2 Kings 6:8

2 Kings 6:8 says, Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.  The king of Syria decided to go to war against Israel and decided where to set up his camp.  It seems that more and more people have decided to go to war against Christians today, and they have set up their camps all around us.  Still, we should never live in fear of them.  Verse nine adds, And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.  Elisha sent word to the king of Israel not to pass by where the king of Syria had set up camp because he knew he was there.  God is not going to allow us to go into a dangerous situation today unprepared if we are listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, though we may still sometimes be led into a dangerous situation.  We should just always be prepared for the outcome no matter what it is because we are forever secure with God.  Verse ten continues, And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.  The king of Israel avoided this place more than once and thereby saved himself by listening to the warning from God though Elisha.  If we are warned by the Holy Spirit today to avoid certain situations, we need to listen and obey the warning.  Verse eleven states, Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?  The king of Syria thought someone must be warning the king of Israel about his plans and basically asked if he were not the one in charge and if people were being unfaithful to him.  Those who plot against God today are often going to be frustrated when their plans fail and are not going to realize that God is the One spoiling their plans.  Verse twelve adds, And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.  One of the king's servants told him that none of his people were betraying him, but that Elisha the prophet knew what he was planning even in the privacy of his bedroom.  There is no place that people can plot against God and His people where He will not know what they are doing.  Verse thirteen continues, And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.  The king sent someone to find out where Elisha was so he could get him, and he was told that Elisha was in Dothan.  He thought he could capture Elisha without him knowing what was happening.  If we are a follower of Christ today, no one should ever be able to catch us spiritually unaware of what is happening in life.  Verse fourteen declares, Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.  The king of Syria then sent horses, chariots, and many men to surround Dothan.  He thought that a large powerful force would ensure victory.  The people of the world today still believe that numbers and force will allow them to be victorious over God and His people.  Verse fifteen adds, And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?  When they saw that the city was surrounded, Elisha's servant asked him what they were going to do in the face of all this force against them.  He was looking at the opposition instead of looking to God by faith, and we can never afford to do that as Christians.  Our focus must always be on God and not the things of this world, no matter how strong they may seem.  Verse sixteen continues, And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.  Elisha told his servant to not be afraid, because those with them were more than enough to keep them safe.  Matthew Henry says that Elisha saw angels all around them, even though we really aren't told this yet.  I believe that Elisha just knew that noting was more powerful than God and that He was with them no matter what.  This should be our attitude today as well.  We need to focus on God and believe that He will bring spiritual victory no matter what the situation may look like as long as we remain faithful to Him.

2 Kings 6 :1

2 Kings 6:1 says, And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.  The sons of the prophets came to Elisha complaining about their accommodations.  They said the place he stayed was too strait, or small for all of them to stay there.  Matthew henry says this was a good thing because it meant the number of prophets was going.  It would be nice if we outgrew our places of worship today because new Christians were being added.  Verse two adds, Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.  They proposed going to the Jordan, with every man carrying some supplies, and building a place for themselves there, and Elisha told them to go.  Today, if the congregation is growing too large for the building, maybe instead of adding on we need to start a new work elsewhere.  Of course, if we do, we must be willing to provide the necessary things needed to build it.  Matthew Henry says they could have asked the government for what they wanted, but the were simple men with simple needs and were going to provide for themselves with Elish's blessing.  We should never look to others to provide for us what we can provide for ourselves, and we should never want opulence when doing God's work.  Verse three continues, And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.  They invited Elisha to go with them, and he said he would.  This would imply that in this case they abandoned the old place, but it was evidently more of a place to gather as prophets than a place of worship exclusively.  Verse four concludes, So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.  Elisha went with them, and when they got to the Jordan, they began to cut down trees.  They were willing to do the physical labor, and so must we be willing today.  Verse five states, But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.  As one of the men was cutting down a tree his borrowed axe fell into the river.  This could have caused him a lot of problems.  Even when we are doing God's work, we may at times encounter problems.  Verse six adds, And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.  Elisha asked the man where the axe fell in, cut a stick and threw it in and the stick swan, or floated to the surface with the axe.  Though we may never experience a miracle like this, with God all things are possible.  Verse seven continues, Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.  Elisha told the man to take the axe, and he did.  This still required some involvement on the man's part, and even if God is performing a miracle today, He may allow us to be a part of bringing it about.

2 Kings 5:20

2 Kings 5:20 says, But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.  Though Elisha didn't take any reward or payment from Naaman for God's curing him of leprosy, his servant Gehazi swore by God that he would take something for himself.  There are still people today who want to be rewarded materially for things that God has done, but we as followers of Christ never should.  Verse twenty-one adds, So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?  When Naaman saw Gehazi following him, he got down from his chariot and asked him if everything was well.  He was more concerned about Gehazi than Gehazi was about him.  We should always be concerned about the welfare of others who come to us, even if it turns out that they are up to no good.  I don't believe that we should ever just ignore or dismiss them without any concern for them.  Verse twenty-two adds, And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.  Gehazi then lied to Naaman.  He told him Elisha had sent him to ask for some silver and two changes of garments for two young men who were sons of the prophets who had come to Elijah for help.  He may have figured Naaman wouldn't give him anything if he asked just for himself but thought that he wouldn't deny Elisha if had suddenly changed his mind about the reward.  People today still often attempt to disguise the fact that they are really asking us to donate to them by saying it is for some need that they have in order to do God's work.  Verse twenty-three continues, And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.  Naaman gave Gehazi even more than he asked for, giving him two talents of silver and the two changes of clothes.  People will sometimes be generous in their giving to someone who claims that what they are asking for is to be used for others or even to be able to carry out God's work, but we as Christians need to be careful if we ask someone for help that it is actually so that God's work can continue and not just enrich ourselves.  Matthew Henry points out that Gehazi was in danger of causing Naaman to turn away from God by asking for this reward that had first been refused.  Greed on the part of God's people can still cause lost people to turn away from Him.  Verse twenty-four states, And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.  Naaman had sent two servants to bring the gifts, and when they got to Gehazi's house, he took it from them and sent them back to Naaman, thinking that he had succeeded in his deception.  He wasn't going to tell Elisha and those who could were gone.  Even if we think so, we are never going to fool God, which was the ultimate challenge for Gehazi.  Verse twenty-five adds, But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.  When Gehazi again stood before Elisha and was asked where he had been, he lied again and said he hadn't been anywhere.  One lie often leads to another when we need to hide the truth about the first lie.  Verse twenty-six continues, And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?  Elisha told Gehazi he knew what he had done and asked him if doing God's work was a time to be rewarded materially, no matter how great the reward might be.  We should never attempt to profit from doing what God has called us to do if He does something great through us.  God must always get the glory and we must acknowledge that He will always meet our needs but won't necessarily provide for our wants.   Verse twenty-seven concludes, The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.  Gehazi had wanted to receive something from Naaman for what God had done, and he did.  He became a leper himself.  We may not aways suffer physically from misusing God's work through others or ourselves, but we will always be made impure spiritually if we do so.

2 Kings 5:9

2 Kings 5:9 says, So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.  Naaman came with his horses and chariots to Elisha and stood before his door.  I don't know if he thought his display of power would influence Elisha or if he just didn't feel safe coming alone.  I do know that when we come to God through putting our faith in Jesus Christ that our position in the world will not impress Him and we must always come alone.  Verse ten adds, And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.  Elisha did not even come to Nathan but sent a messenger to him telling him to go and wash in the Jordan seven times.  Elisha evidently was not impressed nor intimidated by Nathan, and neither should we be by anyone when sharing the gospel today.  Elisha's message was simple, but it required obedience and action on Nathan's part.  The gospel message is also simple, and it too requires obedience and action on the part of each individual if they are to be cleansed of the penalty of their sins.  Verse eleven continues, But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.  Nathan was mad, because Elisha had not done what he expected him to do.  He thought Elisha would come out to him, wave his hand over him, and call on God and he would be healed.  He actually wasn't expecting to have to do anything himself but be near Elisha.  For some people, the gospel is too simple, and they reject it because they expect to have to do more than just believe.  I know in this case Nathan was asked to do more, but I believe that was to show that he truly believed that Elisha spoke God's word and would humble himself to obey him.  We can only come to God by humble obedience to Jesus Christ and faith in Him as the only way to salvation.  Verse twelve continues, Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.  Nathan asked if there were not rivers near Damascus with better water than all the waters in Israel that he could wash in, and he went away in a rage.  He still thought Damascus was better than Israel and people still look for a better way to salvation today thinking that they have a better way than faith in Jesus Christ, and they either go away mad or disappointed in the simplicity of the gospel.  Verse thirteen states, And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?  Nathan's servants had a better understanding than Nathan did.  They asked him if Elisha had told him to do some great thing would he not have done it, so why would he not do something simple like washing seven times in the Jordan.  People today would still like for salvation to require more than just faith that Jesus Christ died for their sins and acceptance of this fact.  Verse fourteen adds, Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.  When Nathan did what Elisha told him to do, he was healed of his leprosy.  When we do what the gospel tells us to do, we will be healed of the penalty of our sins and will become babies in Christ spiritually.  Verse fifteen continues, And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. Nathan had left Elisha's place angry, but he returned grateful.  We may be angry when we first hear the gospel because it seems to simple, but if we believe and put our faith in it, we should return to God grateful for His salvation plan making us whole spiritually.  Nathan said he now knew that there was no god but the God of Israel, and we must come to the realization that there is but one real God in order to be saved.  Nathan also offered to reward Elisha for what he did.  Verse sixteen says, But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.  Elisha refused Nathan's reward, and so should we if someone attempts to pay us for sharing the gospel today.  Like Elisha, we are just the messenger, and all the glory should go to God and not to us.  Verse seventeen adds, And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord.  Nathan then said he would no longer worship any God but the God of Israel and then asked for two loads of dirt from Israel on which to build an altar to God, as Matthew Henry says not really understanding that God is the God of the whole earth, and the dirt of Israel was no more sacred than any dirt anywhere.  We should never believe that God is limited to a particular place, because He is the God of the whole universe.  Verse eighteen continues, In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing.  He also asked that God pardon him when he went into the house of Rimmon and bowed down.  He knew that he would be required to do this by the king, and he didn't want to oppose him.  We cannot go through the motions of worshipping other gods as Christians, but we must reject them outright and stand for God alone.  Verse nineteen concludes, And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.  Elisha told Nathen to go in peace, but I don't really believe that this meant he agreed to Nathan's proposal.   I don't believe that we can ever have real peace with God as followers of Christ if we are attempting to allow other gods in our life, even if it would save us some problems in the world.  We must worship God alone and should never even go through the motions of worshipping another god, no matter what it costs us materially to refuse to do so.   

2 Kings 5:1

2 Kings 5:1 says, Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.  Naaman was the captain of the army of Syria, a great man of valor and honorable, and because of him, God had given deliverance to Syria.  One good and honorable man who follows God may lead to God's blessing of others.  Still, Naaman was a leper in spite of his good nature.  We as followers of Christ are not exempt from problems in life.  Verse two adds, And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.  The Syrians had defeated and captured some of the Israelites, who were God's chosen people but who weren't acting like it.  We need to pray that people of the world are never doing more for God than Christians are.  There was a little girl among the captives, and she waited on Naaman's wife.  Verse three continues, And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.  The little girl told Naaman's wife that if he were with the prophet in Samaria that he would heal his leprosy, but it was really his God who would.  We need to always make sure that God, and not a preacher or teacher or anyone else, gets credit for the things that He does through us as Christians.  Verse four states, And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.  Someone went to Naaman and told him what the girl had said.  We likewise must go to the people of the world today with the gospel.  The sins of people are already forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, and if they believe in Him, they can be made spiritually whole.  Verse five adds, And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.  The king of Syria told Naaman to go to the prophet and he would send a letter to the king of Israel, and he also sent gold, silver and clothes with him.  I am not sure if these were to be used as gifts or to be used to attempt to buy God's blessing, but I do know that we should never attempt to profit materially from serving God or to buy His blessing.  Verse six continues, And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.  The king of Syria said he had sent Naaman to the king of Israel so that he might cure him of his leprosy, but the king of Israel did not have that power.  We need to realize that no person today has that power either.  Only God does.  Verse seven declares, And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.  The king of Israel was distraught because he said he didn't have that power, nor did he have faith in God to do it either.  If we are Christians in name only without any real faith in God, then we will often be distressed by things of the world.  The king of Israel thought the king of Syria was looking for a reason to go to war with him by asking him to do something he couldn't do, and he didn't look to God for the answer.  As followers of Christ, if someone asks something of us that seems impossible, we should first look to God for the answer.  Verse eight adds, And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.  When Elisha heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, he said let Naaman come to him and that he would know that there was a prophet of God in Israel.  We as Christians should always live in such a way in the world that people know there is only one true God and that we serve Him.

2 Kings 4:38

2 Kings 4:38 says, And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.  When Elisha got to Gilgal, there was not a lot of food, and the sons of the prophets were there, and he asked his servant to set a great pot to make pottage for them.  Matthew Henry said this dearth lasted for seven years, the same as the one in Elijah's day.  Of course, as sons of prophets, they should have been looking to God for help first, just as we should today especially.  We do not have to go through priests or prophets to get God's help.  Verse thirty-nine adds, And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.  One of the sons of the prophets found some wild gourds, brought them, and shredded them into the pottage without really knowing what they were.  We need to be careful that we do not allow things that we do not know what they are to feed us spiritually today.  Verse forty continues, So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.  As the men were eating, they cried out that there was death in the pot, and they could not eat it.  Whether this was because of the taste, or they were actually getting sick is not specified, but Matthew Henry says they were getting physically sick.  When we begin to ingest ideas that are not in accordance with God's word, it should make us spiritually sick.  Verse forty-one states, But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.  Elisha told them to bring him some meal, he put it in the pot, and told them they could eat with no harm.  To continue the analogy of the pottage and God's word, once the truth of God is added to counter the lies of the world, it is safe for us to feed on it.  It does not make lies the truth, but makes us not be susceptible to their influence.  Verse forty-two adds, And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.  After this, a man from Baalshalisha came with twenty loaves of barley and some full ears of corn, which were said to be the first-fruits, or an offering to God, and told Elisha to give it to the people.  God will always provide for His people's needs.  Verse forty-three continues, And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.  The server asked if he was supposed to give this little amount to feed a hundred men.  He was looking at the material things instead of looking to God by faith and sometimes we do the same thing.  As long as we have faith in God and are following His will, He will always provide for us spiritually if not physically, and that is all that really matters.  The man who brought the food told him to go ahead, because God had said it would be enough.  Verse forty-four concludes, So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord.  When the man obeyed the word of God, it was as he said it would be, and it always will be when we are speaking God's word.

2 Kings 4:29

2 Kings 4:29 says, Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.  Elisha told Gehazi to take Elisha's staff and run to the child and lay it on the boy.  He was to let nothing distract him along the way.  We as Christians today need a sense of urgency when witnessing to those who are spiritually lost.  We don't need to let things of the world distract us from witnessing to others.  Verse thirty adds, And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.  The woman told Elisha that she would not leave his side as surely as he lived, and the LORD lived.  As long as we live, as followers of Christ, we must ever leave His side.  Elisha arose and followed her.  Verse thirty-one continues, And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.  Gehazi passed them, got to the child, laid Elisha's staff on him, and nothing happened.  He then returned and told them this news.  Sometimes, we may not immediately see positive result of our witnessing to others, but we must never lose faith that it will bear fruit.  Verse thirty-two states, And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.  When Elisha got there, sill nothing had changed.  The child was still dead.  He could have given up in defeat.  When things appear hopeless in a situation today, we may give up in defeat before the victory has come, but we should never lose faith.  Verse thirty-three adds, He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord.  Elisha shut the others out and prayed to the LORD.  This is our best course of action in any situation, especially those that seem hopeless.  We need to get alone and pray to God.  Verse thirty-four continues, And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.  Elisha covered the body of the child with his own body, and the flesh of the child grew warm.  We cannot bring physical life back to dead people necessarily, but we can offer them spiritual life if they are covered with the blood of Christ.  He can bring them to life spiritually now and forever.  Verse thirty-five declares, Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.  Elisha walked back and forth in the house, then stretched himself out on the child again, the child sneezed seven times, and opened his eyes.  None of these actions had any magical powers, but God restored the life of the child.  We can never put too much faith in the actions or power of people to heal, but we must always look to God for healing.  Verse thirty-six adds, And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.  After the child was restored to life, Elisha had Gehazi go and tell the woman.  He was not looking for praise for himself, and we must never do so today.  We must always make sure that God gets the credit for anything that we do as Christians.  Verse thirty-seven continues, Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.  The woman still attempted to worship Elisha, falling at his feet before taking her son and leaving.  We need to make sure that we never allow people to worship us when God does something miraculous through us.