through the prophet and evidently believed they were of God for he called him “the man of God.” Regardless, he refused to repent and turn to the God of Israel. He continued to pursue a path of unbelief and idolatry. Why? Was it because of the moral twist so prevalent in men that even when faced with the truth men reject it because they want to pursue their own lifestyle?
Fearing death and hoping the arrival of the prophet was fortuitous, the king thought he could buy the services of Elisha. He was not simply hoping Elisha could tell him of his recovery, but that perhaps Elisha might restore him to health. But what he could not know was that the prophet’s presence was somehow related to the Lord’s instructions to Elijah relative to dynastic change, both in Damascus and in Samaria. In Kings 19:15-17 God had sent Elijah to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. Hazael had been anointed king many years earlier. As McGee says, speaking of Hazael,
. . . he is just waiting around for old Ben-hadad to die. You can well understand that it would be very difficult for the king’s successor--whether it be a son, a general, or someone else--to shed very many tears at his funeral because it was his funeral that would bring his successor to power. So Hazael went out to meet Elisha, but I don’t think he went with a great deal of enthusiasm.77
When Elisha and Hazael met, Hazael gave Elisha the king’s request, “Will I recover from this sickness?” But Elisha’s answer sounds like a riddle or an enigma. He replied, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall surely recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he will certainly die.” In other words, “you will surely recover, but you won’t live.” What was Elisha saying? Elisha knew Hazael’s character. He knew he had just been waiting in the wings for the king to die and that he would use this as an opportunity to play ‘Doctor Death’ even though he could recover. So Elisha predicts the treason of Hazael.
Though Israel, the northern kingdom had been persistently rebellious and idolatrous with no time of repentance in the face of one miracle after another, Elisha never stopped loving his people. We never see him displaying bitterness or impatience or giving up. He weeps over the prospects of what he knows Hazael will do to Israel (vs. 12). Like our Lord who wept over Jerusalem, Elisha wept over Israel.
Do we not need such a heart today in our ministry to individuals and to churches? How did Elisha manage to keep such a heart? Remember, Elijah wanted to throw in the towel and he became seriously despondent over the conditions in Israel, but not Elisha. I have no way to prove this, but I suspect that as his mentor Elijah shared this with Elisha who learned from Elijah’s experience to keep his focus on the Lord rather than on his hopes or the actions of the people. He managed to rest in the still small voice of God’s Word and God’s sovereign plan.
Verses 11-15 concludes this story of treason as prophetically seen by the prophet. Verse 11 tells us Elisha stared steadily into the eyes of Hazael until he was ashamed. Hazael could tell Elisha knew the selfish and devilish thoughts he was thinking as he anticipated stepping into the role of king. But Elisha’s gaze soon turned to weeping. This surprised Hazael, who then inquired as to the reason for his weeping.
In answer to Hazael’s question, Elisha indicated that he wept for the great barbarity that Hazael, as Aram’s next king, would inflict on Israel. Despite Hazael’s protests to the contrary, such would indeed be the case (cf. 10:32-33; 13:3).
Doubtless Elisha’s assurances to Hazael that he would be the next king of Damascus gave pretext to him that he had a mandate to be carried out. When he returned to the palace, he told his master the good news: the king would surely recover. However, the next day opportunity came to carry out the long-standing purpose. Having smothered the king, he assumed the throne.78
The Death of Elisha
(13:14-21)
Even in his final days and in his death, God used the prophet to demonstrate that the God of Israel, Yahweh, was the true God and that the prophets of God who proclaim God’s truth are sources of strength and life to the nation. Again we must emphasize the miracles of Elisha (as with Elijah) were designed to demonstrate this fact and to call Israel to repentance and faith. They were messengers authenticating the message of God.
This fact is here stressed even in the death of the prophet by the context. In verses 10-13, we have reference to the reigns of Joash king of Judah and of the sixteen-year reign of Jehoash who became king over Israel in Samaria. But note what the record reveals regarding Jehoash: “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin, but he walked in them.”
It is in this context that we read of two final miraculous acts of the prophet: the prophecy of the victories of Jehoash and the death of Elisha and the miracle at his tomb. Note that the “Joash” of the NASB and KJV is a variant form of Jehoash and should not be confused with the Joash of Judah mentioned in verse 1.
The Prophecies of the Victories of Jehoash (vss. 14-19)
14 When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” And he put his hand on it, then Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands. 17 And he said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And he said, “The LORD’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you shall defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them.” 18 Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and stopped. 19 So the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times.”
In verse 14 we read of the visit that Jehoash made to see the prophet when he was ill.
Elisha the prophet now reenters the narrative. He was suffering from a terminal illness. Out of respect for this man of God, King Jehoash paid him a visit. The fact that the king wept over him reveals that though Jehoash followed in the ways of Jeroboam I (v. 11) he also revered Yahweh. He anticipated the great loss that the death of this servant of God would be to Israel. He regarded Elisha as superior to himself, calling him my father in true humility. By the phrase the chariots and horsemen of Israel, he showed that he recognized in Elisha, and behind him in the Lord, the real defense and power of Israel against all her adversaries. Elisha had used the same expressions himself when Elijah’s ministry was terminated by God (2:12).79
Elisha had been a tower of strength to the nation and he was highly respected. The king knew he would be missed, but again, we see how men in high places are often so dominated by their love for power and position and possessions that they refuse to allow the testimony of men of God to impact their lives to the degree that they will wholly turn to the Lord and follow Him in faith. Many of our own leaders have been influenced by well-known men of God like Billy Graham, but not to the degree that it transformed them from capricious politicians into statesmen as was the case with so many of the founding fathers of this country.
But let’s not just point to our political arena. Where do these political leaders come from? They come from the homes of the populace--from people like you and me. In other words we have reaped what we have sown. So the question is, how responsive are we to the testimony and ministry of the godly men and women of this country who have ministered to us through their lives, their writings, and their teaching? This, of course, includes godly parents and teachers where we have had the privilege of that kind of influence at home and in the classroom.
With verse 15, Elisha gives his last prophecy. The NIV Bible Commentary says:
15-20a Elisha instructed Israel’s king to pick up his bow. When he had done so, the prophet placed his own hands on those of the king, thereby indicating that what he was about to do would be full of spiritual symbolism. That act was the shooting of an arrow out the east window--toward Aram. Elisha explained the deed: Jehoash would win a total victory at Aphek against Arameans. But the divine promise was to be augmented by personal participation. Accordingly, Jehoash was told next to shoot arrows into the ground; obviously victory at Aphek was to be followed by subsequent victories over the hated Arameans. Jehoash obediently complied, but with his own reasoning powers. He struck the ground three times with his arrows rather than using the five or six arrows that he had with him. Elisha was justifiably angry with the king. Had he used all his arrows, the Arameans would have been completely vanquished. Now Jehoash would gain but three victories. With this pronouncement the aged prophet had finished his earthly course.80
In other words, even though he had seen the power of God in the life and ministry of Elisha and appreciated the prophet, Jehoash had failed to completely trust God even though he knew what God had promised.
The Death of Elisha and the Miracle at His Tomb (vss. 20-21)
20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 And as they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.
Soon thereafter Elisha died. His ministry spanned at least 56 years, having begun as a servant of Elijah during Ahab’s reign (which ended in 853 B.C.) and dying during Jehoash’s reign (which began in 798 B.C.). After his body was wrapped in linen cloths, the prophet was probably buried in a cave or tomb hewn out of a rock as were most of the early Israelites (v. 21).81
Some time later some men were laying another man’s body to rest near Elisha’s tomb. They were surprised by a group of Moabite raiders who were apparently going to rob whomever they met. To flee quickly, the Israelite pallbearers removed the stone in front of Elisha’s tomb, threw the corpse of their friend in the tomb, and retreated. When the new corpse touched Elisha’s he came to life and stood up on his feet. Evidently the men who placed the body in Elisha’s tomb observed this. Doubtless they told their story far and wide, and it probably reached the ears of Jehoash for whom this miracle seems to have been intended primarily. Such a sign of the power of God working even through His prophet’s corpse may have both encouraged the king as he anticipated his battles with the Arameans and rebuked him for his lack of faith (cf. comments on vv. 18-19).82
In Elisha’s death, we see not only the miracle of resurrection in anticipation of the life and ministry of Christ, but we see anther vital principle. The mention of the invading Moabite raiders immediately upon the death of Elisha is instructive. I believe it shows us that a nation can expect divine judgment in the form of spiritual and moral degeneration, as well as other forms of judgment, when there is the removal of God’s faithful teachers of the Word, or when there is a famine of sound theological teaching that instructs people about God and how to know and love him.
But why does God do this? For the same reason that parents who loves their children will discipline them--to correct their behavior. God disciplines us to draw us back to Himself, which is always the place of blessing and peace.
Conclusion
In bringing the study in the life of Elisha to a close, we perhaps would do well to look at the main emphasis seen throughout his life and work. The main emphasis all through his ministry is that of resurrection and hope of new life. J. Sidlow Baxter has an excellent summary of this. He wrote:
The nation has now sunk into such a state that it can scarcely be recovered except by something equal to resurrection. Therefore, through the ministry of Elisha, the people are given to see, in a succession of symbolic miracles, the power of resurrection at work, and the hope of new life which is theirs in Jehovah, if they but return to him.
Just let the mind run through some of Elisha’s miracles. See how characteristic is this suggestion of life out of death (i.). His very first miracle is the healing of the death-giving waters of Jericho, so that what had given death now gave life (ii.). Then comes the saving of the armies from death by miraculous water supply (iii.). And in the next chapter we find the raising of the Shunammite woman’s son from death to new life (iv.). This is followed by the healing of the poisoned pottage: “Death in the pot” is changed to life and wholesomeness (iv.). And in the same chapter we have the miraculous multiplication of the barley loaves. Then comes the healing of Naaman, by that symbolic baptism in Jordan, with its washing away of death, and the coming up in new life (v.). The miracle of the recovered axe-head, which next follows, speaks of the same thing in a different way. “The iron did swim”--a new life-power overcoming the downward pull of death. Finally, not to mention the intervening miracles, we have the strange miracle in which the man is brought to life at Elisha’s grave, by accidental contact with the deceased prophet’s bones. The emphasis on resurrection and new hope running through these miracles is surely clear to see.83
We might also ask, as we reflect on the life and ministry of both Elijah and Elisha--why so many miracles? Again let me quote Baxter:
The very fact that the ministries of Elijah and Elisha were so full of supernatural wonders is itself intense with meaning. God is meeting a critical situation by super-normal measures. Apostate and degenerate as the nation has become, a final bid shall be made, by special messengers and startling miraculous signs, to recall the sinning people to Jehovah and to the true faith of Israel. Even to the last, God will seek to turn His idolatry-infatuated people from their corruptions, and thus avert the culminating catastrophe of the Dispersion which must otherwise overtake them.
Alas, the louder the warning and the clearer the sign, the deafer and blinder do the unwilling people become! “The heart of this people is waxed gross.”84
Though miracles are recorded throughout the Bible, they are the exception, not the norm. The clusters of miracles as seen with Moses, with Elijah and Elisha, in the ministry of Christ, and with the Apostles and the early church were designed as God’s special means to authenticate the messenger and his message. But as Baxter points out, very often, “the louder the warning and the clearer the sign, the deafer and blinder do the unwilling people become.”
In Luke 16, our Lord made this point clear Himself in the story of the rich man and the poor man named Lazarus. When the rich man found himself suffering in Hades, he asked if someone could go to his brothers to warn them. Abraham’s answered,
“They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.” 30 But he said, “No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!” 31 But he said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.”
The man thought such a miracle would surely convince them. But the answer given to him was, not so. It is ultimately a matter of the heart’s willingness to listen and believe the message of the Bible. Miracles were designed to authenticate the message, but if people will not be persuaded by the message, then their lives will not change. Miracles aren’t the change agents; it is the Bible’s message of God’s love and grace in the person and work of Christ as revealed by the Holy Spirit that changes lives.
74 NIV Bible Commentary, electronic media.
76 J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. II, Joshua—Psalms, Thru the Bible Radio, 1982, p. 390.
78 NIV Bible Commentary, electronic media.
79 The Bible Knowledge Commentary, OT Edition, John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck, editors, Victor Books, electronic version, Logos Research Systems.
80 NIV Bible Commentary, electronic version.
81 The Bible Knowledge Commentary, electronic version.
83 J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book: A Basic and Broadly Interpretative Course of Bible Study from Genesis to Revelation, Vol. 2, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1960, pp. 129-130.
Related Topics: Character Study
1. Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Philippian Church (Philippians 1:3-11)
Lesson 3: Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Philippian Church (1:3-11)
The Subject/Complement and Exegetical Outline
Subject/Complement: Paul’s thanksgiving and prayer for the Philippians was directed toward the development of the Philippians’ mutual love and growth in righteousness so that their lives might be to the glory and praise of God.
A. Thanksgiving (1:3-8)
1. The Frequency of Paul’s Thanksgiving for the Philippians (1:3)
2. The Manner of Paul’s Thanksgiving for the Philippians (1:4)
3. The Reasons for Paul’s Joyful Thanksgiving for the Philippians (1:5-6)
4. The Context of Paul’s Thanksgiving for the Philippians (1:7-8)
B. The Content and Goal of Paul’s Prayer (1:9-11)
1. The Content Proper: A Love Characterized by Increasing Knowledge and Insight (1:9)
2. The Ultimate Goal: The Glory and Praise of God (1:10-11)
a. The Immediate Goal (1:10-11a)
b. The Ultimate Goal (1:11b)
The Teaching/Preaching Outline
Underlying Question: What was Paul’s ministry to the Philippians like? Answer: It was a ministry of discipleship based in part on the example of his own life. In 1:3-11 Paul gives thanks for the Philippian Christians and prays for them intelligently. In effect, he is discipling them by providing a good model of the things he will talk about in the letter—things that stand at the heart of discipleship and obedience to the Lord. We need to develop the big idea here for our people.
Underlying Homiletical Question: How can we minister to Christians? Answer: Follow the example of Paul as recorded in Philippians 1:3-11. The point is not that Paul’s model in Philippians 1:3-11 says everything there is to say about discipleship. Certainly not. But, his thanksgiving and prayer for these Christians is a model for us to follow when helping other Christians. The following is the exegetical outline turned into a teaching/preaching outline. Note: If you need help regarding how to teach the Bible, then see my lesson, “How To Teach the Bible: For Beginners” at www.bible.org.
A. Introduction
1. Story or Illustration
2. Transition to “Big Idea” of Lesson or Sermon
B. Give Thanks for Other Christians (1:3-8)
1. Give Thanks Always—Every Time You Pray (1:3)
a. Textual Details
b. Illustration
c. Application
2. Give Thanks Joyfully (1:4)
a. Textual Details
b. Illustration
c. Application
3. Give Thanks Because of God’s Evident Work in Their Lives (1:5-6)
a. Textual Details
b. Illustration
c. Application
4. Give Thanks Because You Love Them (1:7-8)
a. Textual Details
b. Illustration
c. Application
C. Pray for Christians (1:9-11)
1. That Their Love Would Come to Maturity (1:9)
a. Textual Details
b. Illustration
c. Application
2. That Their Lives May Bring Glory to God (1:10-11)
a. By Living Discerning Lives (1:10-11a)
i. Textual Details
ii. Illustration
iii. Application
b. By Aiming For The Ultimate Goal of God’s Glory (1:11b)
i. Textual Details
ii. Illustration
iii. Application
D. Conclusion
1. Summary of “Big Idea”
2. Illustration and Application
NOTE: In each of the sections in this outline, you will notice “Textual Details, Illustration, and Application.” This is just a model. You will always need to include textual details when making any one of your points, but you do not need an illustration for every point, nor an application. These are simply put here to remind you to illustrate and apply at least some of your ideas, i.e., at least the key ideas.
Develop the lesson or sermon according to the needs, questions, interests, and problems of your people. Again, if you are not sure how to do this, please read, “How To Teach The Bible: For Beginners” at www.bible.org. If you need to, see also the companion lesson, “How To Study The Bible: For Beginners. From this point forward, we will not include the Introduction, Conclusion, or Textual Details, Illustrations, and Application comments in the various outlines. It will be assumed that you recognize the importance of this.
Related Topics: Prayer, Teaching the Bible
2. Paul’s Circumstances: Perspective, Joy, and Mission in Life (Philippians 1:12-18a)—Part I
The Subject/Complement and Exegetical Outline
Before we can state the subject/complement we need to explain the division of 1:12-26. You will recall, in the exposition of 1:12-26, that we split it up into two separate lessons, i.e., 1:12-18a and 1:18b-26. The outline we gave you in each of these lessons, however, included both sections. It went as follows:
A. Paul’s Circumstances (1:12-18a)
1. The Advancement of the Gospel through Preaching (1:12-14)
a. General Statement about Paul’s Circumstances (1:12)
b. The Whole Imperial Guard Knows (1:13)
c. Other Brothers Speak the Word (1:14)
2. The Motivations for Preaching (1:15-18a)
a. General Statement about Preaching (1:15)
b. Preaching from Right Motives (1:16)
c. Preaching from Wrong Motives (1:17)
d. The Result: Christ is Preached! (1:18a)
B. Paul’s Attitude of Rejoicing (1:18b-26)
1. In Light of His Expectations (18b-21)
a. To Be Vindicated (1:18b-19)
b. To Exalt Christ (1:20-21)
2. In Light of His Future (1:22-26)
a. Regarding Productive Ministry (1:22-23)
b. Regarding Ministry to the Philippians (1:24-26)
We will need to prepare two separate lessons from this material. Therefore, we will take the first section (i.e., everything under section A.) and prepare an exegetical outline from it as follows (We will prepare an outline for the second section in the next lesson.):
A. The Advancement of the Gospel through Preaching (1:12-14)
1. General Statement about Paul’s Circumstances (1:12)
2. The Whole Imperial Guard Knows (1:13)
3. Other Brothers Speak the Word (1:14)
B. The Motivations for Preaching (1:15-18a)
1. General Statement about Preaching (1:15)
2. Preaching from Right Motives (1:16)
3. Preaching from Wrong Motives (1:17)
4. The Result: Christ is Preached! (1:18a)
Subject/Complement: The way Paul responded when he was imprisoned for the sake of the gospel was to rejoice that the gospel was being preached, both by those who did it sincerely and by those who did it for selfish reasons.
The Teaching/Preaching Outline
Underlying Question: How did Paul respond to the adverse conditions of his imprisonment and the preaching of the gospel?
Underlying Homiletical Question: How should we respond when things do not go well.
Homiletical Subject/Complement (Big Idea): When things do not go well, look for God’s hand in your circumstances and rejoice whenever Christ is exalted!
A. Look for God’s Hand in Your Circumstances (1:12-14)
1. God’s Hand and the Measuring Rod of the Gospel (1:12)
The point here is that by relating our lives to the advance of the gospel we can see God’s hand. The “gospel” here refers to the preaching of the message among the unsaved as well as the living of it among the saved. God works in both situations in light of the advance of the gospel—either the salvation of those who are not yet part of his family, or the sanctification of those who are.
2. See Your Circumstances as an Opportunity for the Advance of the Gospel Among the Unsaved (1:13)
3. See Your Circumstances as an Opportunity for the Advance of the Gospel Among the Saved (1:14)
B. Rejoice Whenever Christ Is Exalted (1:15-18a)
1. Recognize That There Are Two Kinds of People in Your Life (1:15-17)
a. Introduction (1:15)
a. Those Who Are For You and the Gospel (1:16)
b. Those Who Oppose You and the Gospel (1:17)
2. Rejoice Whenever Christ Is Exalted (1:18a)
We could also take this outline and develop it along three major divisions, each one beginning with an “R.” We might title the lesson something like: “When things go ‘south,’ remember the “Three R’s.”
A. Recognize God’s Hand in Your Circumstances (1:12-14)
1. God’s Hand and the Measuring Rod of the Gospel (1:12)
2. See Your Circumstances as Opportunity for the Gospel Among the Unsaved (1:13)
3. See Your Circumstances as Opportunity for the Gospel Among the Saved (1:14)
B. Realize That There Are Two Kinds of People in Your Life (1:15-17)
1. Introduction (1:15)
2. Those Who Are For You and the Gospel (1:16)
3. Those Who Oppose You and the Gospel (1:17)
C. Rejoice Whenever Christ Is Exalted (1:18a)
Related Topics: Teaching the Bible, Suffering, Trials, Persecution
3. Paul’s Circumstances: Perspective, Joy, and Mission in Life (Philippians 1:18b-26)—Part II
The Subject/Complement and Exegetical Outline
Subject/Complement: The way Paul responded to the difficulties of unjust punishment and people who opposed him was by rejoicing in the knowledge that God would certainly vindicate him in his present circumstances, no matter what the outcome, and that God would grant him fruitful ministry should he go on living.
A. Paul’s Attitude of Rejoicing In Light of His Expectations (18b-21)
1. To Be Vindicated (1:18b-19)
2. To Exalt Christ (1:20-21)
B. Paul’s Attitude of Rejoicing In Light of His Future (1:22-26)
1. Regarding Productive Ministry (1:22-23)
2. Regarding Ministry to the Philippians (1:24-26)
Homiletical Subject/Complement and the Teaching/Preaching Outline
Underlying Question: How did Paul respond to the potentially discouraging circumstances of his unjust imprisonment?
Underlying Homiletical Question: How should we respond when things do not go well?
Homiletical Subject/Complement (Big Idea): When people oppose you in the thing in which you are following the Lord, rejoice. Rejoice, because Christ will vindicate you in your present circumstances and because ultimately, whether you live or die, life is a win-win proposition with Christ.
A. Rejoice, Because Christ Will Vindicate You in Your Present Circumstances (18b-21)
1. The Means of Vindication: Prayer and the Support of the Spirit (1:18b-19)
2. The Vindication Itself: Courage to Exalt Christ whether in Life or Death (1:20-21)
B. Rejoice, Because Even Though People Oppose You, God Still Has A Plan for Your Life (1:22-26)
1. The Struggle of Wanting To Be With the Lord and Yet Minister to People (1:22-23)
2. While God Leaves Us Here, We Need To Be Discipling People (1:24-26)
Related Topics: Teaching the Bible, Suffering, Trials, Persecution
4. Exhortation to Unity—Part I (Philippians 1:27-30)
The Subject/Complement and Exegetical Outline
Subject/Complement: The way to live worthy of the gospel in times of opposition and suffering is by contending for the faith without fear and by realizing that Christ has graciously given Christians suffering as a part of his plan.
A. The Command: Live Worthy of the Gospel (1:27a-b)
B. The Means (1:27c-28)
1. By Contending for the Faith of the Gospel
2. By Not Being Frightened
C. The Ultimate Rationale for Suffering and Paul’s Example (1:29-30)
1. The Ultimate Rationale for Suffering (1:29)
2. Paul’s Example (1:30)
Homiletical Subject/Complement and the Teaching/Preaching Outline
Underlying Questions: How are Christians to live worthy of the gospel in times of opposition and suffering and why should they do so? (Note: This paragraph really answers two questions)
Underlying Homiletical Question: How are we to live worthy in the face of opposition and suffering, and why?
Homiletical Subject/Complement (Big Idea): When you’re facing opposition for being a Christian, live worthy of the gospel by standing firm, because you know that God has graciously given you suffering as a part of his plan.
A. The Command: Live Worthy of the Gospel (1:27a-b)
B. The Means (1:27c-28)
1. By Contending for the Faith of the Gospel
2. By Not Being Frightened
C. The Reason: God Has Granted Suffering To Us (1:29)
D. The Example: Paul Shows Us the Way (1:30)
Related Topics: Fellowship, Teaching the Bible
5. Exhortation to Unity—Part II (Philippians 2:1-4)
The Subject/Complement and Exegetical Outline
Subject/Complement: Paul’s command for the Philippians to be unified in one mind and purpose is based on their personal experience of certain spiritual realities and the humble attitude of seeking others first.
A. The Command: Be Unified (2:1-2)
1. The Grounds for an Appeal to Unity (2:1)
a. Encouragement in Christ
b. Comfort Provided by Love
c. Fellowship in the Spirit
d. Affection or Mercy
2. The Command To Unity (2:2)
a. The Command Proper
b. The Nature of the Command
B. The Application: Looking Out for Others (2:3-4)
1. Treat Others as More Important than Self
2. Be Concerned about the Interests of Others
Homiletical Subject/Complement and the Teaching/Preaching Outline
Underlying Questions: What is the spiritual context of unity and what does it look like practically?
Underlying Homiletical Question: How to stick together in tough times of persecution or opposition.
Homiletical Subject/Complement (Big Idea): In tough times, stick together by drawing on your spiritual resources and by humbly looking to the interests of others first. The exegetical outline will work fairly directly as a homiletical outline. All you need to do is give the appropriate textual details, illustrations, and applications.
A. The Command: Be Unified (2:1-2)
1. The Grounds for an Appeal to Unity (2:1)
a. Encouragement in Christ
b. Comfort Provided by Love
c. Fellowship in the Spirit
d. Affection or Mercy
2. The Command to Unity (2:2)
a. The Command Proper
b. The Nature of the Command
B. The Application: Looking Out for Others (2:3-4)
1. Treat Others as More Important than Self
2. Be Concerned about the Interests of Others
Related Topics: Fellowship, Teaching the Bible
6. Exhortation to Unity—The Example of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11)
The Subject/Complement and Exegetical Outline
Subject/Complement: The humble attitude we are to have toward one another is perfectly exhibited in the person and work of Christ.
A. The Command (2:5)
B. The Example of Christ (2:6-11)
1. His Humility (2:6-8)
a. His Deity and Pre-existence (2:6)
b. His “Emptying” (2:7a-b)
c. His Death (2:7c-8)
2. His Exaltation (2:9-11)
a. The Receiving of the “Name” (2:9)
b. The Purpose of Jesus’ Exaltation (2:10-11b)
i. Every Knee Will Bow (2:10)
ii. Every Tongue Will Confess (2:11a-b)
c. The Glory of God (2:11c)
Homiletical Subject/Complement and the Teaching/Preaching Outline
Underlying Question: With what attitude should the Philippians conduct their lives?
Underlying Homiletical Question: With what attitude should every Christian conduct their life?
Homiletical Subject/Complement (Big Idea): Develop a Christ-like attitude of humility by following the example of Christ himself.
A. The Command: Develop a Christ-like Attitude (2:5)
B. The Model: Follow The Example of Christ (2:6-11)
1. First, Walk In Christ’s Humility (2:6-8)
a. His Deity and Pre-existence (2:6)
b. His “Emptying” (2:7a-b)
c. His Death (2:7c-8)
2. Second, Acknowledge His Lordship over Your Life (2:9-11)
a. The Receiving of the “Name” (2:9)
b. The Purpose of Jesus’ Exaltation (2:10-11b)
i. Every Knee Will Bow (2:10)
ii. Every Tongue Will Confess (2:11a-b)
c. The Glory of God (2:11c)
Related Topics: Christology, Fellowship, Teaching the Bible
7. Exhortation to Unity—A Final Word Concerning Obedience (Philippians 2:12-18)
The Subject/Complement and Exegetical Outline
Subject/Complement: The result of God inspired obedience in the face of opposition is purity of life, effective witness to the world, and blessing to those who lead us.
A. The Command to Obey (2:12-16)
1. General Statement and Theological Rationale (2:12-13)
a. General Statement: Work Out Your Salvation (Obey) (2:12)
b. The Theological Rationale: God Is at Work in You (2:13)
2. Specific Application and Results (2:14-16)
a. No Complaining or Arguing (2:14)
b. Becoming Blameless and Pure (2:15)
c. Holding Out the Word of Life (2:16a)
d. Paul’s Boast (2:16b)
B. The Example of Obedience: Paul (2:17-18)
1. His Life as a Drink-Offering (2:17a)
2. His Desire That They Rejoice (2:17b-18)
Homiletical Subject/Complement and the Teaching/Preaching Outline
Underlying Question: The reason the Philippians are to obey the Lord even when Paul is not with them is because (1) God is working in them; (2) they must maintain a godly witness to a fallen world, and so that (3) Paul’s ministry will not be in vain.
Underlying Homiletical Question: What are some results of obeying God even if we live in difficult circumstances?
Homiletical Subject/Complement (Big Idea): Obedience Initiated by God Leads to A Pure Life, Effective Witness in the World, and Blessing to Our Leaders
A. We Need To Understand Why God Wants Us To Obey (2:12-13)
1. To Obey Means to Work Out Your Salvation with a Certain Fearful Attitude (2:12)
2. Remember That God Is at Work in You (2:13)
B. Obey So That You Will Grow Spiritually and Your Witness Will Be Effective (2:14-16)
1. Obedience Means No Complaining or Arguing (2:14)
2. Obedience Results in Becoming Blameless and Pure (2:15)
3. Obedience Includes Holding Out the Word of Life (2:16a)
4. Obedience Means A Sense of Worthwhile-ness to Those Who Shepherd Us (2:16b)
C. Obedience Entails Self Sacrificial Service to Others (2:17-18)
1. Serve Others Sacrificially: Paul’s Life as a Drink-Offering (2:17a)
2. Rejoice in Your Service to Others (2:17b-18)
Related Topics: Fellowship, Issues in Church Leadership/Ministry, Leadership, Sanctification, Teaching the Bible