2 Kings 7 “His Promises Are True”

 It happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two measures of barley for a shekel and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, will be sold tomorrow about this time at the gate of Samaria.” (v.18)

Israelites living in Samaria knew desperate times as today’s reading makes painfully clear. Suffering the consequences of breaking their covenant with God (Deut. 28:45-57), the city of Samaria was under siege by the Arameans. Sustenance was scarce and food prices were sky high. 

Yet instead of turning to God in sorrow over his disobedience and idolatry, the king blamed God and Elisha for such desperate times. He wanted revenge instead of repentance. His anger toward God was clear: “This disaster is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” (6:33).

However, even in his state of anger towards God, the king got a message of hope from Elisha: this time tomorrow, the crisis would be over (v.1). All that remained was, would he believe the explicit promise of God? Even though king’s servant voiced his disbelief, and the king displayed sheer skepticism (v.7:12), the bulk of this chapter highlights the fulfillment of Elisha’s word by telling us four different times that everything happened just as God said it would (7:16-20).

The bottom line in this story is the same for us, do we believe the explicit promises in God’s Word or not? I for one put my trust in the multitude of promises in His Word and give thanks to Him for those that have come to pass and those that are yet to come. When God speaks His Word of promise, it can be trusted.

The Truth: “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (1 Corinthians 1:20)

2 Kings 6 “God’s Army”

“Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (v.16)

Here in 2 Kings we read about Elisha and his servant who were surrounded by the Syrian army. Elisha’s servant cried out, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” Elisha replied, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw that “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around” (6:15-17). The Lord’s army was at hand!

Even though we cannot see them with our natural eyes, we can rest in the confidence that the Lord of Hosts is constantly watching over us and He has an invisible army at His bidding to send where He pleases. As God's children, we can trust Him to defend us as we do His will. Even when the battle seems too great and it appears that we face defeat, we must still trust the Lord. We can be encouraged by remembering Elisha's message to his servant: "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (v.16). We are not alone!

The Truth: “He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)

2 Kings 5 "Naaman Healed"

And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage (vv.10-12).

These were simple, uncomplicated instructions. Yet as Naaman’s reaction demonstrates, these were humbling instructions. Naaman had it all figured out. In his great need, he anticipated a way God would work, and he was offended when God didn’t work the way he expected. Because his expectation of how God should work was crushed, Naaman wanted nothing to do with Elisha. If the answer was in washing in a river, Naaman knew there were better rivers in his own land. So he turned away in a rage.  

However, his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (vv.13-14).

Thank God for faithful subordinates who will speak to their superiors in such a way. Naaman was obviously angry, yet they were bold enough to give him the good advice he needed to hear. Naaman did exactly what Elisha told him to do, trusting in the word of God through His prophet. 

The end result, Naaman’s response of faith was generously rewarded. God answered his faith with complete and miraculous healing.

The Truth: "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the  prophet, Yet not one of them was cleansed--only Naaman the Syrian." (Luke 4:27)

2 Kings 4 "God Works Miricles Through Elisha"

2 Kings 4 is about the various ways God provided in difficult times.

First we see a helpless woman, who just lost her husband and had two sons to support, facing a creditor ready to exact payment, and had “nothing at all … except a little oil” (v. 2). Elisha told the woman to take what she had – one jar of oil (all that she had) – and pour that out in faith into the borrowed vessels. As she did this, the oil miraculously kept pouring from the original vessel until all the borrowed vessels were filled. At the end of it, she had a lot of oil. This widow was able to pay off her debt through faithfully following Elisha’s word form the Lord (v.7)

Second, we hear of a prominent Shunammite woman, who was barren and her husband old, conceiving and bearing a child at the word of Elisha from the LORD (vv.16-17). To this barren woman this promise seemed too good to be true. The stigma associated with barrenness was harsh in the ancient world, and this promised son would answer the longing of her heart and remove the stigma of barrenness. The woman who so generously provided material things for the prophet of God was now blessed by the God of the prophet, blessed beyond the material.

Later, once the child had grown, he died on his mother’s lap from some sort of brain anurisum. However, he was brought back to life through the prayer of Elisha to the LORD (vv.33-37).

Finally, there was a great famine in the land of Gilgal and Elisha feed hundreds with 20 loaves of barley and some fresh ears of grain given to him by a man from Baal-shalishah (V.42). At the word of the LORD, all were fed and they had left over food (v.43). 

The meaning behind today’s reading is simple, but profound: God cares for His people and can provide for them (us) abundantly. 

The Truth: “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

2 Kings 3 "No Service Is To Small When It Is For The LORD"

“Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” (v.11)

Here in chapter 3 we find Israel, Juda, and Edom joining together to fight against Moab. They marched on a roundabouty route by the way of the "Wilderness of Edom” for 7 days to attack Moab from the south. This route, chosen by the king of Judah, took them through the very dry desert of the Edomites where there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them. And the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” Jehoram’s guilty conscience convinced him that this calamity was the judgment of God. His own sin made him think that everything that happened against him was the judgment of God.

But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. (vv.11-12)

What did Jehoram's servant mean when he said that Elisha "poured water on the hands of Elijah?” I believe that it was a way of saying that Elisha had been Elijah's servant. Before Elisha became God's spokesman, he had humbly served in Elijah's shadow.

This is a great reminder to all of us that, no service is to small when it's for the Lord. Yes Elisha was a prophet but, rank, position, or title, are not nearly as important as being willing to serve wherever the Lord places you, even if it’s “pouring water.” Therefore, do it well – that someday you may hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the LORD.”

The Truth: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance...” (Colossians 3:23-24) 

Introduction

2 Kings 2 “God’s Plans Endure”

“He (Elisha) took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.” (v.14)

Our text definitely shows that God was with Elisha after Elijah was taken up. The question for us to consider is not, Where is God?, for He is - but, how will we respond to His enduring presence? Each one of us has a load to carry, a calling to complete before our days have passed. Elijah faithfully completed his calling from God, even raising-up another, Elisha, who stuck close to his mentor asking for a double blessing of the spirit to carry on God’s work.

As evidenced by our text, God will always find an instrument to carry on His work but, one must be willing, humble, obedient and faithful to His call. Just as Elijah paved the way for Elisha, so John the Baptist, “clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4), would pave the way for the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

My prayer for each of you is, not only will you feel God’s enduring presences in your life, but also mentor others with your life as well.

The Truth

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,  and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD, make His paths straight.’” (Matthew 3:1-3)

2 Kings 1 "The LORD, He Is God"

And Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber, which was in Samaria, and became ill. So he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury.” (v.2)

This book begins by recounting that Ahaziah now reigns (v.1). We know from 1 Kings 22:51-53 that Ahaziah “did evil in the eyes of the LORD”; he served Baal and provoked God to anger. Now in 2 Kings 1, Ahaziah has injured himself severely enough to wonder about his life. Instead of seeking God, he consults a foreign god, Baal.

There is little doubt that King Ahaziah believed that Yahweh lived, but he lived as if there were no God in Israel. He was a practical atheist, and the way he sought Baal-Zebub instead of the LORD demonstrated this. Because Ahaziah did not seek help from the real God, he would get no real help. Instead this would be an occasion for the real God to send a message of judgment to King Ahaziah, which He did through the prophet Elijah, "you shall surely die."  

This prophetic announcement might also explain why Ahaziah did not want to seek an answer from the LORD: He knew what the answer would be. In seeking Baal-Zebub for an answer, Ahaziah may have wanted to find a god to tell him what he wanted to hear. Many people are just like that today. They want a god they can control.  

The most important lesson in today’s passage is revealed in God’s severe opposition to idolatrous disobedience. On three separate occasions God’s message to Ahaziah is repeated: “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub … You will certainly die!” (vv. 3-4, 6, 16). In the end, God proved true and Ahaziah died “according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken” (v. 17).

In our busy lives may we be careful not to push God aside for other interests or to put our faith into a false deity. For He alone is God and there is no other.  

The Truth: For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:18) 

2 Timothy 4 "Make It Known"

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (v.2)

In today’s text Paul charged Timothy to “Preach the Word.” Paul’s emphasis on the word of God has been constant. As a pastor, Timothy was not required to merely know the word or like the word or approve of the word; he was required to preach the word. The word of God must be preached by Timothy; it was to be the content of his message.

The command to, "Be ready in season and out of season," tells us when the pastor should be ready to preach the word. He should be ready always. He should preach it when it is easy and preach it when it is hard. He should preach it when the fruit is evident and preach it when the fruit seems invisible. 

There's a story about a Church of England clergyman who was gloriously saved. When Jesus changed his life he started preaching the gospel to his whole parish and they all got saved. Then he started preaching in neighboring parishes, and the clergymen of those parishes were offended. They asked the bishop to make the man stop. When the bishop confronted him he said, “I hear you are always preaching and you don’t seem to be doing anything else.” The changed man answered, “Well bishop, I only preach during two seasons of the year.” The bishop said, “I’m glad to know that; what seasons are they?” He replied, “In season and out of season!

Our text however is not addressed only to preachers. The word "preach" means “to make it known.” God’s people can do this over a cup of coffee. We can make known the good news of what God has done for us wherever, whenever, and to anyone who is open to listening. Therefore, let’s not be shy to “make known” what God has done for us! Share your story, then share the gospel – “make it known.”

The Truth: “God so demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

2 Timothy 3 "God's GPS"

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (vv.16-17)

Today’s text describes the Bible as a spiritual navigation system for our journey through life. It has been said of this passage that; Doctrine tells us which road to travel; reproof tells us when we are off the road; correction tells us how to get back on course; and instruction in righteousness tells us how to stay on God’s road.

It is easy to take a wrong turn in life. However, making a bad decision or choice, doesn’t mean one is lost forever. Just like your GPS travel directions can recalculate another route to your desired location, so too can our spiritual navigation system put us back on the right course in life by trusting God’s Word.

The mistakes and choices that detour us from the Lord are not to be taken lightly (and you can be sure God doesn't), so much so that the moment we (as His children) veer off on our own, His Holy Spirit is gives us a warning. Definitely not like the GPS warning of “recalculating,” but He urges us to return to the Father’s way nonetheless. 

If you've drifted off course, there’s no better time than right now to heed God’s voice and return to His road. Trust Him for your course correction. Then with God's Word as your map and His Spirit as your compass, you're sure to stay on His course. God bless.

The Truth: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

2 Timothy 2 "Mentor Others"

"The things that you have heard from me, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (v.2)

Here Paul reminds Timothy of the body of truth that he had heard from the Apostle in the presence of many others. Certainly, Timothy heard many Bible studies from Paul, and shared much time with the Apostle in personal discipleship. It may be that Paul reminded Timothy of a special message he presented at Timothy’s ordination service among many witnesses. But he seems to refer here to the doctrines delivered to him when, in the presence of many witnesses, he laid his hands upon him (see 1 Timothy 6:12). Then the apostle gave him the proper form of sound words which he was to teach; and now he tells him to commit those truths to faithful men in the same way that they were committed to him.

God gave a ministry to Timothy, not for him to keep to himself, but for him to pass on to others. An essential part of his work as a pastor was to pour into others what God had committed to him. One may say that everything that a pastor does in his ministry he should train others to do. There are no duties of a pastor so holy or so secret that he should keep them all to himself. He should always seek to spread ministry about to others, and to train others to do the work of the ministry.

Timothy was not to teach others his own particular ideas or theories, but simple apostolic doctrine and example (the things that you have heard from me). What Paul poured into him he was responsible to pour into others. The job of training leaders is simply part of a pastor’s job description. He should not only train leaders when the need for a leader is obvious; nor should he only train leaders for the needs of his congregation alone. He should train leaders for the Kingdom of God in general, whether they are used in ministry at the particular pastor’s congregation or not.

According to Homer's Odyssey, when King Odysseus went off to fight in the Trojan war, he left his son Telemachus in the hands of a wise old man named Mentor. Mentor was charged with the task of teaching the young man wisdom. Today the word mentor has come to mean "a wise and responsible tutor"—an experienced person who advises, guides, teaches, inspires, challenges, corrects, and serves as a model.

Our text today describes spiritual mentoring and the Bible gives us many examples. Timothy had Paul; Mark had Barnabas; Joshua had Moses; Elisha had Elijah. This type of spiritual leadership is just as important today as it was then. There can be no greater calling than passing the torch to young believers, and working with God to help mold their character and accountability. Therefore, prayerfully consider whom you might help grow in their faith. Ask God to lead you to someone that needs a mentor and for His guidance along the way.

When Timothy looked for those whom he could pour apostolic doctrine and practice into, he was to look for the quality of faithfulness. He didn’t need to find smart men, popular men, strong men, easy men, perfect men, or good-looking men; Paul told him to look for faithful men. Without faithfulness to the teaching and example of the apostles, the idea of apostolic succession is nothing more than the laying of empty hands upon empty heads. This job of training leaders was so important that it could not be restricted to Timothy alone. Those whom he had trained must also be given the job to teach others also.

LORD, I thank you for your servant David E. Radford who recently passed into glory. He was a mentor who passed the light to many young men that went on to teach others. His was a life well lived and a race well run. Rest in peace my friend. See you one day on the other side in glory. 

The Truth: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:4)

2 Timothy 1 "Guard The Good Treasure"

"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (vv.13-14)

Paul is now getting on in years and he is thinking about the future and what it may hold for Timothy when he is gone. Here in his second letter to Timothy he exhorts him to; “cling to the sound words” (the apostle’s doctrine), which he had heard from Paul (an appointed preacher, apostle, and teacher), and “guard the good treasure” entrusted to him.

This exhortation no doubt comes from Paul’s concern of “false teachers,”who would twist and turn this doctrine to their own interpretations. Therefore, he challenges Timothy, with the help of the “Holy Spirit,” to keep the “good news” pure and incorrupt, free from all the adulterations and mixtures of men, safe and sound, that it be not snatched away from the churches by false teachers.

As believers in Christ, we have been given this same Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. And, just like Timothy, we need to fight the good fight of the gospel, to defend it with truth, not allowing it to be snatched away by false teachings, but to “Guard the good treasure we have been given!”  

The Truth: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.” (John 14:26) 

1 Timothy 6 "True Contentment"

 "Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (v.6)

"How can people find true contentment, no matter what their circumstances?"

It is true that godliness is great gain; but only when accompanied by contentment. When one does not live by “the itch for more,” and one’s life is not dominated by shopping for and acquiring material things, we can have the kind of contentment in God and in His will for our lives.

True contentment is not in having everything, but in being satisfied with everything you have. In other words, how much we possess is not as important as our attitude toward our possessions. And, whether we are rich or poor, as Christians we must humbly acknowledge Him as the source of all we have, and share willingly and generously with others (vv.17-18).

Few people seem able to treat their resources as a servant instead of a master, nor recognize the truth that, “we brought nothing into this world and we will carry nothing out” (v.7). But Paul tells us, “those who do good works, are generous and are ready to share, are storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed” (v.19).

The challenge with regard to contentment is living with thankful hearts to God and open hands to others. It isn’t getting what we want but being satisfied with what we have.

The Truth: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24)

1 Timothy 5 "A warning Concerning Ordaining Church Leaders"

 “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure” (v. 22).

Here in our text Paul issues a word of caution to Timothy, and the generations of Christians after him, from making the costly mistake of laying on of hands (setting apart men for church leadership) to quickly. When enough time is not spent observing the potential elder or deacon, the wrong man might be chosen for the job. Paul clearly has this idea in view in when he exhorts Timothy not to “take part in the sins of others” (v.22)

Church leaders who pick elders or deacons, who have not been thoroughly examined, are partially accountable to God for their transgressions. Only leaders who keep themselves pure will avoid this fate. In other words, church officers will not share in the sins of the men they ordain if they take the time necessary to observe the potential candidates. Additionally, if the men they ordain are later found to be guilty of some grievous error, the elders will not be accountable to God because they did all they could to select good men, even if they were able to pull the wool over their eyes.

Therefore, be slow in ordaining church leaders, time will tell.

The Truth: “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:4)