Naaman is a leader in the Syrian army who has one great problem and that is leprosy. Naaman begins our story as a pagan but he humbles himself, is cleansed of his leprosy by the waters of the Jordan and he puts his faith in the God of Israel. An early Christian named Irenaeus saw a connection between Naaman's cleansing of his leprosy by water and our baptism. We will explore that connection in this podcast. 

David gives us timely teaching in this Psalm. You may feel like the foundations of our society have eroded and your values are no longer championed by your neighbor. David felt the same way and gives us instructions. We are to take refuge in the Lord and stand strong. In the end, we will win in Jesus Christ even if the world turns against us. 

Elisha promises a son to the Shunammite woman and the son tragically dies. Elisha heals her son and works a wonderful miracle.

Elisha is continuing his ministry to Israel in this chapter. His miracles take the form of sustaining life through the giving of oil and food as well as giving a child to a couple who were barren.

After Elijah has been taken up, Elisha's new status is put to the test not just by the sons of the prophets - people "on his side," - but by a group of young boys who doubt his authority from Yahweh.

The antipode to suffering is to remember God's goodness. Thanksgiving is the key to getting through adversity. David reflects on the past deliverance of God when he looks ahead to hard things to come. 

Ahab was warned by God that he would die and he was under God's judgment. Ahab was warned by the prophet Micaiah that he would die in battle but he spurned the counsel of God's prophet. In this story, we see the death of an evil king and the sovereignty of God at work. 

Ahab receives Micaiah's true prophecy yet disregards its message as from Yahweh. Ahab and Jehoshaphat still go into battle and the prophecy comes true - Ahab dies in battle. Jehoshaphat lives on though and appears to receive glowing remarks from the narrator.

Ahab calls on Jehoshaphat to fight a battle at Ramoth-Gilead. Before doing so, Jehoshaphat asks to hear from a prophet from the Lord only to hear from 400 false prophets. He discerns this and asks to hear from another before going to battle with Ahab.