Introduction
Earlier articles in this series have observed the miraculous character of Elisha's ministry. Between the end of 2 Kings 2 and the beginning of 2 Kings 6 we have Elisha's service described to us through around nine incidents, over which scholars seem to suggest there was a two or three year period. Almost invariably there was some miraculous element to the incidents and useful lessons are there for the people of God today. The writer's ability and space do not permit the examination these incidents deserve. However, what the writer sees as the principal lessons are outlined below.
The healing of the spring at Jericho
Toward the end of 2 Kings 2, Elisha is still at Jericho. A problem is brought to him by the men of the city. They seemd to appreciate, as the people of God ought to, that advice is best sought from a man who can bring the word of God to bear on the matter. Outside Jericho, in what should have been otherwise fertile and useful land, there was a spring of water. However, it was of little benefit to the people of the city, because the water was bad, and fruit was therefore not produced where the spring had effect. Perhaps the inhabitants of the city were impoverished and thirsty because of the situation.
Elisha took a new bowl and put salt in it. He then cast salt from the bowl into the spring. He indicated that the Lord had healed the water, and so He had. Doubtless the people of Jericho were delighted, and the power of God had been seen through Elisha, but what of the spiritual lessons?
When we read about springs of water in the Scriptures the starting position will usually be that the flowing water is typical of the Spirit of God (for example, Jn 7.37-39). Salt also has a fairly consistent symbolism through the pages of the Word of God: it speaks of the preservative element, and often of holiness and sanctification in the believer (cp Lev 2.13; Mt 5.13). The writer therefore sees a very basic lesson here: for the indwelling Spirit of God to control, direct and bless, there will need to be holiness in the believer's life. Without the "salt", that is to say the sanctified life, blessing cannot be expected - though God in His sovereign will is not limited and can work despite us. On the other hand, fruitfulness can be expected when the Spirit of God is enabled to control and direct.
The cursing of the boys at Bethel
At the conclusion of 2 Kings 2 there is an incident that many find puzzling. As Elisha walked through Bethel, he was accosted by a large group of youths who jeered at him, telling him to leave, and making fun of his baldness. Elisha cursed the lads. Apparently as a result of the cursing, two bears attacked, killing forty-two of the group.
It should be noted that the word used for "children" in the AV can refer to young children, but also to teenagers. It is difficult to be dogmatic, but it is perhaps more likely that it was adolescents who were involved here. It seems to the writer that the fact of the matter was that, while Elisha's baldness was used as an infantile excuse for the ridicule, in effect they were rejecting the man of God, and the word of God, telling him to leave Bethel (v.23). In an earlier article it was explained that Bethel is typical of the House of God. How sad that this group of young men had no time for the Man of God or the Word of God, in the place that spoke of the House of God. The same types of poor excuse, and the same type of rejection, are still offered today. Such behaviour is to be avoided at all costs, especially when the Word of God brings conviction of sin in the believer's life. The incident with the bears serves to emphasise how seriously God regards the rejection of His Word.
The instruction of the kings at Samaria
2 Kings 3 records that while Ahab's son Jehoram did not follow all the sins of his father, he did pursue Jeroboam's apostate system of worship (v.3). In due course he suffered a rebellion at the hands of the King of Moab. Jehoram's response was to form a federation with the King of Edom, and Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah. It is of course surprising that Jehoshaphat wanted to associate himself with what Jehoram stood for: Jehoshaphat was now a man in his mid-fifties who had made exactly the same mistake before when he had joined affinity with Ahab (2 Chr 18). Sadly, the ageing process is no guarantee of spiritual progress. Our associations in the world will affect spiritual prosperity.
In any event, this mixed federation had a big difficulty; there was no water for the army and its animals. Jehoram seemed to be at crisis point, but Jehoshaphat still had the wit to ask whether there was a prophet of the Lord. It is worth pausing to note that if flowing water is typical of the Spirit, then still water is usually typical of the Word of God (see, for example, Ephesians 5.26). It is a sad fact that there are still believers battling today that have "no water"; they lack the Word of God experimentally in their lives.
Elisha arrived and addressed the kings. He pointed out that the word of God could not be continually ignored, and then suddenly called up on demand (v.13). Given Jehoshaphat's presence God would speak, but uniquely Elisha had a minstrel played. Was it to calm the tension? It is perhaps unwise to speculate further, but as the minstrel played the word of God was revealed to Elisha. In many ways his ministry was one of grace and this occasion was no different. He spoke of the "valley…filled with water" (v.17) and Moab defeated. As he foretold, so it came to pass; again emphasising the basic lesson that Elisha did not influence with his own ideas or thoughts, but declared the unadulterated truth of God.
The filling of the pots for the widow
At the beginning of 2 Kings 4, Elisha is presented with a new issue. A widow of one of the sons of the prophets (perhaps implying one who had sacrificed in the service of God) was in dire circumstances. Her sons were going to have to be sold in order to pay her creditors. Like many of the people of God, she found herself in a trial in which she found herself helpless. However, God would demonstrate in miraculous fashion through Elisha that He was well able to meet her need. He can still meet the needs of the vulnerable saint today, and while trials may not be met with miraculous deliverance in the sense of this chapter, He will supply the required help (Heb 4.16).
Elisha asked what the widow had. She had one pot of oil. Having been told to borrow as many pots as she could, she did so. Miraculously, the pots were filled with oil - there was sufficient to meet the needs of the household and to enable her to sell the oil, repay her creditors, and live off the residual profits of the sale. Oil is also a picture of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament men were anointed with oil, symbolising the power of the Spirit coming upon them (for example, 1 Sam 16.13). The New Testament takes up the symbol describing the believer as being anointed when the Spirit takes up residence at salvation (for example, 2 Corinthians 1.22).
The lesson is therefore an encouraging one: whatever the magnitude of the trial, there is sufficient in the Spirit of God to meet the need of the believer. The oil was available to fill the empty vessel. Every believer comes into the good of the baptism of the Spirit at salvation (1 Cor 12.13). However, the empty vessels seem to be indicative of the fact that the Holy Spirit also needs to fill and control the life: it has been well taught that the Holy Spirit needs more of the believer rather than the believer needing more of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5.18). It also appears significant that the neighbours did not help pour the oil - the door was shut and the experience of need being met was an intensely personal one. That is often the case in Christian life, and there is a particular blessing in having experimentally and personally worked out that the oil does not run dry!
To be continued.
