God’s Word Is Sure (2 Kings 6:8-7:20)

Wayne Galloway
11/11/14 - N/A

Series: Studies in Second Kings

Introduction:

1. King Jehoram reigns over Israel.  Elisha is the leader of the sons of the prophets.  Benhadad is the king of Aram. 2.  The Israelites and the Arameans have a conflicted relationship. 3.  In our last study Naaman, captain of the army of the Arameans, came to Israel to be cleansed of his leprosy.  An Israelite girl who had been captured in an Aramean raid into Israel recommended that he see the prophet in Israel. 4.  Now Benhadad is warring against Israel.  But he has a tactical problem.  Each time he plans an attack he finds that Jehoram has strengthened himself at that very place.  Benhadad thinks he is being sold out by his own men. 5.  We pick up the account in 2 Kings 6:12b-14.

Discussion:

I.    God’s word allows preparation to defend against the enemy (6:12ff).

A.  Jehoram prepared himself at the word of God.

1.  The word of God is filled with warnings (6:10).

a.  There are warnings against sin (1 Cor. 6:9ff).

b.  There are warnings against false teaching (2 Tim. 4:3-5).

c.  There are warnings of coming judgment (1 Thess. 5:1-3).

2.  It allows us to guard ourselves (6:10).  See 1 Thess. 5:4-11.

B.   Elisha and his servant saw the power of God to defeat their enemy.

1.   “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

2.   Ours is a spiritual battle (Eph. 6:10ff).

3.  It is not won with clashing swords, but by grace (2 Kings 6:22).

a.  “If My kingdom were of this world . . . “ (Jn. 18:36).

b.  Our sword is the word of God (Eph. 6:17).

II.  God’s word promises relief from tragic circumstances (2 Kings 7:1ff).

A.  Jehoram and Israel found themselves in desperation (2 Kings 6:24ff).

1.  People were facing starvation.

a.  A donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver.

b.  A pint of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.

c.  Two women were in conflict over eating their own sons.

2.  Jehoram was wearing sackcloth, a mark of penitence, but his genuineness is questionable in light of his threat to behead Elisha.

B.  God promised that there would be food in abundance (7:1-2).

1.  Four starving lepers considered their circumstance and decided to go out to the Arameans in a last ditch effort to survive.

2.  The Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses.  They concluded it was the Hittites and the Egyptians hired by Jehoram.  They fled for their lives.

3.  They left everything behind in their haste.

4.  The lepers lavished in the spoils until they realized what they were doing was not right and informed the city of the circumstances.

5.  Jehoram was cautious, hesitant to believe the Lord had blessed them.  But with investigation they went outside the city and further calamity was averted.

6.  The skeptic did not receive any of the blessings.

C.  God’s word promises relief from the certain death of sin.

1.  Sometimes people do not see the severity of the circumstances.

2.  Why will you wait until you are eating donkey’s heads, dove’s dung and boiling your own children before repentance?

3.  Will you blame God for your calamity as Jehoram did?

4.  Will you seek to destroy the messenger of God?

5.  Will you play the part of the skeptic before the word of grace that God extends?

6.  Are you hesitant to go outside the city of death in order to receive the lavish blessings of God?

7.  And having experienced those blessings yourself will you withhold the precious message of salvation from those dying without it?

Conclusion:

1.  The lessons of this text are powerful! 2.  Will you use God’s message to defend against the enemy? 3.  Are you blind to the things of God? 4.  Or do you see the great host of God sent for your deliverance? 5.  What will you do with His great message of salvation?