The God of Broken Axes and Battle Cries

Introduction

Everyone has read a story or watched a show where a young boy or girl is sitting all alone dreaming of their crush as they pluck pedals off of a flower saying, “He loves me, he loves me not.” And while this makes for cute scene concerning the heart felt affection for their crush, it doesn’t make for good Christian living. Yet there we are, as we go through our life riding the roller-coaster that awaits us, we find ourselves thinking, “God loves me, God loves me not” as we go up and down with joys and trials.

This evening, as we examine 2 Kings 6, we will see the story of a young student who grew tired of his cramped dorms and decided to start what turns out to be a stressful building project. We will also find ourselves placed with the middle of a war where we see Israel’s intelligence agency on full display.

And as we look at this passage together, it is my desire that we would keep our eyes open to behold the God of Broken Axes and Battle Cries. As we take a look at this text, we will highlight three things.

The Presence of Troubles

The Providence of God

Some Practical Implications

With that said, hear with me, the words of the true and living God here in 2 Kings 6:1-23

The Presence of Troubles

The Broken Ax

As we look here at verses 1-7, we read the story of one of Elisha’s prophets in training who decides to speak up to address the issue of the cramped living spaces and it seems that Elisha accepts both his proposal to break ground on new property as well as the invitation to join the down by the Jordan River.

So, the student borrows an axe and gets to work, but it seems that while he is chipping away at a tree the ax-head flies off the handle and into the Jordan River and as we look at verse 5 we see the worry in his voice.

Now in this day and age this wouldn’t be a big deal. We would simply run up the street to the nearest Lowe's or Home-depot and buy ourselves a replacement, but that’s simply not an option at this time.

Some scholars speculate that the cost of an ax-head at this time would’ve been priced similarly to a vehicle today.

My first car was a 1998 Chevy Tahoe with a 350 small-block v8

So let’s step in his shoes in our modern day lenses, you’re a young, broke college student who’s borrowed your buddies car for the day and as you’re driving down the road you rear-end a guy and total your friends car. Could you imagine the worry of having not only to tell your friend that you’ve destroyed his car, but now you’ve got to figure out how you’re going to pay him back for it as well.

Well, that’s where we find ourselves here and Exodus 22:14 makes it clear that

Exodus 22:14 NKJV

14 “And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good.

So this student is going to have to pay the price for this, which isn’t likely, or he is going to have to sentence himself to servitude until it’s paid off.

Can’t you feel the worry as he screams out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed!”

But here comes Elisha as he throws a stick into the water and up comes to ax-head floating to the top and this once terrified student is know in awe of this miracle.

And as we hear this story, we sit here and we can sympathize with the anxiety, but what’s the point of the story? And that’s a question that I believe we will find the answer to as we look in v8-23 and we’ll see the Battle Cry

The Battle Cry

As we look at this passage we see ourselves observing the conversations of both the Syrian and Israelite Armies where it seems that every single strategy Syria comes up with is quickly thwarted by Israel. And this leads the King of Syria to begin to investigate whether or not he has a traitor in the camp.

Upon investigation, in v12, the King discovers that it isn’t traitors, but the prophet Elisha that is ruining his plans. So, we find the King in all of his rage sending out his men to capture the prophet. And that leads us up to verse 15 where we find perhaps the same student walking out on the front porch to enjoy the rising sun and as he is rubbing his once tired eyes he now stands with eyes as big as saucers as he behold the enemy army all around them and he cries out in v15, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

And as we look at this text, the seasoned prophet who rests in the God of Israel, prays that this young student may see what he sees and that the army of Syria may be blinded and that’s just what happens.

As the army of Syria is blinded, Elisha takes them by the hand and leads them all the way out to the middle of no-where Samaria where the king of Israel begins to ask Elisha whether it’s recommended to destroy them. But to our surprise, instead of a massive slaughter, there is mercy as He commands the King to feed the enemies of God. And what we find is that this act of grace turns away this band of Syrians.

So What?

So how does this fit together and what exactly is going on here? Well, in both scenarios we read of crises resolved, one seeming to be minor in the grand scheme of things and the other being as large as two nations going to war.

And I believe that what we see here is history declaring the reality that God is most certainly aware of the troubles that you and I face regardless of their significance. This is a refreshing reminder of our second point which is:

The Providence of God

Beloved, it is my desire today, that the cries of our anxieties may be hushed by the cradling arms of God’s providence.

You see, our God is not an uncaring Father who is detached and unconcerned with those for whom He died.

Rather,

Psalm 121:4 tells us He is our sleepless watchman as the psalmist writes:

Psalm 121:4 NKJV

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

He is the Pilgrim’s Companion in Genesis 28:15

Genesis 28:15 NKJV

15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

He is our refuge from the storm. Isaiah 25:4

Isaiah 25:4 NKJV

4 For You have been a strength to the poor, A strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, A shade from the heat; For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Our Father is the one who guides all things. Proverbs 16:33

Proverbs 16:33 NKJV

33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.

As you go home tonight to rest and when you open your eyes to the morning sun shining through the window, you may seem some dust floating around in the beam of light shining through. Church, not a single one of those little particles is rogue or outside the control of your God. And this very God is the one who cares about the specifics.

In Matthew 14:18-21 we read the story of the feeding of the 5,000. Now, it would’ve been nothing for the Lord to turn them all away. After all, this would’ve simply been one meal for them of the thousands they would go on to eat in their lives, and I think that’s the point. He is a God that cares about matters both big and small

In 2 Kings 6:17 the student who’s perspective was once one of fear and dread, now has a new perspective since the Lord has opened His eyes. And just as his perspective was changed, we too should live in altered perspective as we open our eyes to behold the promises of God.

Spurgeon said, “Our King would have His subjects give their hearts to His love and service and not worry themselves with anxieties. It is well for us that we have these daily wants, because they lead us to our heavenly Father; but if we grow anxious, they are turned from their design and made into barriers to shut us out from the Lord.”

If He is the One, the Lord tells us in Matthew 6, who feeds the sparrow, and clothes the lilies that will soon be burnt with matchless beauty, how much more will He take care of you and me?

Church, I say it again, Let the cries of your anxieties be hushed in the cradling arms of divine providence for He works all things for your good!

So, as we look at these stories, one seemingly small, one more severe, let us be reminded that the Lord gives us gospel reorientation in the times of our trials, to rest in His watch care. And we can rest assured that He cares for you and me.

But how can we rest assured when life is hectic? When we find ourselves falling into a season of trail and darkness? Is God still faithful then? Does God still care for us then? Where do we find assurances of this in this passage? I have three realities I want you to see in this passage about the gospel and the ordinances of the Church here.

1. The lost axe-head and our hopeless estate.

Notice that it was the Jordan River that this axe-head fell into. Mark 1:9 tells us that it was this same river that Jesus was baptized in as it says, “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”

So, whats the significance here? Well, in our sinfulness, we are just like that iron. Hopelessly dead and in the midst of God’s judgment. But by the instrument of God’s saving grace we are brought out of darkness into light. And whenever we forget this reality, we just need to remember our baptisms. Just as Jesus was dipped and brought up out of the Jordan, so have we who trust in Him, been brought forth from death to life as pictured in our baptisms

2. The enemies of Elisha and a table of grace.

In this story, Elisha leads forth his blinded enemies into the hands of Israel’s king, not to kill them, but to set a meal before them.

Thomas Watson said, “The prophet Elisha feasted his enemies; he prepared a table for them who would have prepared his grave.”

Likewise, just as we were once enemies of God and His people. Totally blind to His grace, He spared us of His judgment and now treats us as His own and makes us guests at His table. So, whenever you are convicted of your sin, whenever you feel hopelessly condemned and beaten down, whenever you feel like a failure of a believer come to the Lord’s Table and be reminded of what Jesus did for you when you could never do anything for yourself.

What am I getting at with this? I’m trying to say that God cares about the small and great in our lives and is the One in control of them all. And though we can lose sight of His love for us and begin to doubt His faithfulness, He has given us the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to remind us of His faithfulness, even when we aren’t faithful. Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Practical Implications

Just as the Father is caring over the issues of our lives, we should also be that way toward others. (Me and Ella. To Parents)

We may rest in providence and in that rest, aim to comfort our brethren in word and prayer.

Seeing that we are surrounded by the mighty hand of God’s care, we may also show mercy even to our enemies for just as providence has brought us to mercy with God, it has also called us to show the same to others.