Crossing the Finish Line (2 Kings 2)

INTRODUCTION

· Please turn to 2 Kings 2

· I have entitled today’s sermon, “Crossing the Finish Line,” because we get to watch Elijah finish the race of faith and be lifted up into glory here in 2 Kings 2.

· Back in April, still early into the pandemic, we began a series called “Peaks and Valleys” on the life and ministry of the prophet Elijah. We have learned a series of life lessons along the way. When Elijah confronted King Ahab and predicted a prolonged period of drought, we learned that God takes sin very seriously. When the prophet sought food and shelter from a widow in Zerephath, we learned that God Supplies Our Needs While Stretching Our Faith. When Elijah prayed and God sent fire down from heaven to consume his sacrifice and shame the prophets of Baal, we learned There is only one true and living God. And when God spoke to Elijah in a thin whisper – a still, small voice – we learned that God’s ways are marvelous and mysterious. These, among many others, are the life lessons we have learned from Elijah. But today we come to the final moments of his life.

· In our text today, we join Elijah along with his apprentice Elisha, in the region of Gilgal, in the Judean hill country.

Today the Lord Will Take Away Your Master

· Read vv. 1-3

· Elijah knows he is about to be taken. He may not know exactly where he is going, but God has given him the first set of instructions. And this is often how God works. God does not usually show us what he would have us do a year from now, or ten years from now, but we can be assured he will guide us of what he wants us to do today.

· And so Elijah requests, “Please stay here.” But although Elisha was a good apprentice, and no doubt very respectful toward his master, he says no. “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” There is a kind of devotion and tender allegiance to his master.

· I am reminded of Naomi who told her two daughters in law Ruth and Orpah. Ruth 1:12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. ... Ruth 1:16–17 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

· Since the time Elisha met Elijah in his field of Abel-meholah several years ago, he has grown very close to Elijah, and views him as a spiritual father. Elisha wants to remain by his side as long as possible. Plus, he has an important request to make. He knows Elijah is about to be taken, and sometimes, a father figure will have special words of blessing just before their departure. No, Elisha would not miss this occasion for the world.

· I wonder if Elisha felt a bit like the twelve disciples in the upper room, when they learned Jesus was about to leave them. Jn. 13:33, “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’” And a short time later, he assures them, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” (14:1) and “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to youo. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let now your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid…” (Jn. 14:27-28)

· The sons of the prophets, that is, the guild of prophets in Israel, have also learned of Elijah’s departure, and they bring it up to Elisha. But he says, “Yes, I know, keep quiet.” As if to say, “Please stop. This is hard enough without you talking even more about it. Show some respect. Let us not speak of these things.”

· The same event happens two more times, almost word-for-word, as the prophets move closer to Elijah’s destination.

· Read vv. 4-6.

· But now we come to the brink of the Jordan River and we meet 50 more prophets who will be eyewitnesses to a miracle.

· Read vv. 7-8.

· Does this sound at all familiar? It is almost an exact replay (in reverse order) of what the nation of Israel did hundreds of years earlier. When “the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the flow…the waters…stood and rose up in a heap very far away…the priests…stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan” (3:14-17).

· This is not the first time that Elijah has echoed the ministry of Moses before him. But here, events between Elijah and Elisha closely mirror Moses and Joshua many generations earlier. A significant passing of the torch is taking place.

The Double Portion

· Immediately once they get to the other side, Elijah speaks to his apprentice.

· Read vv. 9a

· What would Elisha ask for? What would you ask for if you were in his shoes? Elisha says, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me” [read 9b]

· Remember that in Israel, the firstborn son would receive a double portion of the father’s property and blessing. He would carry on the family name and would be given the best of the inheritance.

· Deuteronomy 21:17 but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

· Elisha seems to be saying, Elijah, you are my spiritual father, and I ask to be the firstborn of your spiritual children. Give me an added helping of the Lord strength and the prophetic ministry God gave to you.

· Elijah’s response (10)

· And now we have one of the most remarkable scenes in all the Bible…

· Chariots of fire and horses of fire (11-12)

· Whirlwind (11) – lit. a “windstorm.” This is no gentle summer breeze. It is a fierce wind, a natural phenomenon depicting God’s holiness and power. From the Hebrew word to rage, or be violent, like a great tempest at sea. Our God is a God of love, but he is also a God of power, and wrath, and majesty, and holiness. He is the Captain of the Lord’s Army. The Alpha and the Omega. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. We must bow down and worship him.

· We pondered these themes in our opening song today, “O Worship the King.” O tell of His might, O sing of His grace, Whose robe is the light and canopy space, His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.

· Elisha exclaims in that moment, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” Seeing these displays of heavenly power, he seems to be saying, “You, O Elijah, have been a fierce weapon in the hands of God. You were a one-man army. Your words had more power than all the warriors of Israel.”

· There is thunder and lightning, rushing wind, the rolling wheels of chariots, the thunderous hooves of fiery horses, the prophet is taken up, and then … all is silent.

· And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces (12).

· Tragic loss. I think of all the preachers and theologians we have lost in the past few years. Billy Graham and JI Packer. Jerry Bridges and RC Sproul. Alistair McGrath and Ravi Zacharias. The list goes on and on! Spiritual fathers! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen! Mighty warriors in the hands of almighty God. They ran the race and finished well. We can feel like, it will never be the same without them. But friends. The cloak has been passed on to us.

· Read vv. 13-14. The same God who strengthened Elijah would now empower Elisha. And the same God who gifted and led great men of faith over the centuries will be with us in this generation as well.

Conclusion

· Elijah has crossed the finish line. His faith has become sight.

· See Hebrews 11:32-12:2. Hall of Faith. Elijah not mentioned by name, but he belongs among this list.

· Hebrews 11:32–12:2 … time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 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— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

· What is the final life lesson from Elijah? As he crosses the finish line, he inspires us to Keep running the race. If Elijah was here with us today, that is what he would tell us. Lay aside every sin, run with endurance, and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Don’t give up. Keep running the race. Friends, that is the ultimate life lesson of Elijah.

Review

Here is a review and summary of all 22 life lessons we have discovered in this series: (1) God takes sin very seriously. (2) God sends trials to refine our character and prepare us for greater service. (3) God Supplies Our Needs While Stretching Our Faith (4) God Specializes in Divine Reversals. (5) Human Suffering Will Often Appear Random and Unfair (6) God has power over life and death (7) God’s Word is Truth (8) Seasons of silence are followed by swift, divine intervention (9) When forced to choose, we obey God rather than man (10) Leaders have the potential to do great good, or great evil. (11) Each one of us must choose who we will serve. (12) There is only one true and living God. (13) God uses our simple prayers to accomplish his sovereign purposes. (14) The journey of faith involves many peaks and valleys (15) Though life’s burdens are heavy, Christ’s yoke is easy. (16) God’s ways are marvelous and mysterious (17) We are motivated by mission (18) Each of us must accept God’s call on our life (19) God will soon make everything right (20) We are never in a position to make demands of God (21) Trials will either humble you or harden you (22) Keep running the race