IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Elisha's Last Prophecy

Date: Mar. 19, 2019

Passage

2 Kings 13:14-25 (ESV)

14 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!” 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, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands. 17 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.” 18 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. 19 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.”

20 So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 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.

22 Now Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.

24 When Hazael king of Syria died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. 25 Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from Jehoahaz his father in war. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 13:23

But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.

1. "Shoot!" and "Strike the ground" (14-19)

These were the commands of the old and dying prophet Elisha to Jehoash king of Israel. Elisha was respected as a man of God and father-like prophet in Israel. Elisha put his hands on the king's and then told him to shoot an arrow out the window: "The LORD's arrow of victory over the enemy!" But when the king struck the ground only 3 times, Elisha prophesied only 3 defeats of the enemy.

2. Elisha's life-giving influence (20-25)

During a raid, a man's dead body was thrown into Elisha's tomb, and this dead man came to life! Indeed, Elisha's life of faith and devotion gave life to his people. Aram oppressed Israel. But God, who is gracious and compassionate, was not willing to destroy them. Jehoash defeated Aram 3 times, just as Elisha had prophesied.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, how great is your grace, compassion and faithfulness! In you alone is victory over the enemy.

One Word: Victory is in our gracious and compassionate Lord

Daily Bread

The End of Northern Israel

2 Kings 17:1-23

Key Verse: 17:15

They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do like them.

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