II Kings 7
Elisha brings message of the LORDverses 1-2
Then Elisha said
Hear you the word of the LORD – thus says the LORD
Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour
be sold for a shekel
two measures of barley for a shekel
in the gate of Samaria
Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned
answered the man of God and said
BEHOLD – IF the LORD would make windows in heaven
might this thing be?
And he said
BEHOLD – you shall see it with your eyes
BUT shall not eat thereof
Four starving lepersverses 3-4
And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate
and they said one to another
Why sit we here until we die?
IF we say – We will enter into the city
THEN the famine is in the city and we shall die there
IF we sit still here – we will die also
Now therefore come
and let us fall to the host of the Syrians
IF they save us alive – we shall live
IF they kill us – we shall but die
Lepers find the Syrian camp emptyverses 5-7
And they rose up in the twilight
to go unto the camp of the Syrians
and when they were come
to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria
BEHOLD – there was no man there
For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear the
noise of chariots – noise of horses – noise of a great host
and they said one to another
Lo – the king of Israel has hired against us the
kings of the Hittites – kings of the Egyptians
to come upon us
Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight – and left their tents
and their horses – and their asses
even the camp as it was and fled for their life
Lepers decision to tell the cityverses 8-9
And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp
they went into one tent – and did eat and drink
and carried thence silver – and gold – and raiment
and went and hid it
and came again – and entered into another tent
and carried thence also – and went and hid it
THEN they
said one to another
We do not well – this day is a day of good tidings
and we hold our peace
IF we tarry till the morning light
some mischief will come upon us – now therefore come
that we may go and tell the king’s household
Lepers tell gatekeeper who tell people of cityverses 10-11
So they came and called unto the porter of the city
and they told them – saying
We came to the camp of the Syrians – and – BEHOLD
there was no man there – neither voice of man
BUT horses tied – and asses tied
and the tents as they were
And he called the porters
and they told it to the king’s house within
King doubts the army has leftverse 12
And the king arose in the night
and said unto his servants
I will now show you what the Syrians
have done to us
They know that we be hungry
therefore are they gone out of the camp
to hide themselves in the field
saying –
When they come out of the city – we shall catch them alive
and get into the city
Kings sends out a party of five soldiersverses 13
And one of his servants answered
and said
Let some take – I pray you – five of the horses that remain
which are left in the city
(behold they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it
Behold – I say – they are even as all the multitude of the
Israelites that are consumed)
and let us send and see
Prediction of Elisha proved trueverses 14-16
They took therefore two chariot horses
and the king sent after the host of the Syrians
saying
Go and see
And they went after them unto Jordan – and – lo
all the way was full of garments and vessels
which the Syrians had cast away in their haste
And the messengers returned and told the king
and the people went out
and spoiled the tents of the Syrians
So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel
and two measures of barley for a shekel
according to the word of the LORD
Officer killed in rush as Elisha predictedverses 17-20
And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned
to have the charge of the gate
and the people trode upon him in the gate
and he died – as the man of God had said
who spoke when the king came down to him
And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king
saying
Two measures of barley for a shekel
and a measure of fine flour for a shekel
shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria
and that lord answered the man of God
and said
Now – behold – if the LORD should make windows in heaven
might such a thing be?
And he said
BEHOLD – you shall see it with your eyes
but shall not eat thereof
And so it fell out unto him
for the people trode upon him in the gate – and he died
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat thereof. (699 “windows” [’arubbah] means lattice, chimney, sluice, or floodgate of the sky)
DEVOTION: Do we have a problem with doubt? When things are going wrong do we think that the LORD can’t help or won’t help? Do we think that some things are impossible for God?
Here we have a person who is close to the king that thinks that it isn’t possible for God to work a miracle in the present circumstances. Elisha had promised an abundance of food tomorrow. That was the next day. That was soon. It wasn’t possible in the eyes of this man.
Now the account takes a different scene. It is four lepers who are starving to death. They feel that they should just go to the enemy camp and beg for food. If the enemy kills them, they will die. If the enemy feeds them, they will live. They feel they had nothing to lose.
Once in the camp they find it empty. They go from tent to tent eating and taking things. It finally hits them that they should share the information with others. They go back to Samaria and tell the porter at the gate what is going one.
Now we see if the king trusts the word of the LORD. He doesn’t believe this could happen. He sends out some men to see what is REALLY going on. They find that what the lepers have said is true.
The people rush out of the city to get some food. On the way out of town they are met by the man who said it was impossible. His responsibility was to stop the people from rushing to the enemy camp for food. It didn’t work, he was trampled to death. Thus the word of the prophet of the LORD came true.
Everywhere we go there are people who say that God cannot do the impossible. They have not believed the miracles of the Bible. They have limited God to only knowing the past and the present. They have said that HIS word is old and needs to be rethought.
Elisha made a prediction that the LORD gave him and the lord next to the king said it was impossible. The advisor to the king knew that the LORD had control of the world. He told Elisha that God couldn’t end the famine THAT quick. Elisha told him that he would see it but he would not enjoy it. He would die.
The prophecy of Elisha came truth. The man died and the LORD did “open the windows of heaven.” The LORD can open the floodgates of heaven for us as well today.
Our LORD is the ONLY one WHO can do the impossible. The question is: Do we realize that we need HIM to open those FLOODGATES OF BLESSING? What impossible thing is going on in our life today? Do we believe that HE this impossible thing would bring glory to God? Are we praying for the impossible? OR are we limiting God?
CHALLENGE: Belief in the impossible is hard. Is our God big enough to do the impossible? HE should be!!! Remember if it brings HIM glory, it can be done!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of the great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. (6963 “noise” [qowl] means sound, thunder, loudness, or crackling)
DEVOTION: When you are alone and hear some strange sound does it scare you? Or if someone comes up behind you without making a sound does that scare you?
We find that the LORD made a big enough sound that it scared the whole army of the Syrians. They ran as fast as they could toward home. They left everything behind. They didn’t take any of their money or food with them. They just ran.
The Israelites were suffering a famine because of the Syrian army being outside their capital waiting for them to starve to death. They were close but the LORD allowed them to understand that HE was in control and wanted them to know that they were not serving HIM faithfully.
Elisha told the king that the famine would end and that there would be plenty of food when it did. So the food that was in the camp of the Syrians was enough to feed the whole city for a long time.
Some doubted that one day they could be starving and the next day they could have as much food as they wanted. The servant of the king doubted what Elisha had said and was judged for it.
Today we need to realize that the LORD has a purpose for good times and bad times in our life. HE wants us to go to HIM in both and trust HIM to know what is best for us even when there are thoughts of doubt that the enemy sends into our hearts.
The LORD ALWAYS knows what is best for HIS people in any nation they are found. HE knows what is best for HIS glory even today. If we are facing difficult times HE wants us to know that HE knows and is there to help us through them.
Our loud sounds can come for doctors, employers, family and even fellow believers but don’t let any of them scare you.
CHALLENGE: Don’t let loud sounds scare you when you know the LORD is there to help you through whatever you are facing.
: 9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: fi we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come on us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household. (5771 “mischief” [‘avon] means the act of inflicting punishment, iniquity, guilt, punishment of iniquity, depravity, a depraved action, or a crime)
DEVOTION: Can you imagine good news coming from people who everyone wanted nothing to do with while they were around. Here we have the outcasts of the city going into the city with the best news everyone in the city could receive.
Their first thoughts were to take care of themselves because no one in the city wanted to help them and preferred that they would just go away and die. It is a sad state of affairs when those who claim to be followers of the LORD don’t care about those who are less fortunate than them. Outcasts in society need help all the time as well.
Well these outcasts thought that they should share the “good news” with the other people even though they didn’t care about them usually. They had a caring heart. So they told the porter what was going on and he told the king and the king sent out individuals to see if it was true.
We have “good news” to share even today. We have the Gospel which informs individuals that Jesus Christ was crucified, dead and buried but rose again on the third day to provide salvation to all those who change direction in their life to follow HIM with all their heart, soul and body.
This “good news” is food for the soul that gives eternal life to those who believe. It is much better than just physical food. Physical food is necessary but only lasts for a short time and you need a refill but salvation is for eternity with no refills necessary.
Are you sharing the good news with those around you who need the spiritual food that is given in the Word of God? Are you feeding on the Word of God daily so that you can feed others?
CHALLENGE: If you are keeping the good news to yourself you are allowing a famine to happen all around you and letting people starve to death with NO NEWS.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 15 And they went after them to Jordan: and lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king. (2648 “haste” [chaphaz] means to act or move at high speed, be in trepidation, hurry or alarm, or to move quickly, implying alarm)
DEVOTION: The king was unsure of the report he had received. He sent out people to make sure that what the lepers were telling him was true.
So they went out to see what had happened and what they found was that there were garments and vessels all over the place from the camp to the river. So the story was true that the lepers had told the king.
It seems that most of us need proof that the LORD can world miracles. We don’t think that HE would but HE has done it in the past but we are not sure that HE can do it in the present.
Our God is still on the throne in heaven and HE still loves HIS children. We are HIS children today if we have trusted HIM to be our Savior. Our faith has to be genuine. It should not be as it was here in the heart of the king of Israel.
He didn’t trust in the LORD and so need proof that what was said happened. He received the proof and still there was doubt.
Do we doubt that the LORD loves us once we become a genuine believer in HIM? HE knows HIS children and blesses them. HE does still send trials into their lives to keep them going to HIM for direction and help.
We need trials to show who we trust in for our provisions. Too often we find people who say they trust in the LORD but when the circumstances are not good, they try everything else before they turn to the LORD. Many of them complain that they shouldn’t have any trials because they have trusted in the LORD. That is not the truth.
The Bible says that those the LORD loves HE chastens at times.
CHALLENGE: If you are going through a rough time do you trust the LORD or doubt?
: 19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but hall not eat thereof. (699 “windows” [arubbah] means an opening in a wall that allows for light and airflow, hile in the wall, floodgate of the sky, or figurative extension of that which holds God’s blessing in heaven from pouring out.)
DEVOTION: The LORD is dealing with doubt throughout the ministries of the prophets. Elisha told the king and his men what was going to happen and they still doubted his word.
We are told what the Bible says and yet we walk around as if it is not true. We need to believe what we read in the Bible and put it into practice in our daily walk with the LORD. This is not easy because we seem to have in our minds that it can’t be true that someone could love us so much that they only want was is best for us all of our lives.
God wants us to realize that everything HE allows in our life is good even sickness, hunger and joblessness. We need to realize that if we don’t have all the money in the bank that we want we will still have enough as we trust in HIM.
We are not to be lazy or stubborn by waiting for HIM to provide without our doing our part of being obedient to HIM. HE will not bless those who say they are followers and are not willing to follow HIS directions.
HE wants us to be workers who show ourselves approved by HIM. This means that we do our part and HE will do HIS part in our lives. Never think that because you are going through a bad time that the LORD is not right there with you to help you through it.
Famine is bad but disobedience is worse. We have to be obedient in times of famine as well as blessing. Sometimes during those times people are watching close to see how you handle it as a believer.
Doubt in the LORD’S love should never into your mind or your voice. Elisha didn’t doubt the LORD when HE told him to wait for HIM to provide. Others did but a servant of the LORD doesn’t.
CHALLENGE: Doubt is one of the tools or arrows the enemy likes to put in our head to move us away from a close walk with the LORD. Don’t listen to him. Avoid his arrow.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORDverses 1, 16
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 1, 2, 6, 16, 19
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 2, 17-19
Windows of heavenverses 2, 19
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Host of the Syriansverses 4-7, 10, 12, 14-16
Heard sound of chariots
Thought king of Israel had hired
Hittites
Egyptians
Ran for their lives
Hittitesverse 6
Kings of the Egyptiansverse 6
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Doubtverse 2
Mischiefverse 9
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Man of Godverses 2, 17-19
Day of good tidingsverse 9
Peaceverse 9
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Elishaverses 1, 2, 18
Told king famine would end
Man of God
Told doubter that he would not eat
Four leprous menverses 3-11
Went to camp of Syrians
Began eating and drinking
Took silver and gold from Syrian camp
Thought they should bring good tidings to rest of the people
Called porter of city
Porter of the cityverses 10-11
King thought it was a trickverses 11-17
Sent some out to check out the story
Found garments, vessels the Syrians had left in their haste
Servant said to king to check it outverse 13
King appointed lord on whose hand he leanedverses 17-20
Doubted Elisha
Appointed to have charge of gate out of the city
People ran him down at the gate
Died
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Lord of the king diedverses 2, 17-20
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QUOTES regarding passage
16–20 The king commanded the people to go to the Aramean camp and despoil it. By day’s end Elisha’s amazing prophecy stood fulfilled, including the portion that dealt with Jehoram’s aide. For in their mad rush for spoil, the people trampled him to death in the gateway he had been assigned to guard. (Patterson, R. D., & Austel, H. J. (1988). 1, 2 Kings. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, pp. 197–198). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
7:13–16 At last the king sent a scouting party, which confirmed the good news. The prophecy concerning the restoration of food for the city was fulfilled (v. 1).
7:17–20 you shall not eat of it: All of Elisha’s prophecy came true. The sudden miraculous flight of the Arameans had provided goods aplenty, but the doubting officer would not enjoy them. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 470). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 16. And the people went out and spoiled the tents of the Syrians, &c.] Of their riches, and of their provisions; of which there was such a plenty, not only for present use, but for sale, so that a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, &c. according to the word of the Lord; by Elisha, ver. 1.
Ver. 17. And the king appointed the lord, on whose hand he leaned, to have the charge of the gate, &c.] Not to keep out the enemy, of which there was no danger; but to prevent disorders and tumults among the people, and that they might go out in an orderly and regular manner: and the people trod upon him in the gate; being eager to get out for food; and he endeavouring to keep order among them, they pressed upon him, and threw him down, and trampled him under foot; or he was placed here to regulate the market, that every one might be supplied in course, but through the people’s pressing to get provisions, he was overborne, and trod upon: and died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him; so that he saw the plenty, but partook not of it, as he said, see ver. 2.
Ver. 18. And it came to pass, as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, &c.] As in ver. 1 and what he said to the king there, and to the lord, in ver. 2. are repeated in this and the next verse, that it might be observed how exactly the prophecies were fulfilled.
Ver. 19. And that lord answered the man of God, and said, &c.] As in ver. 2. and he said; that is, Elisha, as in the same place.
Ver. 20. And so it fell out unto him, &c.] As the prophet predicted: for the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died; see the note on ver. 17. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 794–795). London: Mathews and Leigh)
7:16–20. The king apparently threw the gates open before the excited multitudes who streamed out to find food and booty. Those who found the food first were able to sell it to their neighbors for the same prices the Lord had predicted through Elisha (cf. v. 1). So heavy was the traffic through the gate that the officer who assisted the king (cf. v. 2 and the comment on 5:18) and who had been stationed there to insure an orderly departure was trampled to death. This man had ridiculed God’s ability to do what He said He would do (cf. v. 2). The fate that Elisha had predicted overtook him.
Yahweh, not Baal, provides food; in fact God even foretold exactly when He would provide it. The remarkable way in which God kept the Samaritans safe and sustained them should have turned them and the king back to Him. God’s future discipline of the Israelites can be understood better in the light of their rejection of His many gracious and miraculous provisions for them. (Constable, T. L. (1985). 2 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 552). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
IV. The death of the unbelieving courtier, that questioned the truth of Elisha’s word. Divine threatenings will as surely be accomplished as divine promises. He that believeth not shall be damned stands as firm as He that believeth shall be saved. This lord, 1. Was preferred by the king to the charge of the gate (v. 17), to keep the peace, and to see that there was no tumult or disorder in dividing and disposing of the spoil. So much trust did the king repose in him, in his prudence and gravity, and so much did he delight to honour him. He that will be great, let him serve the public. 2. Was trodden to death by the people in the gate, either by accident, the crowd being exceedingly great, and he in the thickest of it, or perhaps designedly, because he abused his power, and was imperious in restraining the people from satisfying their hunger. However, it was, God’s justice was glorified, and the word of Elisha was fulfilled. He saw the plenty, for the silencing and shaming of his unbelief, corn cheap without opening windows in heaven, and therein saw his own folly in prescribing to God; but he did not eat of the plenty he saw. When he was about to fill his belly God cast the fury of his wrath upon him (Job 20:23) and it came between the cup and the lip. Justly are those thus tantalized with the world’s promises that think themselves tantalized with the promises of God. If believing shall not be seeing, seeing shall not be enjoying. This matter is repeated, and the event very particularly compared with the prediction (v. 18–20), that we might take special notice of it, and might learn, (1.) How deeply God resents out distrust of him, of his power, providence, and promise. When Israel said, Can God furnish a table? the Lord heard it and was wroth. Infinite wisdom will not be limited by our folly. God never promises the end without knowing where to provide the means. (2.) How uncertain life and the enjoyments of it are. Honour and power cannot secure men from sudden and inglorious deaths. He whom the king leaned upon the people trod upon; he who fancied himself the stay and support of the government was trampled underfoot as the mire in the streets. Thus hath the pride of men’s glory been often stained. (3.) How certain God’s threatenings are, and how sure to alight on the guilty and obnoxious heads. Let all men fear before the great God, who treads upon princes as mortar and is terrible to the kings of the earth. (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 533). Peabody: Hendrickson.)
Bad news for the king’s officer (vv. 17–20). It appears that this officer had gradually accepted the pessimistic unbelieving attitude of his king. To him, it was impossible for the prices to fall that low in one day and for fine flour and barley to be available so quickly. But God did it! The very people he thought would die of starvation came rushing out of the gate. They knocked him down, trod on his helpless body, and he died. The Word of the Lord lived on but the man who denied that Word was killed. “Heaven and earth will pass away,” said Jesus, “but My words will by no means pass away” (Matt. 24:35, nkjv). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2002). Be distinct (p. 56). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor.)
Through them the whole city hears of the provision made. And the people went out to see how wonderfully the prediction of Elisha had been accomplished. All enjoyed it. But the unbelieving lord perished, a warning that he that believeth not must die in his sins. The repetition at the close of this chapter of the words of the unbeliever recorded in the beginning of this story, is of solemn meaning. God is true to His Word, the Word which promises life to all who believe and which threatens eternal punishment to all who believe not. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (Gaebelein, A. C. (2009). The annotated Bible: Joshua to Second Chronicles (Vol. 2, p. 322). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
There is no fear that a modern king will attempt to override the constitution; it is more likely that he will ignore the constitution and work behind its back; he will take no advantage of his kingly power; it is more likely that he will take advantage of his kingly powerlessness, of the fact that he is free from criticism and publicity. For the king is the most private person of our time. It will not be necessary for any one to fight against the proposal of a censorship of the press. We do not need a censorship of the press. We have a censorship by the press. (p. 124, Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton 1874- 1936)
Matthew 6:7
Use not vain repetitions (μη βατταλογησητε [mē battalogēsēte]). Used of stammerers who repeat the words, then mere babbling or chattering, empty repetition. The etymology is uncertain, but it is probably onomatopoetic like “babble.” The worshippers of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 8:26) and of Diana in the amphitheatre at Ephesus who yelled for two hours (Acts 19:34) are examples. The Mohammedans may also be cited who seem to think that they “will be heard for their much speaking” (ἐν τῃ πολυλογιᾳ [en tēi polulogiāi]). Vincent adds “and the Romanists with their paternosters and avast.” The Syriac Sinaitic has it: “Do not be saying idle things.” Certainly, Jesus does not mean to condemn all repetition in prayer since he himself prayed three times in Gethsemane “saying the same words again” (Matt. 26:44). “As the Gentiles do,” says Jesus. “The Pagans thought that by endless repetitions and many words they would inform their gods as to their needs and weary them (‘fatigare deos’) into granting their requests” (Bruce). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Mt 6:7). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
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