Welcome to Week 24 of Desiring the Kingdom and 2 Kings chapter 7. This will be our final week in this series, and what a journey it has been. Time after time, we’ve followed one human king after another down the path to failure. Despite seeing the power of God demonstrated plainly before them, these kings still chose to lead the people into wickedness. Even Solomon, God’s “Jedediah” (beloved), fell prey to this behavior.
And yet… The Lord remained faithful. Judgment would come, make no mistake about that, but time and again the consequences were postponed, or toned down, and God would give the kings of his chosen people another chance to do what was right. Precious few of them took it.
The purpose of this series has been to draw a sharp contrast between the human kings that fail and the heavenly king that won’t. We live in the kingdom of that faithful heavenly king, and one day he will return in glory to establish himself as the last king of earth, where he will rule forever. That is the kingdom we desire!
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
God’s Promises
Observe
The previous chapter concluded with a story about the king and his messenger coming to find Elisha, the intent being to separate Elisha’s head from his shoulders. As this chapter begins, Elisha gives them both a word from the Lord about food arriving the next day. The messenger’s skeptical response draws an ominous warning.
{2 Kings 7:1-2 ESV}
{1} But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” {2} Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
{James 5:7-11 ESV}
{7} Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. {8} You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. {9} Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. {10} As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. {11} Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
{Romans 15:4 ESV}
{4} For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
The king had arrived at Elisha’s location with his fist clenched in anger at God (the ESV translates 2 Kings 6:33 as having the messenger blaming God, but that isn’t clear from the original text, and it would be very odd for a servant, even a captain, to make the kind of declaration that is recorded, so it is more likely the king who declared blame for the famine rests with the Lord). God’s response through his prophet was to promise relief would come soon, all the king had to do was wait. The king’s messenger was skeptical and mocked the prophetic word of the Lord, which is the same thing as mocking the Lord himself, and that brought a swift declaration of judgment from Elisha. Even if God hasn’t done anything about our trials yet that doesn’t mean he won’t.
- When have you found yourself in circumstances where it would be plain for God to see what you needed, yet he left you waiting for a response? How did you cope with the waiting?
- The king angrily blamed God, the captain was skeptical of God’s promised deliverance and mocked it. Why were each of these reactions wrong?
Dear God,
Waiting for answers is sometimes the hardest thing we have to do. If we just know why and for how long, we can bear up under almost anything. But we don’t always get to know those things, Lord, and you ask us to just trust you and wait. Forgive us for all the times we should have done that and failed. Grant us peace and patience in our trials.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Day 2
Hard Choices
Observe
Four lepers are outside the gate of the city, literally caught between a rock and a hard place. They reached the point where death was no longer a threat, and this made an impossible choice easy.
{2 Kings 7:3-8 ESV}
{3} Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? {4} If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.” {5} So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there. {6} For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.” {7} So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. {8} And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them.
{Joshua 1:9 ESV}
{9} Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
{Philippians 4:4-7 ESV}
{4} Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. {5} Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; {6} do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. {7} And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The lepers knew what their fate would be if they remained at the gates of the city. No one would feed them, indeed no one could as the people inside the city were themselves starving. The Syrians might just as easily have killed them as given them food, but when you have no alternative, the hardest choice becomes easy. They discovered the Lord had already acted to provide for them and it was just waiting for them to come discover what God had done. When God takes away all our options save one, he makes our choice easy. He has already provided the answer, and whether that answer is supplied here or in heaven, the only thing that remains is for us to discover it.
- What fear did the lepers have taken away before they went to the Syrian camps?
- Does that same fear prevent us from discovering what God has provided? How do we get past it?
Dear God,
We fear what we do not understand. When the road ahead is going to take us places we’ve never been before, we fear what will come. But the more we trust you, the less we fear the outcome, even if we are afraid that the process might be difficult. Through your Spirit, give us peace that pushes out anxiety. Let us be strong and courageous, for you will go with us always.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Day 3
Sharing the Good News
Observe
The lepers’ feasting and looting is interrupted by an attack of conscience, combined with a new fear.
{2 Kings 7:9-11 ESV}
{9} Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king’s household.” {10} So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were.” {11} Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king’s household.
{Mark 16:15-16 ESV}
{15} And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. {16} Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
{Romans 10:14-17 ESV}
{14} How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? {15} And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” {16} But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” {17} So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
{1 Corinthians 3:10-15 ESV}
{10} According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. {11} For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw– {13} each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. {14} If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. {15} If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
The lepers knew two things: it wasn’t right not to share what God had provided and keeping it to themselves would cost them something in the long run. The good news about God’s provision should be shared, it is not right for us to keep it to ourselves. If you need further incentive, there will be a day when we have to give an account of what we did with what God provided.
- Why do we sometimes fail to share the good news of God’s provision?
- What would have to happen for us to be eager in sharing God’s good news?
Dear God,
Just as you provided physically for the needs of your people then, saving them from starvation, you also provide everything we need spiritually and save us from judgment. We have the privilege and responsibility to share the spiritual food we’ve found with those who are still hungry. Let us take your word to those who need to hear it, that they might have faith, and we might build things that are permanent on the foundation that is Jesus.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Day 4
Frozen By Fear
Observe
Upon hearing the report of the lepers, the king is frozen by fear. He suspects a Syrian trap. One of his servants is able to urge the king into action.
{2 Kings 7:12-15 ESV}
{12} And the king rose in the night and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.'” {13} And one of his servants said, “Let some men take five of the remaining horses, seeing that those who are left here will fare like the whole multitude of Israel who have already perished. Let us send and see.” {14} So they took two horsemen, and the king sent them after the army of the Syrians, saying, “Go and see.” {15} So they went after them as far as the Jordan, and behold, all the way was littered with garments and equipment that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king.
{Isaiah 41:10 ESV}
{10} fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
{1 John 4:18 ESV}
{18} There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Had the king’s servant not been able to get through to him, who knows how long they would have remained inside the city, suffering in slow starvation? Everything they needed was right outside their door, God had miraculously provided it, and it was fear that kept them from receiving it. We must not let fear keep us from what God has provided.
- Was the king’s fear reasonable? Is that important?
- Can you give an example from your own life of overcoming fear and discovering God’s provision?
Dear God,
How many times have we struggled longer than needed because we were afraid? The kind of fear that roots us in place is never good. We have nothing to fear, because you have overcome every enemy, even death. May that certainty give us the courage to go out and see your mighty hand at work.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Day 5
God Will Judge Unbelief
Observe
The people burst forth out of the city like a tidal wave. The captain who was skeptical of Elisha’s word from the Lord, mocking it with sarcastic questions, is trampled and killed.
{2 Kings 7:16-20 ESV}
{16} Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. {17} Now the king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. And the people trampled him in the gate, so that he died, as the man of God had said when the king came down to him. {18} For when the man of God had said to the king, “Two seahs of barley shall be sold for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,” {19} the captain had answered the man of God, “If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he had said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” {20} And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate and he died.
{John 3:18-19, 36 ESV}
{18} Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. {19} And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. … {36} Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
{Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV}
{1} And you were dead in the trespasses and sins {2} in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience– {3} among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
The story comes full circle with the death of the skeptical captain who had mocked the prophetic word of the Lord with his sarcastic questions. Elisha declared God’s judgment on the captain’s unbelief and so it happened, just as predicted. God will judge unbelievers one day and they will not share in his provision. We must be faithful in reporting the good news of God’s provision for all who will believe.
- Why is it right for God to judge unbelievers?
- How did you become aware of the good news about God and what can you learn from that about sharing with others?
Dear God,
It’s definitely not popular to speak of judgment or wrath. But who are we, Lord, to question what you do with the world you’ve made? Apart from the forgiveness you have graciously provided through your Son, we would all be deserving of punishment. You are righteous in your judgments. Thank you for the mercy you have shown us. Thank you for Jesus!
In His name we pray,
Amen.