Open Their Eyes Lord

Sermon Title: Open Their Eyes Lord

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:8-23

Occasion: The Lord’s Day | Crossway Church

Date: May 18, 2025

Opening Prayer

Gracious and Sovereign God,

We come before You this Lord’s Day as those who are often blind to what truly matters.

So I pray a simple old Anglican prayer:

What we know not, teach us. What we are not, make us. What we have not, give us—for the glory of Christ.

We pray with the same boldness as Elisha: “O Lord, please open our eyes that we may see.”

In the name of Jesus, who opens the eyes of the blind and gives sight to the soul,

We pray—Amen.

Introduction: Seeing Isn’t Always Believing

Years ago during World War II, British intelligence launched a top-secret operation called Operation Bodyguard.

It involved fake armies, phantom radio transmissions, and double agents—all to convince Nazi Germany that the Allied invasion would land somewhere other than Normandy.

It worked.

Entire divisions were misdirected, saving thousands of lives and turning the tide of war.

Why did it succeed?

Because the Germans couldn’t see the real battle unfolding behind what was visible.

Life can often feel that way.

We see what’s in front of us—chaos, pain, addiction, financial struggle, broken families, spiritual warfare—and wonder if we’re losing.

But there is more happening than meets the eye.

Our battles are not just physical.

They are spiritual.

And our hope does not rest in what we see but in the unseen power of God.

Today’s sermon is titled:

“Open Their Eyes, Lord.”

It’s a call for the church to see again—not just the armies of opposition around us, but the heavenly host, the purposes of God, and the hope of mercy even for our enemies.

This story in 2 Kings 6 that we are studying together this morning is not just about Elisha.

It’s about us.

It’s about Jesus.

And it’s about the gospel.

Transition:

Let’s walk through this powerful text in four parts:

I. The Panic of the Servant (vv. 8–17)

The story begins in the context of war.

Syria—also called Aram—is launching secret raids against Israel.

But somehow, every single plan the Syrian king devises is thwarted.

Israel always knows what’s coming.

2 Kings 6:9–10 ESV

But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.

The king of Syria is furious.

Every time he makes a secret military move, the king of Israel is a step ahead.

Over and over again, his plans are exposed—foiled before they ever begin.

There’s a leak.

A mole.

An informant.

He can’t figure it out.

This isn’t just military frustration—this is divine intervention.

God, through His prophet Elisha, is exposing the plans of the enemy.

Let’s keep reading.

2 Kings 6:11–14 ESV

And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

Notice what the servant says:

“Elisha tells the king of Israel the words you speak in your bedroom.” (v12)

This isn’t spycraft—this is supernatural.

This is the Lord who sees, who hears, who knows all things.

And how does the Syrian king respond?

He sends an army—a great army, we’re told.

Horses, chariots, soldiers—he deploys an entire battalion to capture one man.

Why so many soldiers?

Because spiritual power always terrifies earthly kings.

They surround the little town of Dothan by night, under cover of darkness.

The prophet is asleep.

The hills are crawling with enemy forces.

And now we come to the servant—the one we often relate to most.

2 Kings 6:15 ESV

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

The servant wakes up and steps outside—maybe to gather water or stretch before the day begins—and he freezes.

Everywhere he looks:

Soldiers.

Horses.

Chariots.

Weapons.

Armies.

He bolts back inside in panic and cries out:

“Alas, my master! What shall we do?”(v.15)

This is the language of desperation.

The Hebrew word “alas” is a cry of grief and impending doom.

This man is not planning strategy—he’s expecting to die!

Application

And this is where many of us live.

Maybe you’ve never stood before chariots and swords.

But you’ve stood before medical diagnoses.

You’ve stood before broken families.

You’ve stood before addiction, anxiety, betrayal, burnout, church hurt, or the torment of the enemy.

You’ve walked outside your home—or inside your heart—and felt:

“I am surrounded.”

What are the armies that surround your heart this morning?

Depression?

Financial despair?

Spiritual dryness?

A family crisis?

The weight of ministry?

The wounds of your past?

And like Elisha’s servant, you feel outnumbered.

Outmatched.

Hopeless this morning.

Let’s not rush past this moment too quickly.

This is not just an emotional reaction—it’s a theological crisis.

The servant of the prophet believes in God.

He’s seen Elisha work.

He knows the stories.

But when pressure hits, his functional theology crumbles.

He’s looking at the size of the army and forgetting the sovereignty of the Lord.

And that’s often us.

We say we trust in God’s power, but we still panic at the presence of the enemy.

We walk by sight, not by faith.

We react as though the enemy writes the script.

We forget who is truly in control.

Illustration: Bunyan’s “Chained Lions”

In Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian approaches a narrow path to the Palace Beautiful.

Suddenly, he sees two ferocious lions blocking the way.

He almost turns back in fear.

But the porter calls out to him: “Fear not the lions, for they are chained.”

Bunyan writes: “The lions were chained, but he saw not the chains.”

That’s the servant in this story.

That’s us when we look at our lives through fleshly eyes.

You might be looking at a lion today.

But believer—if you are in Christ, that lion is chained.

As Proverbs 21:30–31 says,

Proverbs 21:30–31 ESV

No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

The Real Problem: Blindness

And here’s the great irony:

The army isn’t the biggest problem in this text.

The servant’s blindness is.

He doesn’t need a new situation—he needs new sight.

He doesn’t need to escape—he needs eyes to see what’s already there.

And that’s where the prophet steps in—not to change the world around his servant, but to change the servant’s vision.

Transition to Point II: The Prayer of the Prophet

We’ve seen the servant’s panic—but now we see the prophet’s peace.

Elisha doesn’t run.

He doesn’t rebuke.

He prays.

He knows something deeper than what his eyes can see.

He knows who surrounds the armies.

And so he prays one of the most powerful prayers in all the Old Testament:

“O Lord, please open his eyes, that he may see.” (v. 17)

Let’s now look at that prayer—and the God who answers it.

II. The Prayer of the Prophet (v. 17)

Verses 17 one of the most remarkable moments in all of the Old Testament.

The servant has just cried out in panic, believing death is inevitable.

But Elisha doesn’t panic.

He prays.

At our church, we often say a phrase we learned from Pastor H.B. Charles Jr.:

“It happens after prayer.”

What does that mean?

It reminds us that prayer isn’t preparation for the real work—prayer is the real work.

Prayer is the real work because it opens our eyes to the reality around us.

Prayer reveals what we need most.

Just like in this story—it was after Elisha prayed that the servant saw.

It was after prayer that the servant, as a result to Elisha’s prayer, that he realized that what he needed most was spiritual sight not a physical army.

Church, don’t miss that.

This second point can be summed up this powerful statment:

It happens—after prayer.

2 Kings 6:16–17 ESV

He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

This is astonishing.

Elisha doesn’t ask for deliverance.

He doesn’t plead for fire from heaven like Elijah on Mount Carmel.

He doesn’t demand a miracle.

He simply prays: “Open his eyes, Lord.”(v.17)

This is not a prayer to change the circumstances.

It’s a prayer to change perception.

Transition

Look at the phrase in verse 16…“Do not be afraid.”(V.16)

Did you know that the phrase “Do not be afraid” is the most repeated command in the Bible?

God uses this command over 100 times in the bible, some count 365 times, one for each day of the year.

Depending on translation.

There is a reason for that of course.

Look at the text again, v.16.

Elisha begins with words that echo throughout Scripture:

“Do not be afraid.”(V.16)

Why does God say that so often?

Because He knows we are so easily shaken.

“Fear not, for I am with you…” (Isa. 41:10)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Ps. 27:1)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Ps. 46:1)

Elisha isn’t minimizing the threat—he’s magnifying the truth.

He doesn’t say the army isn’t real—he says God’s army is greater.

2 Kings 6:16 ESV

He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Faith Sees What Flesh Cannot

The difference between Elisha and his servant is not geography—it’s theology!

They’re standing in the same city, seeing the same army.

But one sees fear, and the other sees fire.

One sees defeat, the other sees deliverance.

What makes the difference?

Spiritual sight. (Repeat!)

The servant needs what Paul prayed for in Ephesians 1:18:

“…having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…”

Spiritual blindness is more dangerous than physical blindness.

Illustration: John Newton’s Sight

John Newton, the slave trader turned gospel preacher, once said:

“I once was blind, but now I see.”

He didn’t mean physical blindness.

He meant what the servant in Dothan learned:

To see God’s hand when others only see hardship.

To see God's mercy where others only see mess.

To see God's armies when all you see are enemies.

The Chariots of Fire

Question is…What does the servant see?

2 Kings 6:17 ESV

… the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Not just soldiers—not just angels—but chariots of fire.

This is the same heavenly host that carried Elijah into glory (2 Kings 2:11).

It’s the visible sign of the armies of heaven, the angelic host, the power of God.

This fire does not burn Elisha—it surrounds him.

It protects him.

It testifies that the God who answered by fire on Mount Carmel is still in control.

Biblical Theology Thread: Sight and Spiritual Perception

This isn’t just a military moment—it’s a theological motif:

Isaiah 42:6–7 — “…to open the eyes that are blind…”

John 9 — Jesus heals a man born blind, but condemns the Pharisees for their spiritual blindness.

2 Corinthians 4:4–6 — “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers… but God… has shone in our hearts…”

This scene in Dothan is about more than Elisha’s safety—it’s about the need for gospel sight my dear weary friends.

We are all, by nature, blind—unable to see the beauty of Christ, the seriousness of our sin, or the hope of the gospel.

But God, rich in mercy, does what we cannot do for ourselves:

That’s the gospel:

Though we were blind in sin, God sent His Son to live, die, and rise again to open our eyes—so we might see Him, know Him, and be saved by Him.

So friend—if you’re weary, confused, or lost in darkness today, pray with the humility of Elisha’s servant: “Lord, open my eyes that I may see.”

And He will.

He delights to answer that prayer this morning, friend.

Application: What Do You See?

Let me ask you, friend:

Are you looking at your life through the lens of fear—or faith?

Are you interpreting your situation by sight—or by Scripture?

Do you see the fire of God’s presence—or just the threat of your enemy?

When Elisha prayed, the Lord answered immediately.

He gave the servant a glimpse of what was always there—he just couldn’t see it.

That’s often how God works.

He may not change your circumstances right away.

But He may open your eyes to see His hand in the middle of them.

Illustration: Jesus in Gethsemane

Do you remember what Jesus said to Peter in the garden?

Matthew 26:53 ESV

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

Seventy-two thousand angels—ready to fight.

But Jesus didn’t call them.

Why?

Because the real battle wasn’t fought with swords, but with a cross.

In that moment, Jesus knew what Elisha knew—we are never outnumbered when God is on our side.

And yet, Christ chose to be “surrounded” by enemies so that we might be surrounded by grace.

Personal Pastoral Word:

Maybe you’ve been praying for God to remove the pressure.

But perhaps today, you need to pray a different prayer:

“Lord, open my eyes.”

Let me see Your power.

Let me see Your presence.

Let me see the gospel (again).

Let me see Christ in the fire.

Transition to Point III: The Power of the Lord (vv. 17–18)

God has opened the servant’s eyes.

The hills are ablaze with heaven’s host.

But the enemy is still advancing.

Now comes the moment of confrontation—not between men and armies, but between flesh and glory.

Let’s now see what happens when the Lord shows His power—not through destruction, but through divine confusion.

III. The Power of the Lord (vv. 17–18)

Let’s keep reading as the story unfolds.

2 Kings 6:17–18 ESV

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.

The servant now sees.

His eyes are opened.

The heavenly army is revealed.

And just as that moment of glorious vision is taking place, the earthly army is closing in.

They’re still advancing.

They haven’t turned back.

They don’t see the chariots of fire.

They only see Elisha.

Notice, once again, Elisha doesn’t run!

He doesn’t draw a sword.

He doesn’t summon an army.

He prays again.

Remember the phrase?

“It Happens after prayer.”

2 Kings 6:18 ESV

… Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.”

And God does.

A Stunning Turn: From Vision to Confusion

This word “strike” is the same Hebrew word (sanwērîm) used in Genesis 19 when the men of Sodom were struck with blindness as they tried to break down Lot’s door.

It doesn’t mean total darkness—it means divine disorientation, a supernatural fog of perception.

They’re still moving.

They’re still speaking.

But they’re confused.

Bewildered.

Spiritually stunned.

God doesn’t destroy the enemy—He disarms them by blinding them.

That’s what Paul means in 1 Corinthians 1:27:

1 Corinthians 1:27 ESV

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

The strength of man is no match for the wisdom of God.

Elisha doesn’t need an army when he has the Lord.

And neither do you. (Repeat)

God Wins by Confounding

This is divine irony—the ones who thought they saw clearly are now blind.

They came to seize the prophet, but they are the ones seized by the power of the Lord.

This is how God works all throughout redemptive history:

At Babel, He scattered the proud by confusing their speech.

In Egypt, He broke Pharaoh not with superior armies, but with signs and plagues.

In Gethsemane, Christ stood calm as His enemies arrested Him—not because He lacked power, but because He knew the true battle was spiritual.

God does not need to flex His might through violence.

He demonstrates His rule by turning the wisdom of this world into foolishness.

A Word on Spiritual Warfare

This is a picture of spiritual warfare.

The enemy is real.

The attack is strategic.

But the victory belongs to the Lord!

Proverbs 21:31 ESV

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

And friends, we must remember:

The devil’s greatest tactic is not brute strength—it’s blindness!

It’s blindness!

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

But what does God do in response?

2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

That’s what we see in this story.

The same God who gives sight to the servant gives blindness to the enemy.

Application: Don’t Fight in the Flesh

Some of you are fighting spiritual battles with carnal weapons.

You’re trying to overcome depression with distraction.

You’re trying to fix your marriage with manipulation.

You’re trying to conquer sin with willpower alone.

You’re trying to win back a child with control instead of compassion.

And like the Syrians, you’re charging ahead—blind to what you cannot see.

I need to remind you again today, and then you need to remind yourself tomorrow morning as soon as you wake up:

The battle belongs to the Lord!

And He fights through prayer, through truth, and through the power of His presence.

Romans 8:31 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:33 ESV

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

Romans 8:35 ESV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Romans 8:37–39 ESV

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Illustration: The Underground Church in China

In the 1970s, a house church in China gathered quietly to worship.

Unknown to them, government officers were outside, preparing to raid.

But when the officers entered, one of them stopped. He sat down. Then another did.

And another.

By the end of the service, five of them stood and said:

“We came to arrest you.

But instead, we want to believe in your Jesus.”

That’s the power of the Lord.

No bullets fired.

No schemes required.

Just faithful prayer, gospel truth, and a sovereign God who opens and closes eyes.

Transition to Final Point: The Peaceful Victory of Grace (vv. 19–23)

The enemies are now blind, helpless, and under Elisha’s control.

He could have handed them over to be slaughtered.

But instead, we’re about to see the most surprising move yet—one that echoes the heart of the gospel.

Not judgment… but mercy.

Not wrath… but a feast.

Let’s move now to the final section: The Peaceful Victory of Grace.

IV. The Peaceful Victory of Grace (vv. 19–23)

Let’s pick back up in the story.

The Syrian army is now blind—completely at the mercy of Elisha.

What will the prophet of God do next?

2 Kings 6:19–20 ESV

And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria. 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.

This is extraordinary.

Elisha leads the blinded soldiers roughly 10 miles to Samaria—the capital of Israel.

When their sight is restored, they realize they are surrounded.

Now they’re the ones trapped.

And in that moment, judgment seems inevitable.

They were the invaders.

They came to seize God’s prophet.

They had every intention of violence.

Now they’re in the center of enemy territory—defenseless, vulnerable, and fully exposed.

2 Kings 6:21 ESV

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?”

Do you hear the eagerness in the king’s voice?

He repeats it—he wants to kill them.

These are the same Syrians who have harassed, invaded, and threatened Israel.

But Elisha’s answer is shocking!

2 Kings 6:22–23 ESV

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.” 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.

Not vengeance.

Not bloodshed.

A banquet. (Repeat!)

Not only are they spared—they are fed.

Not just a snack—a great feast.

The Victory of Grace

This is capitol T-H-E gospel moment of the entire story.

They deserved death.

They were enemies of God’s people.

They were blind and foolish and lost.

But instead of being crushed, they are cared for.

Instead of being conquered, they are shown compassion.

This is Romans 12:20…

Romans 12:20 ESV

… “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink..

This is not just God’s strategy—this is about God’s salvation.

This is the very heart of our covenant God.

Biblical Theology: Mercy to Enemies

In Genesis, Joseph forgives his brothers and feeds them during famine.

In Exodus, God spares the Israelites with the blood of the lamb—even though they too had grumbled and doubted.

In the Gospels, Jesus feeds sinners and tax collectors, and dines with those the world would have judged.

On the cross, He prays for those who nailed Him there: “Father, forgive them.” (Luke 23:34)

This scene in Samaria is a shadow of the gospel.

The blind receive sight.

The enemies receive mercy.

And peace replaces hostility.

Illustration: WWII Story of Unexpected Mercy

During World War II, a German soldier named Fritz Vincken was separated from his unit.

On Christmas Eve, freezing and wounded, he stumbled upon a small cabin in the Ardennes Forest.

Inside was a woman and her son. Though she was German, she welcomed him in and fed him.

Moments later, three American soldiers also found the cabin.

They were armed and wary.

The woman, with quiet authority, said:

“Tonight is Christmas Eve.

There will be no killing here.”

She made them all lay down their weapons.

She fed them.

And for one night—enemies became human again.

That story was retold decades later as an image of hope in the face of war.

That’s what Elisha does here.

That’s what Christ does eternally for sinners who place their trust in Him.

This Is the Gospel

Friend, this is your story and mine, isn't it?

We were the blind ones.

We were the enemies of God.

We advanced in pride, arrogance, and sin.

And yet—we were not destroyed.

God, in His mercy, opened our eyes to the truth of Jesus Christ.

And instead of casting us out, He invited us in.

He laid a table.

He gave His Son.

He fed us with the bread of life.

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That’s the glorious gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

You and I were surrounded by judgment—but Jesus stood in our place.

We were blind—but He opened our eyes.

We deserved wrath—but He gave us a feast.

That’s what grace looks like.

That’s what victory looks like.

Look close at how the story ends.

Put your eyes on the very last sentence of verse 23.

2 Kings 6:23 ESV

… And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.

Isn’t that beautiful?!

Grace stopped the raids.

Mercy ended the violence.

Kindness won the battle.

Not through swords—but through sight.

Not through wrath—but through a table.

Conclusion: Full Circle

Let’s come full circle.

We began with fear: “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”(V.15)

We saw a prayer: “Lord, open his eyes.” (V.17)

We witnessed God’s power—not in destruction, but in divine disorientation.

And now we end at the table—where grace has the final word.

Personal Appeal

My personal question to each of YOU this morning is this:

Where are YOU in this story?

Are you like the servant—blind to God’s power?

Are you like the Syrians—an enemy of grace, marching in pride?

Are you like the king—ready to strike when God wants to show mercy?

Or will you be like Elisha—so secure in the sovereignty of God that you can pray bold prayers, see with gospel eyes, and love your enemies?

Let me close with this:

“Open their eyes, Lord.”

Open our eyes to the gospel.

Open our eyes to your power.

Open our eyes to your mercy.

Open our eyes—to Christ.

Amen.

PRAY

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your Word, which has pierced through the fog of our fears and the blindness of our pride.

Thank You for showing us that even when we feel surrounded, we are surrounded by You.

Thank You for Christ—our greater Elisha—who not only prays for our eyes to be opened,

but gives His life that we might truly see.

We confess, Lord, that we often panic like the servant, fight like the king, and walk in blindness like the Syrians.

But Your mercy meets us again this morning.

You have not struck us down; instead, You have set before us a feast of grace.

So we pray again: Open our eyes, Lord.

Open the eyes of the lost to see Christ as Savior.

Open the eyes of the weary to see that You are near.

Open the eyes of the church to see the unseen realities of Your kingdom.

Send us out now not with fear, but with faith.

Not to retaliate, but to reconcile.

Not to fight with fleshly weapons, but to rest in the victory of our God.

May our lives proclaim what our eyes have now seen: That grace triumphs over judgment, mercy wins the battle, and Christ is our peace.

We ask this in the strong and saving name of Jesus,

Amen.