2 Kings 8:25-29 ESV

25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign. 26 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab.

28 He went with Joram the son of Ahab to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29 And King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

25 Nang ikalabindalawang taon ni Joram na anak ni Ahab, na hari ng Israel, nagsimulang maghari si Ahazias na anak ni Jehoram na hari sa Juda. 26 Si Ahazias ay dalawampu't dalawang taong gulang nang siya'y magsimulang maghari; at siya'y naghari sa loob ng isang taon sa Jerusalem. Ang pangalan ng kanyang ina ay Atalia na apo ni Omri na hari ng Israel. 27 Siya'y lumakad din sa landas ng sambahayan ni Ahab, at gumawa ng kasamaan sa paningin ng PANGINOON, gaya ng ginawa ng sambahayan ni Ahab, sapagkat siya'y manugang sa sambahayan ni Ahab. 28 Siya'y sumama kay Joram na anak ni Ahab upang makipagdigma laban kay Hazael na hari ng Siria sa Ramot-gilead, na doon ay sinugatan ng mga taga-Siria si Joram. 29 Si Haring Joram ay bumalik sa Jezreel upang magpagaling sa kanyang mga sugat na likha ng mga taga-Siria sa Rama nang siya'y lumaban kay Hazael na hari ng Siria. Si Ahazias na anak ni Jehoram, na hari ng Juda ay lumusong upang tingnan si Joram na anak ni Ahab sa Jezreel, sapagkat siya'y sugatan.

THE WAY OF AHAB

When Ahaziah succeded the throne of his father Jehoram at Judah, he ‘walked in the way of Ahab’ like his father. Most likely, his mother Athaliah had influenced him greatly. As the saying goes, “Apples don’t fall far from the trees.” Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, the most wicked king and queen of Israel. She did introduce the Baal worship in Judah.

Understably, there was a peace between the Northern and Southern kingdoms. But, clearly, through this relationship, Ahaziah had implicated himself in the King Joram’s troubles. He had to fight Syria with King Joram, his uncle. This was the price of compromises in relationship. He had to visit Joram, his uncle who was the king of Israel, who was wounded in battle, in order to help him.

The embrace of idolatry had paved the way in fostering relationship between the two kingdoms. However, this had angered God. God is a zealous God. We have to serve God alone and to despise idols. He commanded us through Moses, “You shall have no other gods before me.“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,Should we sacrifice the truth for unity? What is the basis of true unity? Is it not our unity in Christ.”[Ex 20:3-5]

Today, let us be sure not to sacrifice our relationship with God for the sake of external peace. Jesus wants us to walk in the light and not in darkness. It’s impossible to mix both as paddling two rivers with one canoe. “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” [1 John 1:5,6]

2 Kings 8:16-19 ESV

16 In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. 17 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 19 Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.

A LAMP TO DAVID.

After the time of King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel split into 2, namely; the kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel. These two nations, essentially brothers, were in conflict for about 60 years. It was when Jehoshaphat came to power in Judah, that there was finally peace between Judah and Israel. One of the symbols of that peace was the marriage between Jehoshaphat’s son, Jehoram and Ahab’s daughter, but that marriage proved to be the start of corruption of Judah. It was Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, that brought Baal worship into the kingdom of Israel. Now it was Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter, Athaliah, who would bring Baal worship into the kingdom of Judah. Spiritual darkness had set in the kingdom.

How wicked was Jehoram, the king of Judah?

“He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 3 Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. 4 When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel.”[2 Chron 21:2-4] He also brought Baal worship into Judah. Although it may have been the influence of his wife, Athaliah, Jehoram approved and had a temple of Baal built in Judah (it was destroyed in 2 Kings 11:18). More than that, he led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to worship Baal, as Ahab did (2 Chr 21:13) – and the way Ahab made people worship Baal was to persecute the prophets of the true God. Jehoram killed his brothers, established Baal worship, and coerced the people of Judah to commit idolatry.

Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever. King David had been dead by now for over 100 years, but God remembered his promise to David, and he remembered his love for David. How would David know since he had died many years earlier already? But God kept it. He loved David so much so that he was not willing to break the promise he made. God did promise to king David that through him, he would establish his kingdom forever. This promise cannot be fulfilled if he discredits all of David’s descendants. That is what he should do, but for David’s sake he was not willing to destroy Judah.

Many dynasties had started and have long gone in the past, but David’s dynasty still stands today. The lamp for David has represented all of his sons, and his line extended into the future. Thus, when Christ was born into the line of David. For Jesus is the fulfilment of the covenant of God to David. Jesus Christ is God who came in the flesh, who died on the cross for our sins, and he rose again from the dead, never again to die. Jesus lives, today and forever – so that, He is the fulfillment of God’s promise to establish the throne of David forever.

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2 Kings 8:7-15 ESV

7 Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8 the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.” 11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” 14 Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.

REMORSELESS.

Benhadad was desperate to ask help for healing. He asked Hazael, who brought extravagant gifts [40 camel-loads of goods] with him, to Elisha, who was in town. He wanted prognosis about his future more than seeking for revenge for the past. It is ironical that he consulted the Lord while an Isralite king Ahaziah in the past had consulted Baal-zebub.

And, as Hazael told Elisha, he must had been puzzled to hear the prophet’s answer. Elisha said, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.” Furthermore, Hazael should had humbled and felt embarassed himself upon hearing the reason of the prophet’s weeping. Elisha wept because he knew beforehand that Hazael would become king someday and will harass his people ruthlessly. He said, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.”

Simply said, Hazael had a wicked plan to usurp the kingdom and Elisha knew everything about it. The Lord had revealed it to Elisha. Sadly, he has had an unconscionable or hardened heart. It was so hard that he just answered nonchalantly, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” The words and tears of the prophet did not soften his heart. He went back to Syria and murdered the king by suffocating him in a cold blood and clandestine fashion.

A hardened heart is impervious to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. The Spirit’s role is to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. [John 16:9,10] Thus, if we sinned and we feel guilty, we must be thankful. For, such feeling of shame and guilt do remind us of the grace of God for making our hearts sensitive. Let’s therefore “exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”[Heb 3:13]

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2 Kings 8:1-6 ESV

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land. 4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” 5 And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.”

A BLESSING RESTORED.

Before the famine strikes badly, Elisha told the the Shunamite woman to flee to Philistia in order to save her family. Previously, she argued with Elisha that was contented and happy to dwell with her people until the famine came.[see 2 Kings 4:13] Like her, we should be contented with the blessings of life at every situation in our lives until the Lord leads us somewhere. In her case, it was for the safety of her family as the man of God had suggested. Today, poverty and hardships are allowed by God among His people so that they spread [diaspora] and thereby, they spread the gospel also to others.

But, her stay in Philistia was only for seven years. She has had to go back to her homeland after the crisis. Like her, we are reminded that we are ‘strangers in this world’. Our citizenship is in heaven.[Phil 3:20] We must remember that we are just here temporarily.

However, there was a problem when she arrived home. While she was away, somebody took over her land. Perhaps, it was the king himself like what his parents who had done it previously.[read 1 Kings 1] Thus, she went to the royal court to make an appeal to restore her property to her.

When she arrived, the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, He asked him about the deeds Elisha did. As Gehazi was sharing to the king, he saw the woman. Hence, he exclaimed, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” Was this a concidence or God’s providence? After she confirmed herself before the king, she begged for her house and land. Amazingly, the Lord through the king had given more than she asked for. For aside from her house and land, the king ordered that all the income of her land be given to her from the day she left until her arrival.

Indeed, God had honored her who took care the prophet of God. The goodness of the Lord is always suprising and overflowing. Jesus had taught, “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”[Luke 6:38]

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2 Kings 7:16-20 ESV

16 Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. 17 Now the king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. And the people trampled him in the gate, so that he died, as the man of God had said when the king came down to him. 18 For when the man of God had said to the king, “Two seahs of barley shall be sold for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,” 19 the captain had answered the man of God, “If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he had said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 20 And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate and he died.

16 Pagkatapos ang taong-bayan ay lumabas at sinamsaman ang kampo ng mga taga-Siria. Kaya't ang isang takal ng mainam na harina ay naipagbili ng isang siklo, at ang dalawang takal ng sebada ay isang siklo, ayon sa salita ng PANGINOON. 17 At inihabilin ng hari sa punong-kawal na sinasandalan ng kanyang kamay sa pangangasiwa sa pintuang-bayan, at pinagtatapakan siya ng taong-bayan sa pintuang-bayan, kaya't siya'y namatay na gaya ng sinabi ng tao ng Diyos nang pumunta ang hari sa kanya. 18 At nangyari, gaya ng sinabi ng tao ng Diyos sa hari, na sinasabi, “Ang dalawang takal ng sebada ay maipagbibili ng isang siklo, at ang isang takal ng mainam na harina ay isang siklo, bukas sa mga ganitong oras sa pintuang-bayan ng Samaria;” 19 ang punong-kawal ay sumagot sa tao ng Diyos, at nagsabi, “Kung mismong ang PANGINOON ay gagawa ng mga durungawan sa langit, mangyayari ba ang gayong bagay?” At kanyang sinabi, “Makikita mo iyon ng iyong mga mata, ngunit hindi ka kakain mula roon.” 20 Kaya't iyon ang nangyari sa kanya, sapagkat tinapakan siya ng taong-bayan hanggang sa namatay sa pintuang-bayan.

THE PRICE FOR INSULTING GOD.

Certainly, the four lepers had enjoyed the blessings. And, because they changed their minds, they became also a source of blessings to the hungry dwellers of the city. In contrast, the scornful captain was trampled to death by the stampede, having not able to enjoy the blessing.

His death appeared like an accident. But, it was not. The prophet Elisha had predicted that he would die in the midst of blessing. It’s ironical, is it not? The price of mocking God or going against God. Man had a free course to resist God. But, the consequence would be disastrous. Is there anybody who could dare to go against God?

In the book of Acts, the council of Pharisees vehemently opposed the preaching of the gospel so that they wanted to kill the apostles. But, one of them named Gamaliel said, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice” [Acts 5:35b-39]

Simply said, God is in control even though skeptics and violent people are opposed to Him and His work. He does not need our help so that like the apostles we can rest by praying unto Him should opposition comes. As Paul has said, if God is for us, who can be against us. Nobody.

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2 Kings 7:9-16 ESV

9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king's household.” 10 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were.” 11 Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king's household. 12 And the king rose in the night and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.’” 13 And one of his servants said, “Let some men take five of the remaining horses, seeing that those who are left here will fare like the whole multitude of Israel who have already perished. Let us send and see.” 14 So they took two horsemen, and the king sent them after the army of the Syrians, saying, “Go and see.” 15 So they went after them as far as the Jordan, and behold, all the way was littered with garments and equipment that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king.

WE ARE NOT DOING RIGHT.

The lepers walked into the camp as unwitting victors. Their first thoughts were to amass wealth and food for themselves. After hiding a lot of stuff, they came to their senses, saying, “ We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king's household.”

Thus, they went to tell the gatekeepers of the city, who relayed the news to the king. The king was suspicious at first thinking the Syrians were hiding for an ambush. Hence, he sent two horsemen to investigate. They went as far as the Jordan and found the route littered with garments and equipments the Syrians had thrown in haste. They turned back and told the king. The people were allowed to go inside the camp and got food for themselves. In other words, the four lepers had saved the whole city from dying in hunger because they cared to tell the good news.

In like manner, we are not doing right if we keep the good news to ourselves. The souls of men are hopeless. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[c] by which we must be saved.”[Acts 4:12] Christ is the only hope to this dying world. We have the moral obligation to proclaim Him to the lost. As Paul said, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”[1 Cor 2:2] The lost should hear the gospel. “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”[Rom 10:13-17]

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2 Kings 7:3-8 ESV

3 Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.” 5 So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there. 6 For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.” 7 So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. 8 And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them.

WHY ARE WE SITTING HERE UNTIL WE DIE?

The famine was so severe in Samaria. And, four lepers were found sitting at the entrance of the city. As outcasts, they were desperate for help. Death was looming in the near future, inevitably. They couldn’t prevent it. However, they thought what would be a better option to die.

There were three options. Remaining at the gate and doing nothing surely will lead to their death. This is raising the white flag that there is no future. It’s experiencing death while still being alive. That is, having no more will to survive.

The second option is for them to enter into the city. But, the famine was so severe inside. It is a decision equivalent to a suicide. Asking help from desperate people inside would be compounding the problem. Why? The city would have another four stomach to feed.

Their third option was to try their luck at the Syrian camp. This was what they chose. The Syrian army had looted the city so that they brought with them the spoils. Food was abundance at the camp. However, there was a fifty-fifty possibility that they would survive. For, either the Syrians would feed them or kill them.

But, when they arrived at the camp at twilight, nobody was there. In haste, they abandoned and fled for their lives for they heard sound of chariots and horses believing they were attacked by the Hittites and Egyptians. Thus, the four lepers went in and ate and drank from tent to tent, carrying off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them, again and again.

Like them, we couldn’t prevent death. And we should ask, “Why make our lives idle until we die?” Is there not a better way of dying? Paul had expressed, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”[Phil 1:21] We can’t prevent death but we may choose how to. Our choice to die in and for Christ will determine definitely our daily walk in life. We should live for Christ each day should we want to die in Him someday. Or, when He comes again, He should find us with our boots on.

Otherwise, we will suffer loss. Jesus desires for us to occupy until He comes. Let’s not ‘bury’ our lives and waste it for nothing. Our lives are expendable, either to something temporal and fleeting or eternal and lasting.

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2 Kings 7:1-2 ESV

But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” 2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

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Ngunit sinabi ni Eliseo, “Pakinggan ninyo ang salita ng PANGINOON. Ganito ang sabi ng PANGINOON: Bukas sa ganitong oras, ang isang takal ng piling harina ay ipagbibili ng isang siklo, at ang dalawang takal ng sebada sa isang siklo sa pintuang-bayan ng Samaria.” 2 Nang magkagayon, ang punong-kawal na sa kanyang kamay ay nakahilig ang hari, ay sumagot sa tao ng Diyos, “Kung mismong ang PANGINOON ang gagawa ng mga dungawan sa langit, ito na kaya iyon?” Ngunit kanyang sinabi, “Makikita mo iyon ng iyong mga mata, ngunit hindi ka kakain mula roon.”

THE LORD IS IN CONTROL.

Against the backdrop of the king’s impatience was God’s promise through Elisha that the famine would end in the next 24 hours. He said to the king’s captain, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.”

For the captain it was too good to be true due to the severity of the famine. Thus, was skeptical. He even m God for it. For his insult to God’s word, Elisha pronounced that he would witness the miracle but won’t be able to eat God’s provision.

What is possible with God should not be measured by what is possibly conceivable for mortals. “For nothing will be impossible with God.”[Luke 1:37] Thus in praying we must believe that God is able to do the unthinkable. The prophet Jeremiah says,” Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” [Jer 33:3] Even in the New Testament, Paul said, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”[Eph 3:20,21]

God has promised not to leave us nor forsake us, hasn’t He? Amidst the threat of lack, He would provide our needs. Paul says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”[Phil 4:19] Could we be calm and content before God? As the writer of Hebrews says;

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

what can man do to me?’ “[Heb 13:5,6]

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2 Kings 6:24-33 ESV

24 Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver. 26 Now as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” 27 And he said, “If the Lord will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?” 28 And the king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ 29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.” 30 When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes—now he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body— 31 and he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.”

32 Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Now the king had dispatched a man from his presence, but before the messenger arrived Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent to take off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door fast against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?” 33 And while he was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, “This trouble is from the Lord! Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”

A DESPERATE KING.

The next siege of Samaria by the Syrian king Behadad was significantly more serious. There was a severe famine so that “a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels.” One woman was even prompted to do the unthinkable. She resorted to cannibalism, eating her own son with another woman. She complained that this woman hid her son when it was the time to et her son also. Definitely, there are times that physical hunger may overrule one’s morality. Physical hardships may drive people to neglect moral values and do the unimaginable.

When the king of Israel knew this predicament of the two mothers, he felt helpless. He said, “If the Lord will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?” Only the Lord could provide needs. And the king seemed to recognize this by his mourning and wearing of sackcloth.

The king should have waited the Lord but he became impatient. His impatience had led him to blaming Elisha, thereby blaming God. He blamed Elisha for not taking action. This is strange to somebody who invoked the name of God. Does he believe that that the prophet has in control of their own and their destinies? Is removing Elisha would solve the problem?

In this time of pandemic, are we desperate as the king of Israel? However, are we like him who is frustrated for His silence and inaction? The mixed multitude did the same to Moses when they were trapped before the Red Sea.

Let us always remember that God wants us to trust Him and not our notion. Prov 3:5-6 says;

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.”

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2 Kings 6:20-23 ESV

20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.

20 Pagkarating nila sa Samaria, sinabi ni Eliseo, “O Panginoon, imulat mo ang mga mata ng mga lalaking ito upang sila'y makakita.” Iminulat ng Panginoon ang kanilang mga mata at kanilang nakita na sila'y nasa loob ng Samaria. 21 Nang sila'y makita ng hari ng Israel, sinabi niya kay Eliseo, “Ama ko, papatayin ko ba sila? Papatayin ko ba sila?” 22 Siya'y sumagot, “Huwag mo silang papatayin. Papatayin mo ba ang binihag ng iyong tabak at ng iyong pana? Maghain ka ng tinapay at tubig sa harapan nila, upang sila'y makakain at makainom, at magsiparoon sa kanilang panginoon.” 23 Kanyang ipinaghanda sila ng malaking handaan; at nang sila'y makakain at makainom, kanyang pinahayo sila, at sila'y pumunta sa kanilang panginoon. At ang mga taga-Siria ay hindi na sumalakay pa sa lupain ng Israel.

WHEN GOD OPENED THEIR EYES.

The blinded Syrian army was at the mercy of the seer, Elisha, who led them out of Dothan to Samaria. This blindness must not be physical but rather a dazed condition so that they were easily manipulated by Elisha. And, the king of Israel took this as an opportunity to kill the army mercilessly. Afterall, they are an enemy.

Elisha, however, differed him strongly, by saying, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” Christians should have a magnanimous spirit as Jesus said. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”[Matt 5:43-48]

Even, Solomon has admonished us, saying, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.” [Prov 24:17] The reason is that to show vengeance belongs to the Lord alone. Paul explains, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” [Rom 12:19-21]

The Lord had opened the eyes not only to the Syrian armies but to the king of Israel also. He understood what the prophet were saying. Interestingly, the goodness that the prophet Elisha and the king of Israel in sending the Syrian army back unharmed had paid dividends. The Syrian did not come for raids anymore to the land of Israel. At the end of the day, we have seen thatall of their eyes, that of Elisha, the king of Israel and the Syrian army, were opened to see God. And, they experienced the peace among themselves, correspondingly.