The Death of a King
Elisha came to Damascus when Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, was ill. Ben-hadad respected the prophet, and knew that he was empowered by God. The king, possibly hoping to purchase his healing, told Hazael, one of his officials, to take a large gift to "the man of God" and, through Elisha, "inquire of the Lord … saying, Shall I recover of this disease?" (2 Kgs 8.8). The prophet's message to the king was that he would get better, but would not live long to enjoy his recovery. Elisha then looked steadily at Hazael, who felt ashamed, probably because of the thoughts that were going through his mind. God had revealed to Elisha that Hazael would be the next king and, when the prophet began to weep, Hazael enquired as to the reason. Elisha replied that he was weeping because God had revealed that Hazael would evilly treat the children of Israel, and would burn down their fortified places, killing their young men, babies and pregnant women.
Elisha's weeping showed the love that he had for the people of God, despite their continued worship of idols. The Lord Jesus Christ also wept. At the grave of Lazarus, the Lord saw people weeping. He saw the sorrow sin had brought into the world and, although He knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead, He wept (Jn 11.35). God is "the God of all comfort" (2 Cor 1.3), and one day, in Heaven, all tears will be wiped away (Rev 7.17). The Lord wept also over the city of Jerusalem. We read "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it" (Lk 19.41). The Lord wept tears of compassion, pity and sadness, because the people did not know the things that would give them peace, and now they were hidden from them (v 42). The Lord "came unto his own, and his own received him not" (Jn 1.11). The people of Jerusalem had rejected the Lord Jesus Christ, and shortly they would ill-treat Him and crucify Him. The Lord knew beforehand how He would suffer, and yet He loved and pitied the people. He knew that, because they had rejected Him, the Roman General Titus would take Jerusalem in AD 70. Many people would be slaughtered, and the city would be laid even with the ground (Lk 19.44). The Lord wept because of the awful judgment the people of Jerusalem were going to suffer. We see how the Lord feels for the lost and suffering. As believers, we must be far from Him if we have no concern for the perishing around us. David, a man after God's own heart (Acts 13.22), said "Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law" (Ps 119.136).
Hazael expressed astonishment at the suggestion that one in his comparatively low position could do such things, but Elisha revealed to him that he would be the next king of Syria. With the aim of bringing to an end the worship of Baal in Israel, Elijah had been told to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, Jehu as king of Israel, and Elisha to be Elijah's successor (1 Kgs 19.15-16). On his return to Ben-hadad, Hazael informed him that he would recover but, the following day, Hazael took a thick cloth, soaked it in water and spread it over Ben-hadad's face so that he was smothered (2 Kgs 8.14-15). Hazael proved to be an implacable enemy of Israel (10.32-33), and reigned for about forty years.
Elijah and Elisha ministered during times in which events showed clearly that the children of Israel would, as God had promised, be blessed when they obeyed Him, and suffer judgment and chastening when they disobeyed Him (Deut 28.1-2, 15). God used the Syrians to chasten His people who had persisted in their worship of idols. Yet God's love and continuing concern for His people were shown, not only in the way He chastened them for disobedience, but also in sending Elijah and Elisha to them with messages and teaching from Himself. God authenticated the ministries of both prophets by the miracles He performed through them, but still the people worshipped idols, and one judgment therefore followed another. Today, in His steadfast love and longsuffering, God chastens individuals and nations with the aim of bringing them back to Himself, that they might obey His Word and be blessed. Chastening only results in the intended blessing if we respond to it with repentance and confession of sins, and return in loving obedience to God (Heb 12.11).
Ben-hadad knew that Elisha was a "man of God", that he was endued with knowledge other men did not possess, and that God wrought miracles through him. Despite knowing and believing all this, the king continued to practise idolatry and live a life of wickedness. Many people today deliberately reject God and His gracious message of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Some even believe that the message of the Gospel is true, and yet decide not to be saved because they want to continue with the sinful life which they are enjoying. They deliberately reject the grace of God.
The Death of a Man of God
Elisha's ministry, authenticated by miracles, lasted for about sixty years, and at his death he would have been approaching ninety years of age. When Elisha was dying, Joash, the king of Israel, came to see him. He wept, and, showing his respect for Elisha, said "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof" (2 Kgs 13.14). Elisha had used the same words when Elijah was taken to heaven (2.12). Elijah and Elisha had demonstrated God's power being used in the blessing and defence of Israel, and now Elisha was dying. He told Joash to take a bow and arrows and, placing his hands on top of the hands of Joash, told the king to shoot one arrow eastwards. This was done, and Elisha said "The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them" (13.17). Elisha then told the king to take arrows and strike the ground with them. Joash, lacking perseverance and energy, struck the ground three times only and stopped. Elisha was angry with the king, telling him that if he had struck the ground five or six times then he would have defeated the Syrians and completely destroyed them, but now Syria would be defeated three times only.
Elisha died and was buried, but his ministry was not yet finished. Moabite raiding parties came into the country every Spring. On one such occasion, when some Israelites were burying a man, they saw a Moabite raiding party and quickly threw the dead man's body into Elisha's tomb. As soon as the dead body touched Elisha's bones, the man came back to life and stood upon his feet. This final miracle showed that God could use His power in connection with Elisha even after the prophet had died. The miracle authenticated Elisha's last prophecy of victory for Israel. All the towns captured by Hazael were recaptured by Joash, king of Israel, in three successive victories (13.20-25).
Elisha's ministry was characterised by grace and the preservation of life. He showed constant love for the people of Israel, despite their sins and idol worship. God was always at the centre of his life and thoughts, and he never showed impatience or despair as did Elijah when he was physically and mentally exhausted (1 Kgs 19.4). The messages communicated, and miracles wrought, by both Elijah and Elisha were intended to bring the people to repentance, and to deliver them from further chastening and suffering. God, who is love (1 Jn 4.8), is gracious and longsuffering, and never changes (Mal 3.6), and today His gracious message of salvation and peace with Him through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is being sounded out in this sinful, suffering world.
(Concluded)
