Don't Stop Too Soon

Dr. Alan Brown, my Pentateuch professor told this story in one of his lectures. He was assisting an archaeologist in Israel who had a very limited window and permit to dig in one of the caverns under the temple mount. He had an imaging device that could show the outline of things buried within the walls. In one location was a rectangular box like structure. He was sure it was or could have been the Ark of the Covenant as the dimensions were very similar.

With only hours left on his permit, their large drill bit broke and they ran out of time and had to leave the artifact, whatever it was where it was.

It is sometimes beyond our perception, just how close we are to finding the treasure, or winning the prize. And sometimes we have a tendency to quit just before the victory.

In this passage we find, that Joash, who is also known as Jehoash, is the King of Israel. He took the throne in 798 BC. It was the sixteenth year of the King of Judah nearing the end of his reign whose name was also Joash. So two kings one in the north and one in the south reigning approximately the same time, with the same name. While Joash of Judah was a good king, Joash of Israel was a wicked king.

Israel's king Joash's reign is just briefly summarized. It's like the author has his finger on the fast forward button, and then seems to press play just for a brief meeting with the prophet Elisha. It is interesting how this momentary meeting was just one short visit. Our opportunities for blessing and victory are often a very short window.

Joash is facing the death of Elisha. It has been at least 43 years since Elisha was last mentioned in the Bible 9:1 when he annointed Jehu, who destroyed Jezebel. Now this great prophet is on his deathbed.

Now while we think of Elisha as the great successor of Elijah, the one with a double portion. Joash sees the aged prophet as a great leader of Israel. In fact he probably believes that his kingdom's strength was in Elisha instead of God.

He does this in verse 14 when he the king, now imagine this, the monarch of Israel comes into the dying man's chamber weeping and says very respectfully, "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof."

This is the cry given by Elisha when Elijah was taken to heaven in 2 Kings 2:12.

"My father" shows respect for a master

"the chariot of Israel" acknowledges Elisha's importance as a defender of Israel. (Elisha knows of chariots and horsemen of Israel who are not flesh and blood. (2:11-12; 2 Kings 6:8-23)

Perhaps to encourage the young king, (who's army was extremely depleted according to verse 7 he had fifty horsemen and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen.)

or perhaps in response to his father's prayer. Even though King Joash's father was a wicked king he prays back in verses 3-6 (READ THIS IF POSSIBLE)

Elisha's response is very unique verse 17 - first he was to shoot an arrow out the east window, symbolic of the "Lord's deliverance from Syria"

Verse 18 gets even more interesting where Elisha tells King Joash to grab all of his arrows and to smite or hit the ground with them.

The King perhaps bewildered takes them and hits the ground three times and I tend to think he looks somewhat sarcastically at Elisha and says, there I have hit the ground with the arrows.

But instead of a smile on the old prophets face, there was anger -

Three times, three times, why not five or six - then you would have completely defeated Syria your enemy. Now you will only defeat them three times. - I don't have time to go into the details this morning - but this is exactly what happens in verse 25.

What I want to get at this morning - is I don't know if the King knew why he was hitting the ground with the arrows or not - but one thing is for sure - he missed a blessing because of his half-heartedness.

Apathy Can Hinder Your Victory (Indifference, Laziness, Unconcern (or lack of)

we aren't given a lot of the intricate details of this story - but it would seem that the king was spoiled, a smart aleck, and one who tried to get by with just the bare minimum. - but it cost him dearly. Holding Back Can Halt Your Progress - Holding Back breeds doubt and unbelief

Victory is by Faith & Obedience Half-hearted effort produces partial victory (or defeat)

Jehoash was content with only three victories. Davis says God gave him a blank check, but he only cashed half of it Tony Merida; David Platt; Daniel L. Akin. Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (Kindle Locations 5828-5842). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Faithfulness in a few things - brings reward of great things

Heaven isn't given to those who look the most spiritual, or act the most holy, or go to church, and pay their tithes, and shout and shine. Entrance to heaven is given according to Jesus twice in the book of Matthew - He that endures to the end shall be saved. -

That tells me there is a possibility of stopping short - of quitting, of getting out of the race. I seen a little clip recently of a hot pepper contest. Those people must have been insane. The peppers were getting hotter and hotter, the faces would get redder and redder and one by one they would drop out. Jesus promised us though, if we endure, if we take the heat - and he will give grace - we will be saved, we will make it in. Small things matter (there's a difference between small and non-important)

1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Galatians 6:9 And be not weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. There's a God who sees your effort (She hath done what she could - on Fanny Crosby's gravestone. - She died at the age of almost 95 having written thousands of hymns and poetry. She just did what she could. She didn't do more or less. May that be said of us)

This morning the arrows are in your hands - God has promised to be with you, to help you - give you daily grace and help - Will you just hit the ground three times - or will you give it your all, keep your faith in God, and glorify God with all that you have?