Elishah raises a child

28“Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”

29Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don’t greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.”

30But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.

31Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”

32When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch.33He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm. 35Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

36Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.” 37She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out. 

Thoughts: This is a great example of Elishahs gift of the Spirit.  He blessed a woman who helped the Lord's cause.  She miraculously had a son in her old age.  Howedver he became sick.  Elishah raised him from the dead so that the woman and all the world would know- God not only gives life- He sustains it and raises it up.  

Prayer: Lord, let me understand and trust that you give life and restore life too  

Passing the Mantle On

9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

10“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

11As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

13Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. (2 Kings 2)

Thoughts: Elisha wanted to inherit Elijah's prophetic ability.  He used the inheritance language "double portion" which does not mean twice as much but to inherit the main portion.  The mantle that Elijah wrapped around Elisha was a symbol of his passing the faith and the power of the Holy Spirit on.  He struck the river and the river stopped like when Joshua stopped the Jordan or Moses parted the Red Sea.  The water divided for Elisha indicating that the Spirit passes on.  God does not leave Himself without a witness.  He is still at work. 

Prayer: Lord, raise up someone who has a double portion.  May your Spirit work again to revive us for your glory.  

The Real Lord of Life

New International Version The Lord’s Judgment on Ahaziah 1After Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.” 3But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’4Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!’ ” So Elijah went. 5When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you come back?” 6“A man came to meet us,” they replied. “And he said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!” ’ ” 7The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?” 8They replied, “He had a garment of haira and had a leather belt around his waist.” The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.” 9Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’ ” 10Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. 11At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, this is what the king says, ‘Come down at once!’ ” 12“If I am a man of God,” Elijah replied, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. 13So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! 14See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!” 15The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king. 16He told the king, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!” 17So he died, according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. (2 Kings 1)  Thoughts: The king got sick.  instead of praying to the Lord, he sent after the witch doctors of Baal.  He was, by doing this, putting his faith and trust in Baal as the one who gives life.  Elijah put a stop to the inquiry, so the king tried to arrest Elijah.  God miraculously prevented it.  But God allowed Elijah to visit the king safely to present him the message that he would die because he did not seek the Lord.       Sometimes we think that governmental power and monetary power is the only power that there is.  But God is the greatest power of all.  He has the power of life and death and the power to keep us safe.   Prayer: Lord, Help me to put my trust in you to protect us and grow in our faith.

Ahab rebuked by Elijah

17Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18“Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’ ”

20Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!”

“I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free.^a 22I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’ (2 Kings 20)

Thoughts: Ahab wanted Naboth's vineyard as Naboth had made it beautiful- it was his family's land.  But because Naboth wouldn't sell it, Ahab sulked and his wife Jezebel developed a plan.  She would set Naboth up and have him unjustly condemned and killed.  Then they would take the vineyard.  This happened.  But God cares for everyone and cares that kings treat his subjects justly. 
     Elijah was called by God to rebuke Ahab.  Ahab, as evil as he was, repented and God delayed his family's punishment.  Anyone can be forgiven- even Ahab.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you care and want us to act kindly and justly toward others.  

God has a purpose

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

11The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

15The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.18Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

THOUGHTS: God sometimes speaks through natural disaster- earthquake, wind, and fire.  But this time he spoke to Elijah in a "gentle whisper" or "Still small voice" (KJV).  God asked what he was doing there.  The answer could have been I am tired and depressed and afraid. 
       God is giving Elijah hope. He tells him to get some leadership help- Elishah, Hazael, and Jehu.  He also tells him that his power will come back through these leaders.  He also tells Elijah there are 7,000 who have not polluted the true worship of God with Baal worship.  God is not without the church.  There never has been a time and never will be a time.  God is on the throne.  He was still working with Elijah though he  thought his time was up.  With the sharp rise of suicides lately, perhaps all of us can recognize this with Elijah.  He was willing for God to take him home.  But God was not finished with him yet, though Elijah thought he was finished.  God has a purpose for everyone.  

Prayer: Lord, when I feel used up, let me know of your love.

Elijah and the angel

1Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

3Elijah was afraid^a and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

7The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9There he went into a cave and spent the night. (1 Kings 19)

Thoughts: It is amazing that Elijah had just proved that the Lord is God and all the people confirmed this.  Yet Jezebel was determined to kill Elijah and he had to run for his life.  No one supported Elijah.  He was deserted though he was proved right. He was depressed and exhausted.  As great a prophet as Elijah was, he was overwhelmed with sadness and tiredness.  The angel of the Lord came, however, to encourage and strengthen him.  He thought he was the only one left and he was to be killed.  He felt alone and deeply sad for the cause of God and for his own cause.  But God strengthened him and spoke to him words of hope in the next verses. 

Prayer: Lord, may I always find hope in you.  When I am alone, let me find hope in you. 

A case for a True Religion in a Secular Society

22Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

25Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26So they took the bull given them and prepared it.

Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

27At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” 32With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs^a of seed. 33He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”

34“Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.

“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

36At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

38Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

39When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”

40Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.

41And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

43“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

“There is nothing there,” he said.

Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

44The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

45Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

Thoughts: There are those who truly believe the Postmodern dictum that there is no truth and that all philosophies are of equal value (morally, spiritually, and truly equivalent).  It is almost impossible to reason with those who believe such things.  They would say to hold up one God as being the true God means to divide society and the world.  However, I would contend that to hold up  truth does not devalue falseness it gives a common goal.  If someone is seeing double looking at the moon- and I point out which is the true moon they are seeing- I am not devaluing the false moon- it never had value in the first place- it was not real-only an illusion. 
     So in Ahab's day people would say they believed in the Lord, but also say they believed in Baal or Ashtoreth.  Similar to our day in the West these false gods encouraged sexual immorality as a part of their "worship" (Using temple and shrine prostitutes in an effort to bring rain).  So we elevate sexuality in our culture to something that we have to have to exist or for our happiness.  We have made light of those who try to keep themselves in any kind of purity sexually.  We have forced out the Elijahs who call us to follow the ways of the Lord (who tells us to not commit adultery). 
     There is also the moral equivalence of prayer.  The thing I am hearing today is that prayer is offensive and wrong.  The Rotarian magazine had articles and editorials about how poems are just as good as prayers. Praying to nothing or reading a poem to no one means nothing.  If there is a god- that is not true. If God cares at all, then God cares how we pray. Prayers to any god are not the same as prayers to every god.  In a truly free world people should have the right to pray however they wish, and others should not be offended. II they pray in Jesus' name or any other name it should not drive them crazy.  I would like to hold up Jesus' name against the name of any other deity invoked in prayer.  .I would hold up the power of praying in the name of a true God against any man made poem.  It takes away freedom to try to squelch prayers- freedom of speech and freedom of worship.  Elijah was right- just propose a contrast- compare someone's poem or someone's prayer to a non-deity to someone praying in the powerful name of the living Christ.  

Prayer: Lord, You are God.  I serve you without shame.  May I call others to question their commitment to you.    

Ahab and Elijah

1Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe^a in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” ...16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

18“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

22Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.” 

Thoughts: Elijah came to Ahab after predicting a drought (and accompanying famine) and predicted rain.  The rain came at Elijah's request in a miraculous way to show the Lord alone is God.  The prophets of Baal tried to elicit the reception of the sacrifice but nothing happened.  Elijah showed who was really God.  In the end, lightning and then rain came as a sign that God had received Elijah's sacrifice.  The people proclaimed that the Lord is God. 
   However, Jezebel and Ahab tried to kill Elijah.  Proof or no proof they wanted to eliminate the one they saw as opposition.  Ahab called Elijah a "troubler of Israel" simply because he had predicted the drought.  The blame was not Elijah's but the people who had chosen to serve the Baals instead of the Lord.  Ironically no one came to defend Elijah after he had defeated the prophets of Baal with the peoples' approval. 
     When God wins a victory, we need to follow up with it and give Him glory.  

Prayer: Lord, remind me of your power.  Help me to proclaim you are God. 

Ahab the Bad

29In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria.33Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.  (1 Kings 16)

Thoughts: Ahab had the legacy of doing more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any before him.  That is a horrible thing to say.  So how did he do it?  He still knew about the Lord, but he played down the uniqueness of the worship of God.  He not only allowed calf worship (the sins of Jeroboam), but also brought back the fertility gods Baal and Ashtoreth.  Jezebel was a princess of Sidon who encouraged fertility worship.  In the end, the worship of the Lord was minimalized- only Micaiah and then Elijah were left as prophets of the Lord, while Baal had thousands supplemented by the king.  Omri and Ahab had great power and military might.  But Ahab had public conflicts with Elijah and with the Lord.  In the end, Ahab died a hard death- prophesied by God and happening with a random arrow.  We should not go our own way.  We should seek to please God and not be embarrassed to forsake all other gods.  

Prayer: Lord, let me have a one hearted love for you.  

The king's miracle

Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,^b from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

5Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6and said:

“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

10“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

13All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.

14Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

15He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ”

18Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his^c holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,

for his love endures forever.”

22As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

24When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.

Thoughts: This is the good king's miracle.  He had three kings allied against him and they outnumbered Judah's armies by far.  Judah's ally- Israel was too weakened to help.  But Jehoshaphat had an ally they did not recognize-- the Lord. Jehoshaphat did not even have to fight, God fought for them.  Jehoshaphat's first act of defense was to call a prayer meeting.  As they left Jerusalem to fight they blew trumpets and sang.  God heard their praises and fought for them.  The enemies of Judah turned on each other.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to simply trust in my own abilities- but to trust in you.