Year 1, Week 51, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 51, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Kings 1-2.

Today’s reading takes us back to Kings and revisits some of the parallel historical events from previous readings in Chronicles. The focus of today’s reading is the prophet Elijah. 2 Kings 1 describes Elijah’s message to Ahaziah, king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel: “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die” (2 Kings 1:16). King Ahaziah died as a judgment for his idolatrous ways. 2 Kings 2 describes the surprising departure of Elijah, which set up the transition to Elisha: “And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more” (2 Kings 2:11b-12). The mantle of prophetic leadership went to Elisha, and it appears that Elisha has received what he requested from Elijah: “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me” (2 Kings 2:9b).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the corresponding descriptions of the last events of Elijah’s life and the initial events from Elisha’s life after Elijah departs. The parallel reports on Elijah and Elisha are designed to show: “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha” (2 Kings 2:15). The very layout of 2 Kings 2 reflects a careful geographical pattern. As the chapter begins, Elijah travels with Elisha to Bethel, and then to Jericho, and finally to the Jordan, were the two are separated: "And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them” (2 Kings 2:11a). While Elijah was taken, the Spirit who rested on Elijah was not, for He now rested on Elisha. After Elijah departs, Elisha retraces Elijah’s last steps as he journeyed from the Jordan, to Jericho, and finally back to Bethel. And along the way, Elisha performed the mighty acts that Elijah had done.

When Elijah arrived at the Jordan, he miraculously parted the waters: “they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground” (2 Kings 2:7b-8). With Elijah taken up, Elisha demonstrated the same miraculous parting: “And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over” (2 Kings 2:13-14). What Elijah had done, Elisha now did. The same power of God that rested on Elijah now rested on Elisha. The power of God would not be limited or restricted now that Elijah had departed. The immediate demonstration of power through Elisha should have directed the Israelites to put their hope, not in either Elisha or Elijah, but in the God of Elisha and Elijah.

But Elisha did not merely display the same power of God as Elijah had, he also displayed the wisdom of God. As other prophets recognized the power resting on Elisha, they requested that they be sent out to search for Elijah: “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the LORD has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley” (2 Kings 2:16). Elisha told them no, but when they persisted, he told them to go. And then when they returned empty handed, Elisha said to them: “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?” (2 Kings 2:18b). This little episode shows the sons of the prophets that Elisha knows what he’s talking about. Elisha is not only the bearer of God’s power but of God’s wisdom.

Elisha then came to Jericho, where there was a bad supply of water: “Now the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful” (2 Kings 2:19). This was a serious matter, which most likely proved to be a public health crisis. Elisha requested a bowl of salt, which he tossed into the waters as he said: “Thus says the LORD, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it” (2 Kings 2:21). As a backstory, remember that Jericho was under a curse: “In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun” (1 Kings 16:34; see also Joshua 6:26). Elisha had spoken the Word of the LORD and reversed the curse. Elisha was displaying not only the power of God, and the wisdom of God, but also the grace of God.

And with the same Spirit of God resting on Elisha that was upon Elijah, Elisha was to be respected as a prophet of God like Elijah had been. Thus, the strange encounter on the way to Bethel. When boys mocked Elisha, God’s judgment fell on them: “And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys” (2 Kings 2:24). The God of Elijah was now resting on Elisha in power, wisdom, grace, and judgment.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe