The Death of Elisha

  

2 Kings 13:14-21

 

October 13, 2021

 

 

 

The Death of Elisha

Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”   And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.  So, he took a bow and arrows.   Then he said to the king of Israel, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.   And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.”   And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped.   Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”

 So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year.   And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

God had many men that He refers to as His prophets, one of the greatest was Elijah and you recall how he came to Elisha and Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.  You will find the account in 1 Kings 19:19-21.  Elisha became the servant of Elijah, and when it was time for the Lord to call Isaiah home, Elisha would not leave him no matter what Elijah said to him.  And he asked for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah and it was given to him.

 

We do understand that king Joash, who God had arranged to be a mentor and raised by a priest from almost birth, was a good king that looked to God to lead him in the role of being king of Judah.  So, it is not surprising that King Joash would come to be with Elisha when he was sick unto death.  I’ve been blessed from almost the beginning of my walk, at the age of 27 to have had God send men into my life to mentor me, if you are not being mentored by a man, ask God and He will send that man to you.  In keeping with the teaching of the Scriptures, if you are a lady, ask God to send a godly lady to mentor you.

 

When a godly man or lady speaks into your life it is a wise person who gives attention and prayer to that counsel.  Joash was that kind of man, he obeyed all that Elisha told him but if he had asked more questions of Elisha it would have been a total victory over Syria.

 

Could that be why the Church of the living God does not walk in the authority and power our Lord desires of us?  Often the modern Church tries to appeal to the world using worldly methods.  God’s power will not be found in worldly ways but in a humble spirit and brokenness that leads to repentance and obedience.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice