The Days of Elisha and Our Day
2 Kings 1-13
Elisha's God and Ours
December 10, 2023 • Pastor Mark Johnson • 2 Kings 13
Elijah passed the baton (mantle) to Elisha who asked, “where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah.” Throughout 50 years of ministry, Yahweh was faithful and worked through the prophet Elisha. In Bible reading, look for what God is like and what is His plan into which we may fit. We need to know that He is the same God (Heb. 13:8).
Avoiding Spiritual Failure
December 3, 2023 • Pastor Phillip Macdonald • 2 Kings 12
In 2 Kings 11 we saw that God providentially preserved the Davidic line by protecting Joash from Queen Anthelia’s genocide. Rising to the throne at the age of seven, King Joash has a promising start, but a tragic end. Joash’s forty-year-reign is mingled with compromise, idolatry, and wickedness. How can we protect ourselves from spiritually crumbling like Joash? We can avoid spiritual failure through remembering and committing to God’s truth, and trusting ultimately in King Jesus.
Saving Christmas
November 26, 2023 • Pastor Mark Johnson • 2 Kings 11
What are godly people to think when evil seems to triumph? Jehu, anointed by Elisha’s student, destroyed Baalism in the Northern Kingdom; but he was condemned for the way that he did it (Hosea 1:4-5). Now, 2 Kings 11 brought a dark day for the Southern Kingdom, Judah as evil seemed to prevail and unseat God’s plan.
God's Scourge
November 19, 2023 • Pastor Mark Johnson • 2 Kings 10
The lives of Elijah and Elisha remind us that, “God buries his workers, but continues His work.” According to 1 Kings 19:15-17, Elijah was to anoint Elisha, Jehu, and Hazael. Elijah did anoint Elisha; but it was Elisha who anointed Hazel and one of Elisha’s disciples who anointed Jehu. Pastor Phillip introduced us to Jehu in 2 Kings 9 and reminded us that, “God judges sin in His time and His way.” Chapter 10 unfolds more about God’s justice and the need to evaluate our true heart.
The Rise of Jehu and Fall of Jezebel
November 5, 2023 • Pastor Phillip Macdonald • 2 Kings 9
In 1 Kings 21:17-24, God prophesied through Elijah that judgement would come to Ahab, his wife Jezebel, and his descendants. Yet, twelve years later, Jezebel and Ahab’s descendants are still alive and ruling Israel and Judah. In 2 Kings 9, God anoints Jehu, a commander in Israel’s army, to be king and to be an instrument of His judgement. In this passage we see that God raises and removes kings in His time and in His way.
The Plague of Plagues
October 29, 2023 • Pastor Mark Johnson • 2 Kings 8:16–29
“The wages of sin is death.” Puritan Ralph Venning called sin, The Plague of Plagues. Pastor John Piper reminds us that “human history is a conveyor belt of corpses” (Coronavirus and Christ). God means for the horror of disease, death, and brokenness in our world to call us to face sin’s consequences and our need of Jesus. This was certainly evident during the Kingdom period of the Old Testament.
The Unseen Hand
October 22, 2023 • Pastor Mark Johnson • 2 Kings 8:1–15
In the “Days of Elisha and Our Day,” we should be so thankful for the providence of our all-powerful and sovereign God. Providence is God’s purposeful sovereignty or “the hand of God in the glove of history.” Watching it work through Elisha both reassures and warns.
Shock and Awe
October 15, 2023 • Pastor Mark Johnson • 2 Kings 6:24—7:20
In the Days of Elisha, God was calling Israel back to Himself and even showed mercy to the enemy nation of Syria. In spite of that mercy Syria quickly returned and the northern kingdom of Israel found itself on the ropes. God’s Word was needed desperately and God continued to reveal it through His prophet.
A Look Behind The Scenes
October 8, 2023 • Pastor Phillip Macdonald • 2 Kings 6:8–23
In 2 Kings 6:8-23, God provides a “look behind the scenes,” as he allows Elisha and his servant to see the invisible chariots of fire which outnumber the Syrian army. God does not typically grant such visions of the spiritual realities all around us. However, God inspires this historical event to be recorded in Scripture to build our trust in his omniscience and omnipotence. God always has the power to protect his people and control his enemies for the sake of his glory.
God's Power in the Unexpected
October 1, 2023 • Pastor Mark Johnson • 2 Kings 6:1–7
Throughout the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, God regularly showed His superiority to any other god, especially the popular god Baal. The prophets were the spiritual leaders during these days of wickedness in the Northern Kingdom of Israel; and more and more “sons of the prophets” were being trained. In this passage, an unexpected need arose. In unusual Biblical incidents like this, take the Bible as it is and watch for what we learn about our God…
Our Missionary God
September 24, 2023 • Pastor Mark Johnson • 2 Kings 5
Luke 4:16-30 described a shocking scene when Jesus visited the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth. Jesus brought up the names of Elisha and Naaman; but it was not well received. The name Elisha meant “My God is salvation.” And the Old Testament had made clear (for example in Genesis 18:25, Psalm 96:1-3, and Jonah 4) that it was God’s plan to offer salvation to the Jew first, “but also to the Gentiles” of all nations.
God Provides
September 17, 2023 • Pastor Mark Johnson • 2 Kings 4:38–44
“Give us this day our daily bread,” sounds hollow in a culture like ours, but was a critical reality in many biblical situations and in much of our world today. The repeated word in these two accounts of Elisha’s miracles is “eat.” Does God care about mundane needs? We may not feel much physical hunger; but oh how we need “The LORD our Provider” (Genesis 22:14).
Our Ultimate Enemy Defeated
September 10, 2023 • Pastor Mark Johnson • 2 Kings 4:8–37
We are currently studying The Days of Elisha and Our Day from 2 Kings 1-13. Chapters 4-6 show Yahweh as Victor over debt, death, drought, disease and difficulty. God was not obliged to help powerful idolatrous kings (3:14); but He did care for the nameless and helpless (4:1-7).
Helping The Helpless
September 3, 2023 • Pastor Phillip Macdonald • 2 Kings 4:1–7
As kings battle against one another in dramatic fashion (2 Kings 3), there is a nameless needy widow in Israel whom most would have overlooked. However, God compassionately hears her cries and meets her needs abundantly. Our God faithfully helps the helpless. Do you feel overlooked, needy, helpless, or worried about the future? Second Kings 4:1-7 shows us how we can turn to and trust in God who listens and provides for his own.