A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns
A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns
Rather than call for the surrender of the prophet, he pleaded with Elijah to preserve his life and his men. Elijah agreed to go with the captain and appeared before the dying king to deliver the same message. In accordance with the prophecy, Ahaziah died. Because he had no heir, his younger brother Jehoram assumed the throne (2 Kings 2:1-15). THE TRANSLATION OF ELIJAH (2 Kings 2:1-15) But despite the major world events of that era involving the various kings and kingdoms of the world, the man who changed history was the prophet of God, Elijah. But even when the prophet was no longer needed in his own generation, God was not through with him. Centuries later Elijah would appear with Moses and Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. Still centuries later, he will preach in the streets of Jerusalem during the Tribulation where he will finally face death. When the time came to remove the mighty prophet from the world, God chose a way more spectacular than the fire of Mount Carmel or the display of God’s power on Mount Sinai. As the day of Elijah’s departure drew near, other prophets were acutely aware what was about to happen. It was the sort of thing everybody knew but no one wanted to discuss with the prophet himself. As Elijah and Elisha passed from city to city, those in the school of the prophets (ministerial students) knew the day had come, but only young Elisha followed the aging prophet, despite Elijah’s apparent willingness to let him remain behind. When they came to the Jordan River, there would be one more miracle to be performed by the prophet of power. Taking his mantle, he struck the water and the two passed over on dry ground. Young Elisha was to be rewarded for his faithfulness. As he had requested, he would receive “a double portion” of the spirit of Elijah, i.e. the right of prophetic succession, but only if he were there when Elijah departed. “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). All that remained of Elijah on earth was his mantle, which had fallen to the ground. Since the mantle was symbolic of the office, young Elisha picked it up. Elisha made his way back to the river, bearing the prophet’s mantle. As he came to the riverbank, “he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, `Where is the Lord God of Elijah?’ “ (v. 14) For the second time that day, a path was cleared in the river, allowing the prophet to pass over. Those in the school of the prophets who witnessed this miracle had no difficulty discerning its meaning. “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha” (v. 15). PERSPECTIVE Many Christians today would be enamored of the appearance of a spokesman for God with the power of God so evident in his life, as was the case of the Prophet Elijah. Some would even secretly long for that spiritual reality in their own Christian life. Such a longing is not beyond the realm of possibility. The New Testament describes this mighty prophet of power as “a man with a nature like ours” (James 5:17). But through prayer and personal yielding to God, Elijah attained power with God and was able to pray the prayer of faith. Years ago, young Dwight L. Moody heard another preacher claim, “The world has yet to see what God can do through a young man wholly committed to Christ.” Though Moody accomplished much for God during his life and ministry, toward the end of his life he suggested the world had still not seen what God could do through such a dedicated life.
FORTY-THREE ELISHA: The Prophet of Twice the Power (2 Kings 2:15-13:25; 2 Chronicles 20:31-24:27) When Elisha returned alone, some of the sons of the prophets wanted to go out and recover the body of Elijah. Though Elisha knew such a search would be futile, he finally consented to allow fifty men to go. After three days, they returned, having failed to find the body of Elijah. Elijah reminded them he had opposed the plan initially, thus asserting his new authority as the God-ordained leader of the prophets. Elisha, the successor of Elijah, was a part of the same prophetic tradition but in many respects was more different from his predecessor than he was similar to him. The contrast of these two prophets, both ordained of God for a particular ministry during their time, is a reminder that God may often use those radically different from others to accomplish His purpose. One should not assume that because he is not like someone else being greatly used of God he is somehow not an important part of what God wants to do. God used two men who could not have been more different than Elijah and his successor Elisha. THE POPULAR MINISTRY OF ELISHA (2 Kings 2:19-25) Some commentators interpret the expression “a double portion of your spirit” (2 Kings 2:9) as the intensity of the power of God resting on the prophet. While that may or may not be implied, it is probably better understood in terms of the Hebrew custom to divide an inheritance equally among all survivors but to designate one son, usually the firstborn, an official heir by giving him a double portion of the inheritance. It is interesting to note, however, that for every recorded miracle in the life of Elijah, two such miracles are attributed to Elisha in the biblical record. Even as the sons of the prophets returned, having failed to find the body of Elijah, Elisha began his ministry of miracles. The men of Jericho came to him with a problem. Something had gone wrong with their water supply. Elisha salted the water at its source and assured the men it would no longer be polluted. As he left the city to go to Bethel, Elisha was mocked by a large group of young adults. Elisha responded by pronouncing a curse on them in the name of the Lord. “And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths” (v. 24). God was confirming with miracles that Elisha was the prophet of the hour. Many of the miracles of Elisha were designed to help those in need. On one occasion he was approached by a distressed widow because creditors came to take her sons as slaves after her husband died. She pleaded with Elisha for help as she had no resources of her own to pay the debt. Young Elisha responded by having her borrow as many vessels as she could and pour out her oil into the vessels. As old Elijah had earlier done, the oil was multiplied and the widow was able to sell it and pay her family’s debts. She even had enough left over to meet the needs of her family.
- Page 190 and 191: valley of Elah. “I defy the armie
- Page 192 and 193: Saul began to view David as a perso
- Page 194 and 195: Samuel were staying, he too began p
- Page 196 and 197: dead. Every legitimate means of dis
- Page 198 and 199: On the death of Saul, David was the
- Page 200 and 201: elieved Joab could be trusted. He p
- Page 202 and 203: that place until the dedication of
- Page 204 and 205: his own bed in Jerusalem rather tha
- Page 206 and 207: David himself had called for the st
- Page 208 and 209: When his cousin Jonadab probed Amno
- Page 210 and 211: attlefields against Absalom, the ot
- Page 212 and 213: enemies of Israel during his reign.
- Page 214 and 215: agreed with the settlement, the oth
- Page 216 and 217: THE WEALTH OF SOLOMON (1 Kings 9:10
- Page 218 and 219: Though most of the book contains an
- Page 220 and 221: JEROBOAM AND REHOBOAM: The Division
- Page 222 and 223: chance of succeeding, and now it wa
- Page 224 and 225: It took the serious illness of his
- Page 226 and 227: Kingdom of Israel. The political tu
- Page 228 and 229: God. This apostate dynasty would le
- Page 230 and 231: anticipatory sense as the next dyna
- Page 232 and 233: The Man of Like Passion and Power (
- Page 234 and 235: again appear in the sky and the ear
- Page 236 and 237: times before his servant saw a smal
- Page 238 and 239: for the king. “Because you have l
- Page 242 and 243: On another occasion, Elisha raised
- Page 244 and 245: “And it all happened after this t
- Page 246 and 247: In a strange chain of events, while
- Page 248 and 249: different pattern of ministry in se
- Page 250 and 251: that Israel’s captivity really be
- Page 252 and 253: epentance. Even before the Northern
- Page 254 and 255: you shall go up to the house of the
- Page 256 and 257: tree with a saw, cutting the prophe
- Page 258 and 259: FORTY-SIX JEREMIAH: The Collapsing
- Page 260 and 261: (597-586 B.C.) Nebuchadnezzar appoi
- Page 262 and 263: transferred by God from the priestl
- Page 264 and 265: Ezekiel did not believe Israel’s
- Page 266 and 267: prepared according to regulations.
- Page 268 and 269: 6:10; 7:12, 21; Neh. 1:5; 2:4; Ps.
- Page 270 and 271: may have often heard her father spe
- Page 272 and 273: Cyrus was an unusual choice for God
- Page 274 and 275: temple, the Samaritans intimidated
- Page 276 and 277: For the Jews who chose not to retur
- Page 278 and 279: that had been thwarted. When he hea
- Page 280 and 281: project would take. Soon Nehemiah h
- Page 282 and 283: Jerusalem had been more than physic
- Page 284 and 285: Antiochus Epiphanes was predicted i
FORTY-THREE<br />
ELISHA:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Prophet of Twice the Power<br />
(2 Kings 2:15-13:25; 2 Chronicles 20:31-24:27)<br />
When Elisha returned alone, some of the sons of the prophets wanted to go out and<br />
recover the body of Elijah. Though Elisha knew such a search would be futile, he finally<br />
consented to allow fifty men to go. After three days, they returned, having failed to find the body<br />
of Elijah. Elijah reminded them he had opposed the plan initially, thus asserting his new<br />
authority as the God-ordained leader of the prophets.<br />
Elisha, the successor of Elijah, was a part of the same prophetic tradition but in many<br />
respects was more different from his predecessor than he was similar to him. <strong>The</strong> contrast of<br />
these two prophets, both ordained of God for a particular ministry during their time, is a<br />
reminder that God may often use those radically different from others to accomplish His<br />
purpose. One should not assume that because he is not like someone else being greatly used of<br />
God he is somehow not an important part of what God wants to do. God used two men who<br />
could not have been more different than Elijah and his successor Elisha.<br />
THE POPULAR MINISTRY OF ELISHA<br />
(2 Kings 2:19-25)<br />
Some commentators interpret the expression “a double portion of your spirit” (2 Kings<br />
2:9) as the intensity of the power of God resting on the prophet. While that may or may not be<br />
implied, it is probably better understood in terms of the Hebrew custom to divide an inheritance<br />
equally among all survivors but to designate one son, usually the firstborn, an official heir by<br />
giving him a double portion of the inheritance. It is interesting to note, however, that for every<br />
recorded miracle in the life of Elijah, two such miracles are attributed to Elisha in the biblical<br />
record.<br />
Even as the sons of the prophets returned, having failed to find the body of Elijah, Elisha<br />
began his ministry of miracles. <strong>The</strong> men of Jericho came to him with a problem. Something had<br />
gone wrong with their water supply. Elisha salted the water at its source and assured the men it<br />
would no longer be polluted. As he left the city to go to Bethel, Elisha was mocked by a large<br />
group of young adults. Elisha responded by pronouncing a curse on them in the name of the<br />
Lord. “And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths” (v. 24).<br />
God was confirming with miracles that Elisha was the prophet of the hour.<br />
Many of the miracles of Elisha were designed to help those in need. On one occasion he<br />
was approached by a distressed widow because creditors came to take her sons as slaves after her<br />
husband died. She pleaded with Elisha for help as she had no resources of her own to pay the<br />
debt. Young Elisha responded by having her borrow as many vessels as she could and pour out<br />
her oil into the vessels. As old Elijah had earlier done, the oil was multiplied and the widow was<br />
able to sell it and pay her family’s debts. She even had enough left over to meet the needs of her<br />
family.