Year 1, Week 52, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 52, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Kings 6-7 .

Today’s reading continues with an emphasis upon the prophet Elisha. Today’s reading, along with tomorrow’s reading, provide a good portrait of conditions in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during this era of Elisha’s ministry. While things were bleak in Israel, the LORD remained in control and therefore still provided for His people. 2 Kings 6 describes the actions of the King of Syria as he attempted to seize Elisha. The LORD had provided surveillance information to Elisha so that the whereabouts of the Syrian army would be known. When the king learns where Elisha is, he dispatches a force: “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city” (2 Kings 6:13-14). The Syrian force will be confused as the LORD protects Elisha. 2 Kings 7 reports on the massive siege of the city of Samaria by the entire Syrian army. Samaria was greatly affected by the siege. But as four lepers soon realized as they approached the Syrian army encampment, the siege was over: “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” (2 Kings 7:5).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the experience of being able to see what was unseen, but also the experience of not being able to see what should be very plain to see. More importantly perhaps, was that each of these experiences is rooted in the reality that there is nothing that the LORD is unable to see as well as the truth that God can reveal and conceal things as He is pleased. Our reading today teaches us that nothing is hidden from the LORD: “And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom” (2 Kings 6:12). The Syrian King wanted to know who was disclosing his whereabouts to the King of Israel, it was told that Elisha, the prophet of God, was fully aware of his movements. Ironically, what made sense to the Syrian King was a strategy of tracking down Elisha to capture and kill him. But it would be the King of Syria who was entering a trap. As the Syrian forces surrounded Dothan, Elisha’s servant discovered they would be surrounded: “When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15). But Elisha prayed and the servant saw: “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). The servant was allowed to see what was there but unseen by the natural eye. Even though something may not be seen by the natural eye, does not mean that something real is not there. The LORD protects His people even if they cannot see it.

But not only can the LORD show His people things that could not otherwise be seen by the natural eye, He can also prevent people’s natural eyes from seeing what is plain to see. As the Syrian forces approached Elisha and his servant, Elisha prayed again: “Please strike this people with blindness” (2 Kings 6:18). The Syrians were unable to recognize Elisha, even as they asked him as to his whereabouts: “So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria” (2 Kings 6:18b-19). How could an army on the hunt for Elisha not realize they were being led by Elisha? The LORD prevented them from realizing they had Elisha in front of them. Once they arrived in Samaria, Elisha prayed for eyes to be opened: “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria” (2 Kings 6:20). The King of Israel wanted to kill them, but Elisha prevented it, for they were not captives of the King of Israel but the LORD. The LORD would handle them in His own time.

But soon, a much larger Syrian force laid siege around Samaria. The King of Israel blamed Elisha (and the LORD) for the siege. But Elisha prophesied for their deliverance from the siege. When some of the lepers, desperate for food, decide to visit the Syrian camp that had surrounded Samaria, they found no one. Apparently, the unseen horses and chariots of fire journeyed to Samaria as well and in the middle of the night: "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.” 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” (2 Kings 7:6-7). When the lepers report of their discovery to the Samarians, was disbelieved, they responded by saying: “Go and see” (2 Kings 7:14b). Ironically, with their own eyes, they verified the leper’s testimony, and reported back to the king.

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

Pastor Joe