Sermon Tone Analysis

The king of Syria was understandably “troubled by this thing” (v.

11).

Actually, the phrase says the king was “storm-tossed” (according to Slotki) or “in a whirlwind” (according to Gray).

As long as Elisha remained free the army of Aram would be unsuccessful, so Ben-Hadad ordered that he be located and captured.

The archaeological site of ancient Dothan is a hill surrounded by a flat plain, indicating that such a siege would be possible, even by an army of modest size.

Elisha asked God to give his servant the same 20/20 vision on the spiritual eye-chart, so he too would not be afraid.

“Seeing is believing” is the motto of the secular world.

“Believing is seeing” is the motto of faith.

He gave the servant the ability to see the normally unseen world of invisible spirits (angels) that are constantly ready to do God’s bidding (cf.

Gen. 28:12).

The hills around Dothan were filled with superior horses and chariots.

These appeared as fiery agents of God suggesting to the servant their superterrestrial origin (cf. 2 Kings 2:11).

The LORD had surrounded the armies of Aram and was in control.

Elisha prayed again, and the Syrian warriors lost their eyesight.

The word for “blind” here is sanwērı̂m, which occurs again only in Genesis 19:11.

In addition to a total lack of sight, the word sanwērı̂m can denote a condition of confused vision, that is, seeing objects that are not there and not seeing those that are.

Since the soldiers could see well enough to drive their horses and chariots behind Elisha directly into Israel’s fortress of Samaria, it appears that the miracle was one of confused sight, a supernatural impediment that deceived them.

They were miraculously blocked from recognizing Elisha and, in their ignorance, willingly trusted him when he offered to guide them to “the man whom you seek.”

Furthermore, they were miraculously prevented from recognizing the great walled city of Samaria until they were already inside, surrounded by the enemy (v.

19).

Feed them....

The Arameans were now bound by social custom not to attack the friend who had extended his gift of hospitality and protection.

For these reasons the Arameans stopped raiding Israel’s territory for a time.

This incident demonstrates Yahweh is His people’s defense.

So to depart from Him was the height of folly.

Israel’s victory by means of God’s prophet rather than by warriors undoubtedly encouraged many in Israel and Aram to fear the Almighty God.

A far worse army surrounds us in these days of spiritual warfare; we face demonic foes incomparably more evil than the human soldiers whose armor glittered in the morning sunshine around Dothan.

As Paul said, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph.

6:12).

Realizing the enormity of Satan’s hosts, we wonder with the apostle, “Who is sufficient for these things?”

(2 Cor.

2:16).

In spiritual warfare it is not sufficient to whistle in the dark and try to lift discouraged hearts with a cheery “Fear not!”

Human words of encouragement are not sufficient.

We must have eyes of faith to see the evidence of God’s powerful presence.

Elisha’s servant personifies the despair and fear that come when we depend on human judgment and common sense.

But Elisha personifies the confidence that comes from faith, when we depend on God’s power.

Notice that Elisha did not pray that God would send help; it was already there.

He simply prayed for open eyes to see it.

There is a popular story being circulated about a man whose house was in a low area threatened by rising flood waters.

As the water rose right up to his door, the National Guard came by in a four-wheel-drive vehicle to pick him up, but he refused to go, saying, “God will take care of me.”

When the water was three feet deep in side the house, a Red Cross motorboat came by to rescue him, but he again refused, saying, “God will save me.”

Finally the rising water drove him to the roof of his house, where a military helicopter hovered overhead and lowered a rope ladder to pluck him to safety.

But he refused, saying, “God will rescue me.”

The man soon slipped from the roof and drowned, and when he went through the pearly gates to heaven, he complained to the Lord, “Why didn’t you rescue me?”

The Lord answered, “Who do you think sent the jeep, the motorboat, and the helicopter?”

Sometimes the appropriate prayer is not “O God, rescue me,” but “O God, open my eyes that I may see Your providential presence.”

Russell Dilday and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, 1, 2 Kings, vol.

9, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1987), 300–301.