The Chapter-A-Day thread. (2)

[agamemnonoftroy]

So what can we learn from 2 Kings Chapter 2 ?

1/ Elijah did not die, but was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.

2/ Elisha was rewarded for his perseverance with special powers.

3/ Although Elisha cries out "My father" he was not actually the son of Elijah.

4/ Elisha had special powers to part the waters of the River Jordan.

5/ Elisha had special power to make water pure and make land fertile.

6/ The mocks of "Go up, thou bald head" led to serious results.

As a boy I was told the the children were probably teenagers, although it does not actually say teenagers. It would seem unlikely that very young children would come out as a mob and annoy an important prophet of God.

Superficially the chant "Go up, thou bald head" does not seems particularly nasty, but it may be that it represented something very much deeper. Could this chant represent a rejection of God ?

Why would children reject God ? My opinon is that they had another god. My opinion is they were worshipers of Baal. This was Israel, previously the kingdon of Ahab and Jezebel.

If there is one things that makes God angry it is breaking the first Commandment. People that worshiped Baal always got very harsh treatment from God.

This is my opinoin. But I must say that the scriptures do not say the children were worshipers of Baal. That is only my own personal opinion, about why the punishment of the childen was so severe.

What a wonderful chapter from the Holy Bible. I have learned and gained a great deal from studying this chapter.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

2 Kings Chapter 3

Jehoram reigned as king of Israel for 12 years.

Although Jehoram put way the image of Baal he was still an evil king (verse 2)

The king of Moab rebelled against King Jehoram of Israel (verse 5)

Jehoram asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah to help him fight the King of Moab.

They asked Elisha for advice about the war (verse 13)

Elisha told them to dig ditches. The ditches filled with water. But there was no rain (verse 17)

In the morning light the water looked like blood and the Moabites thought the Israelites were all dead.

But its was an ambush and as the Moabites approached they were slaughtered (verse 24)

In desperation the King of Moab offered his eldest son as a burnt offering on the wall (verse 27)

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

What can we learn form 2 Kings Chapter 3

From reading this chapter we learn that Elisha had great powers.

Elisha filled ditches with water without any rain. This tricked the Moabites.

This trick gave Israel victory over the Moabites.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Today is Christman Eve. Happy Christmas to everyone using the Christian Forum.

 

[rick357]

God worked greatly through this prophet.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Its Christmas. Its Christmas Day today.

Happy Christmas Rick357. Happy Christmas Brinny. Happy Christmas Christian Forum.

Let us all give thanks this day for the birth of the baby Jesus the King of Kings.

And Mary brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2 verse 7)

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night (verse 8)

And the Angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (verse 11)

And the shepherds came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger (verse 16)

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

The Wise Men visit Jesus (Matthew Chapter 2)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him (verse 2)

And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy (verse 10)

And when the were come to the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh (verse 11)

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Today is Christmas Day

Let is a be happy that wonderful Christians all over the world are going to church today to give thanks for the birth of the baby Jesus.

Let is be happy that people all over the world are celebrating Christmas Day to remember that Jesus the Son of God came to the earth to be born of Mary in the City of David.

 

[brinny]

A very Merry and a blessed Christmas to everyone.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

So what can we learn from 2 Kings Chapter 4

1/ We learn that Elisha can do miracles. It seems even more miracles than Elijah

2/ Elisha made a pot oil fill many vessels for the wife of a dead prophet.

3/ Elisha made a barren Shunammite woman have a son.

4/ Elisha brought the son back to life after he died.

5/ Elisha made some poisonous soup sweet and tasty.

6/ Elisha fed a hundred people with 20 loaves

What a truely mighty man of God, was the prophet Elisha.

 

[brinny]

Re: 2 Kings 4:

What grabbed my attention here is the Shunammite woman. In verse 8, she is described as a "great" woman. What seems to be evident and why the word "great" would be used, is that she had great compassion for Elisha and "ministered" to him. Going a little further, her compassion for Elisha generated from a fear of the Lord, and thus His servant and prophet, Elisha. What also unfolds is indication of an immovable faith in God and thus in what God was able to do through His servant Elisha.

8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

She was also a very wise woman:

9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

When her son died, she went to Elisha, and KNEW all would be well:

20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Brinny,

Yes this Shunammite woman had the most amazing faith in Gods power working through Elisha.

We dont hear many examples of such faith. This made her a great woman.

2 Kings Chapter 4 is a beautiful chapter.

It is full of miracles and the wonderful works done that outstanding prophet Elisha.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Naaman cured of Leprosy

Elisha does another miracle in 2 Kings Chapter 5

Naaman was captain of the host of the King of Syria but he was a leper.

A little Israeli slave girl tells Naaman's wife about the power of a prophet in Israel.

Elisha tells Naaman to wash in the river Jordan seven times.

Naaman is cured of his leprosy and tries to give Elisha money and gifts.

Elisha refuses any gifts from Naaman. But Elisha's servant asks for money and two changes of garments.

The servant is punished. The leprosy from Naaman is transferred to the servant.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

So what can we learn from 2 Kings Chapter 5

I am guessing here. Elisha had huge powers given to him by God. But he was not allowed to us these powers for profit. He must not use his powers to make himself rich.

When Elisha's servant tried to earn a bit of cash for himself he got leprosy. God did not want the healing powers of Elisha to be used to make lots of money.

 

[brinny]

Just a thought here.....was this power Elisha's or God's? WHO was powerful? Who should be given notice here, Elisha, or God?

Another thought....re: Naaman, God does the impossible. He cures Naaman of an impossible disease, beyond remedy, as only He can. What a glorious testimony. And what a foolish condition of the heart of Elisha's servant. This is an entire Bible study in itself...

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Just a thought here.....was this power Elisha's or God's? WHO was powerful? Who should be given notice here, Elisha, or God?

Another thought....re: Naaman, God does the impossible. He cures Naaman of an impossible disease, beyond remedy, as only He can. What a glorious testimony. And what a foolish condition of the heart of Elisha's servant. This is an entire Bible study in itself...

Of course Brinny you are right all the glory should go to God.

But may I ask why God gave those powers to Elisha over and above all the other prophets including Elijah ?

Why did Elisha refuse the money offered by Naaman ?

My guess is that if Elisha had taken the money God would have taken his powers away. Miracles were not just another was to make some quick money.

Elisha's servant was very severely punished for trying to cash in on miracles powers given by God to Elisha.

 

[brinny]

It was GOD working through Elisha that was being evident......it had nothing to do with "Elisha"....what is evident also is that Elisha KNEW WHOSE power it was, and that it was NOT his. THIS, along with a Godly "fear of God" is what distinctively are the markings of a true man of God.

Think a little more about why Elisha turned down "money" or any kind of "reward" for being used of God to manifest God's power.

Why would Elisha do that?

How does this also "tie in" to the angel that John saw and fell on his face before the angel to worship it.

What did the angel say?

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

It was GOD working through Elisha that was being evident......it had nothing to do with "Elisha"....what is evident also is that Elisha KNEW WHOSE power it was, and that it was NOT his. THIS, along with a Godly "fear of God" is what distinctively are the markings of a true man of God.

Think a little more about why Elisha turned down "money" or any kind of "reward" for being used of God to manifest God's power.

Why would Elisha do that?

How does this also "tie in" to the angel that John saw and fell on his face before the angel to worship it.

What did the angel say?

Brinny,

Revelation 22 verse 8
I fell down to worship before the feet of an angel.

Sorry I cannot see the connection with Elisha refusing Naaman's money.

My guess is that if Elisha took the money his power would have left him.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Chapter 6 is another wonderful selection of miracles by Elisha

2 Kings Chapter 6

The swimming axe head is an old children's favourite (verse 6)

Elisha being surrounded on a mountain with chariots and horses of fire was a miracle (verse 17)

The Syrian host was blinded by Elisha (verse 18)

The Syrian host got their sight back (verse 20)

A terrible famine occurs when King Ben-hadad of Syria besieged Samaria and people began to eat their own children.

Elisha predicts that the famine will end tomorrow. Elisha predict this in verse two of the next chapter.
(2 Kings Chapter 7 verse 2)

This chapter is a great inspiration. One wonders why God gave Elisha such miraculous powers. I dont believe that any other prophet was ever givern such amazing powers.

 

[brinny]

Brinny,

Revelation 22 verse 8
I fell down to worship before the feet of an angel.

Sorry I cannot see the connection with Elisha refusing Naaman's money.

My guess is that if Elisha took the money his power would have left him.

It would have been as if he was being paid for doing tricks. If he accepted the money, he would've been acknowledging that and blatantly putting God to shame. It was as if Elisha would be getting credit for all that happened. In essence, Elisha would be glorified, and worshiped. The same dynamics as John falling down to worship the angel.

Why was Gehazi struck with leprosy?