Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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MAIN IDEA: Our holy God will do whatever it takes to protect His name, His fame, His people, and His covenant promises regardless of man’s opinion’s, the state of the world, or the state of His people.
Introduction
Read the Text
Have you ever been in a situation where someone says something and you say, “Wait, I am going to need some context?”
OR “OK, I need to hear more.”
EXAMPLE: Weeping uncontrollably after Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
People usually want to hear more (or at least sometimes).
Will Smith slapped Chris Rock
Context is key, especially in strange places.
Read the Text
Sit in Shock
What do we do with this?
This is why reading the OT can be difficult.
We have to do the hard work to understand and be faithful to the God who has spoken to His people through His word.
Historical Context/Key Background Information (WHERE ARE WE PLACED?)
WHEN IS THIS HAPPENING?
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (I.
The Divided Kingdom (9th–7th cents b.c.))
Upon Solomon’s death his kingdom split into the southern kingdom of Judah, headed by his son Rehoboam, and the northern kingdom of Israel, led by the rebel Jeroboam I.
The northern kingdom, which was more open to the influence of its pagan neighbors in Phoenicia and Syria, had a history characterized by spiritual apostasy and political instability.
The northern kingdom was also the first to succumb to the expansion of the powerful Assyrian empire in the 8th century.
ELISHA’S CALL: The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Elisha’s Calling and Training by Elijah)
This scene sets the stage for the remainder of Elisha’s career.
His life is centered around economic success, and while engaged in the everyday task of tilling the soil, he encounters God and is immediately and irrevocably transformed (Soloveitchick, Lonely Man of Faith, 103–06).
Suddenly, class and wealth are dispensable; Elisha turns his prized oxen into a barbecue for “the people” of his community and joins Elijah on the road as his aide (1 Kgs 19:21).
PERIOD OF TRAINING: The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Elisha’s Calling and Training by Elijah)
After Elisha’s recruitment, he is not mentioned until the scene where Elijah is taken up to heaven (2 Kgs 2:1–12).
This gap in Elisha’s story is generally understood as a period of training.
After the removal of Elijah from His ministry and this world Elisha takes up the role of God’s Prophet.
He also is looked to by his own prophetic schools as the leader although it is not formal at this point.
Elisha receives a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.
This spirit and ministry, God would use to influence and minister to the Kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom.
His ministry would span all classes of society and even in death God used Him to overcome illness and death in others.
(his bones revived a man when they touched him).
Elisha would be God’s Prophet to continue to be the means by which the people of God would hear His voice and be called to covenant faithfulness.
Canonical Context
Before seeking to understand and apply any text we must place ourselves in the canonical or covenant context.
Adam
Humanity to Fill the Earth with God’s Glory in God’s Presence
Abraham (New Humanity to Form New People, Bless the World)
New Humanity through Abraham to Know God and Bless the World
Moses
Prophet/Priest to Liberate and Lead People Out of Slavery Into Blessed Place with God
Mt Sinai/Old Covenant
A Kingdom to Be Priests to the Nations and City on a Hill
Gather the World to Israel to Know God and Be Blessed
David/Solomon
New King to Establish a Throne through Israel to Rule the World
Davidic King to Be Avenue and Head of Blessing and Knowledge of God
Divided Kingdom (Failure of Israel)
King David and Solomon Fail
Israel Fails God, God judges Israel
Still looking for Davidic King, True Transformation of His People, and the Establishment of God’s Kingdom on Earth
Yet, God Does Not Leave Israel
Faithfulness and Love Still Present
Future Relief and Salvation
Coming Exile from the Promised Land Due to Sin
THEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND: PROPHET Deuteronomy 18:14-19
Before understanding a text we must make sure we understand important theological themes that may be in the background of assumed understanding for the original audience.
Prophet plays an important role after the time of Moses.
God promises a future prophet and creates the office of prophet to be a critical means by which His Presence, Word, and Activity is experienced.
Two Realities: The Starting Point--God Condemns False Prophets and God Curses those that Reject/Ignore His Prophets
When judgement like our story does NOT happen it is absolute mercy and grace.
It should not be shocking.
Immediate Biblical Context and Story
THE DRAMATIC FLOW OF 1 KINGS INTO 2 KINGS
Over the past few chapters the writer of 1, 2 Kings has slowly set the stage for a new chapter in the history.
Ahab has died, leaving behind a legacy of military strength, moral weakness, tolerance for Baalism and Jeroboam’s cult, and a vicious queen who has yet to pass from the scene.
Elijah remains in the picture, but he has already chosen Elisha to take his place as the Lord’s spokesman (cf. 1 Kgs 19:16, 19–21).
Evidently he will soon give way to his successor, who has committed himself unreservedly to his calling but has not yet proven himself as a “man of God” or “prophet in Israel.”
Joram has followed Ahab’s son Ahaziah on the throne, and readers await the fulfillment of Elijah’s prediction that Ahab’s whole household will be wiped out as a result of their “father’s” sins (cf. 1 Kgs 21:21–22).
Judah seems weak and silent.
Syria despises their southern neighbors, which indicates more war will soon occur.
Thus, the reader has now come to a pivotal point in the accounts.
Old characters will be replaced; new dilemmas will arise.
This story demonstrates and reminds us that our God is the Holy One who is always at work in times of disaster and chaos.
So, where are we in history?
SINFUL/DIVIDED ISRAEL LIMITED BY THEIR SIN
Moab, Assyria, and Syria Rising Against Israel/Judah
Cult and Idol Worship
Corrupt Queen and Monarchies (Ahab etc)
Internal Strife and Resistance to Israel’s Corrupt Leadership
The Prophetic Institution was Allowed to Thrive, God’s Last Light in the Nation were His Prophets
GOD IS AT WORK THROUGH PROPHETS
Elisha inherits a key role of prophetic correction, rebuke, and call to covenant faithfulness while being a political figure aligned with God’s intent for His people.
GOD IS GRACIOUS TO ISRAEL/JUDAH (PROTECTION, VICTORY, STILL SPEAKING TO THEM)
ISRAEL REMAINS UNFAITHFUL TO GOD DESPITE HIS WORK
Although God will bring judgement He is still always actively working to bring about the fulfillment of His promises.
Bullet Point 1: God is at work in times of impending danger and disobedience.
Elijah Taken Up (2:1-12)
As 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.
12 Elisha 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.
Rich literary reminders of God’s strength and sovereignty over and against other gods in the transition from Elijah to Elisha.
Besides marking him as an extraordinary prophet, Elijah’s death reminds readers of Scripture of other unusual events.
For example, his going skyward in a whirlwind reads much like Job 38:1, where God answers Job out of a similar storm.
Unlike this mostly positive self-revelation to Job, God’s presence in a storm means judgment in Jer 23:19; Zech 9:14; and Ps 83:15.
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