From Death To Life
Notes
Transcript
20 So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
Context
Context
Elisha (my God is salvation) is a prophet called by God (1 Kings 19:16), receiving the cloak of Elijah.
Divided Kingdom, Judah (Davidic); Israel.
Joash (given by the Lord), king of Israel, who did wrong in the eyes of the Lord (2 Kings 13:11). But had great respect for Elisha.
Somewhere between 800-790 BC.
Double portion of Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-14). It is the same expression used in Deut 21:17 for the inheritance of the firstborn. Therefore, Elisha legitimately adopts the prophetic inheritance of Elijah. The double portion is therefore linked to the inheritance, but it is noteworthy that Elisha also performs twice as much miracles as Elijah (16 vs 8). Could the second resurrection of Elisha be a fulfilment of God’s promise to Elisha?
Raising from the death (Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24), Elisha (2 Kings 4:32-37, 2 Kings 13:20-21), Jesus (Matt 9:18-26, Luke 7:11-17, John 11:38-42), Peter (Acts 9:36-41), Paul (Acts 20:9-12))
Interaction between King Joash and Elisha, where Joash compares Elisha to a one-man army, and emphasizes the power of the prophetic word of the prophet using the “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” (2 Kings 2:12). Elisha’s cry emphasized his own transformation into the prophetic successor, whereas Jehoash’s cry emphasized his anxiety about national security which consisted out of only a few horseman and chariots (2 Kings 13:7). The phrase thus expresses a theological conviction: true national defense comes through the prophet’s connection to divine power, not through conventional weaponry. Both close a prophetic period. The phrase also provides structure to the entire ministry of Elisha, which is sandwiched between those two phrases.
Elisha’s last prophetic act. Joash needs to shoot an arrow in the direction of the enemy and strike the ground. Hostilities were usually proclaimed by a herald, sometimes by a king or general making a public and formal discharge of an arrow into the enemy’s country. He stopped at three times, which angered Elisha. It is a lack of faith by Joash, showing that prophecy cooperates with obedience and faith. Unfaithfulness limits the goodness of God in your circumstance.
The Message of Kings: God is Present a. Elisha and Jehoash (13:14–19)
The orders continue, and again are obeyed, except that on the order, strike the ground, Jehoash struck it three times and stopped (v. 18). Elisha’s angry reaction surprises the modern reader but the vocabulary provides the answer. Jehoash has been told ‘you will completely destroy [nkh] Aram’ and is then told to ‘strike [nkh] the ground [’ereṣ, also ‘country, land’]’, i.e., the acted order is also ‘destroy the land [of Aram]’. His response is thus half-hearted; Aram will not be ‘completely destroyed’.
Israel is alive
Israel is alive
Elisha is dead, but His God is not. Therefore, Elisha’s words are faithful. Elisha’s ministry outlives Elisha himself.
Wordplay in 2 Kings 13:20, 22 were the same word for throw (salak [shalegg]) is used. When the burial party threw the body in Elisha’s grave, they accidently perform an action that results in resurrection. On the other hand, God’s refusal to throw away Israel mirrors this life-giving dynamic - divine covenant loyalty prevents destruction just as Elisha’s prophetic power prevents death. In both cases it is God who gives life, in one case through His dead prophet, on the other hand trough His covenant, even in the harsh moments of the nation. God’s power was great enough to not only bring one man to life, but an entire nation back to life. By this sign, God gave Israel another chance to live. The nation would come fully to life in the Messiah.
The Message of Kings: God is Present b. Life beyond Death (13:20–25)
The LORD was gracious to them and had compassion: the words ‘be gracious’ (ḥnn) and ‘have compassion’ (rḥm) were previously joined together only in the opening of Yahweh’s self-revelation (
Anticipation of Jesus’ resurrection
Anticipation of Jesus’ resurrection
Elijah is multiple times linked to John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-17, Matt 11:11-15), which was already prophesied (Mal 4:5-6, Matt 17:11-12).
Elisha’s dead brought life to others (his tomb was a place of resurrection). Jesus’ tomb was also a place from which a man miraculously walked out alive, but this time it was the prophet himself, and he brought resurrection not just for one man, but for the whole world.
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
The Old Testament resurrections were mere bodily resurrections. They were raised but continued their life as before, their body was not changed. Resurrection in Jesus guarantees a new body and permanent glory, a better resurrection. However, there are quite a few differences.
Christ laid down His own life, and Christ raised Himself, showing ultimate power over death. He does not need an external life source to raise Him. He is the source Himself, proving He is God.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Christ was not only raised in a mortal body, but also in a glorified one.
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
Already, but not yet
Already, but not yet
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
If we put our trust in Jesus and His work on the cross, we share in His resurrection (1 Cor 15:20-23, 42-44). We are dead to sin, and alive in Jesus (Rom 6:1-14). This is an already, but not yet promise. We are already raised and seated with Him, but this will be fully comprehensible at His second coming. We will not raise with a mortal, weak and shameful body; but share His body, His eternal, powerful and glorious body.
Believers are caught between two events, while we still struggle with the effects of the fall, yet we are joined to the risen Christ by God’s Spirit while awaiting final restoration, called to remove sin and put down the flesh. This transformational work is already started with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Who transforms us from glory to glory.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
It is God, and God alone, Who has the power to bring life out of death
