Three Early Lessons from Elisha
Life lessons from Elisha • Sermon • Submitted
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15 When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
16 “Sir,” they said, “just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has left him on some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha said, “don’t send them.”
17 But they kept urging him until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, “All right, send them.” So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah.
18 Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” he asked.
19 One day the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. “We have a problem, my lord,” they told him. “This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.”
20 Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl with salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, “This is what the Lord says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility.”
22 And the water has remained pure ever since, just as Elisha said.
23 Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!”
24 Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.
25 From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel and finally returned to Samaria.
INTRODUCTION:
A- BACKGROUND
B-
I- WE SERVE A GOD WHO CAN ALWAYS BE TRUSTED. (2 Kings 2:15-18)
I- WE SERVE A GOD WHO CAN ALWAYS BE TRUSTED. (2 Kings 2:15-18)
15 When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
16 “Sir,” they said, “just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has left him on some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha said, “don’t send them.”
17 But they kept urging him until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, “All right, send them.” So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah.
18 Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” he asked.
A- It is possible to recognize God’s power without trusting him. (2 Kings 2:15-16)
A- It is possible to recognize God’s power without trusting him. (2 Kings 2:15-16)
15 When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
16 “Sir,” they said, “just say the word and fifty of our strongest men will search the wilderness for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has left him on some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha said, “don’t send them.”
1- The group of prophets recognized God’s power on Elisha.
a- The even verbalized their belief in God’s power in the life of Elisha.
b- They bowed before Elisha in recognition of God’s power in His life.
2- The group of prophets (or at least their leaders) obviously had some theological and practical deficiencies.
a- They had already admitted that they knew that God was going to take Elijah. (2 Kings 2:5-6)
b- They had a poor concept of God - believed that God would have treated his servant contemptably.
(1) They said they thought that the Spirit of God might have “left him on some mountain or in some valley.”
(2)They thought Elijah might need to be rescued by them.
3- They believed in God’s power, but did not trust Him to do good and right.
4- Sometimes people believe that God is powerful, but do not trust in Him.
a- Recognize his creative power, but doubt his sustaining power.
(Colossians 1:15-17)
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
b- Recognize his saving power, but do not trust in Him to provide their needs.
(Colossians 1:23-27)
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.
25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you.
26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people.
27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
(Philippians 4:19)
19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
B- God will always prove to be worthy of our trust. (2 Kings 2:17-18)
B- God will always prove to be worthy of our trust. (2 Kings 2:17-18)
17 But they kept urging him until they shamed him into agreeing, and he finally said, “All right, send them.” So fifty men searched for three days but did not find Elijah.
18 Elisha was still at Jericho when they returned. “Didn’t I tell you not to go?” he asked.
1- God proved himself worthy of trust to the group of the prophets.
2- God has given us assurance that he is absolutely worthy of our trust.
a- He will always do what he promises.
(1 Corinthians 1:9)
9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Titus 1:2)
2 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.
(Hebrews 6:18)
Hebrews 6:18 (NLT)
18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
II- WE SERVE A GOD WHO REDEEMS CIRCUMSTANCES. (2 KINGS 2:19-22)
II- WE SERVE A GOD WHO REDEEMS CIRCUMSTANCES. (2 KINGS 2:19-22)
19 One day the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. “We have a problem, my lord,” they told him. “This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.”
20 Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl with salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, “This is what the Lord says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility.”
22 And the water has remained pure ever since, just as Elisha said.
A- We are to bring our needs to the Lord. (2 Kings 2:19)
A- We are to bring our needs to the Lord. (2 Kings 2:19)
19 One day the leaders of the town of Jericho visited Elisha. “We have a problem, my lord,” they told him. “This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.”
1- The leaders of the town of Jericho recognized that they had a problem for which there was no human solution.
2- The leaders of Jericho recognized that God could solve their problem.
3- The leaders of Jericho made the important step of asking God to solve their problem.
4- You and I need to follow their example.
a- Recognize our own helplessness to solve our problems.
(Job 6:13)
13 No, I am utterly helpless, without any chance of success.
b- Recognize that God can solve our problem.
(Psalm 40:17)
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.
c- Ask God to solve our problem.
(Hebrews 4:16)
16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
B- We are to follow the Lord’s instructions, even when they make no earthly sense. (2 Kings 2:20-21)
B- We are to follow the Lord’s instructions, even when they make no earthly sense. (2 Kings 2:20-21)
20 Elisha said, “Bring me a new bowl with salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he said, “This is what the Lord says: I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or infertility.”
1- The instructions given by Elisha made no sense.
a- the bottom-line: It was not the salt that healed the water spring, it was God!
2- God’s directions often do not make earthly sense.
a- We must remember that God’s ways are beyond our understanding.
(Isaiah 55:8)
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
b- We are to simply trust and obey His instructions.
(Luke 6:46)
46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?
III- WE SERVE A GOD WHO DESERVES OUR RESPECT. (2 Kings 2:23-25)
III- WE SERVE A GOD WHO DESERVES OUR RESPECT. (2 Kings 2:23-25)
23 Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!”
24 Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.
25 From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel and finally returned to Samaria.
A- Demonstrating disrespect for God is a dangerous thing. (2 Kings 2:23)
A- Demonstrating disrespect for God is a dangerous thing. (2 Kings 2:23)
23 Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. “Go away, baldy!” they chanted. “Go away, baldy!”
1- The young me who met Elisha disrespected God and therefore disrespected his prophet.
a- The English translations almost universally mis the fact that these were young men (not boys or children) who knew what they were doing.
(Solomon was at least twenty years old when he commenced to reign, and yet he calls himself נַעַר קָטֹן (1 Kings 3:7).
7 “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around.
Jeremiah also calls himself a נַעַר at the time of his calling to be a prophet, Jer. 1:6, 7,
6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.
likewise Joseph was so called at a time when he was at least seventeen years old (Gen. 37:2).
It is also shown by 1 Kings 12:8, 10, 14, where the young counsellors of Rehoboam are called יְלָדִים,
b- Bethel was one of the nation’s centers of Baal worship.
(1 Kings 12:29)
29 He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in Dan—at either end of his kingdom.
c- These young men were likely worshippers of Baal who held God and His prophet in distain.
d- “Baldy” was a term of derision and scorn. To call someone “baldy” or bald-headed was an insult. These young men were intentionally insulting God’s servant and God himself.
(In general, to make bald the head was a sign of dishonor and disgrace (Isai. 3:17; 15:2))
2- There is a danger in hanging around with people who are irreverent toward the Lord.
(Psalm 1:1)
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
(1 Corinthians 15:33)
33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”
B- Judgment is sure for those who position themselves in opposition to God. (2 Kings 2:24-25)
B- Judgment is sure for those who position themselves in opposition to God. (2 Kings 2:24-25)
24 Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.
25 From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel and finally returned to Samaria.
1- Elisha pronounced judgment (cursed) upon them - God carried out the judgment.
a- God vindicated his servant and God’s name at the same time.
b- There could be no doubt who was God or who His servant was!
2- God will judge those who position themselves in opposition to himself!
(Revelation 20:11-15)
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.
12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.
14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.
15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 21:8)
8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
CONCLUSION: