Pastor Bob DuPar
June 28, 2008
Journal Entry
Scripture
2 Kings 13:1-14:29; Acts 18:23-19:12; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 18:2-3.
Observation
2 Kings 13:2-6 is typical of the pattern with Israel’s kings and people:
“He (Jehoahaz) did evil in the eyes of the Lord… So God’s anger burned against Israel …Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor …the Lord listened… The Lord provided a deliverer for Israel …So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. But, they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam …they continued in them.”
The story of the dead man who was buried accidentally with Elisha is amazing. The man touches Elisha’s bones and springs up to life! I was hoping there would be more commentary on this, but then it was back to the story of the king of Aram. This whole excerpt seems out of place.
The account of the Apostle Paul in Acts 19:11-12 sounds similar to Elisha:
“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
Finally, I thought Proverbs 18:2-3 offered practical wisdom:
“A fool …delights in airing his own opinions. …and with shame comes disgrace.”
Application
So much of my repentance and seeking after God is like Israel – conditional according to the present crisis in my life. How quickly I forget God’s goodness, and how quickly I get off-track. Once again, I guess it comes back to following God completely in all things, at all times.
Prayer
“Lord, help me to faithfully follow You. May my obedience not be conditional. Grant me the passion and wisdom to follow You at all times – not just when I get into trouble and need Your help and mercy.”
posted by Bob DuPar @ 10:48 PM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
Re: 2 Kings 13:21... more details:
There was a group of Jews who were in a funeral procession, getting ready to bury one of their friends. They saw one of the Moabite gangs coming toward them and needed to get rid of the body quick!
Elisha’s tomb was nearby, so they threw the body into the tomb as a temporary solution.
The Jews say the dead man was Shallum the son of Tikvah, and husband of Huldah the prophetess, and was a good man, much given to alms, for which he was rewarded; and they further say, he went to his own house, and lived many years, and begat children, and particularly Hananeel, mentioned in Jer 32:7.
This passage relates that Elisha didn't perform his miracles by any powers of his own, but by the power of God; and God chose to honor his servant by making even his bones the instrument of another miracle after his death. This is the first and last account of a true miracle performed by the bones of a dead man.
The smart folks who study this stuff also say that the intent of this miracle may have been to stimulate the faith in the yet unaccomplished predictions of Elisha regarding the war with the Syrians.
Thanks! That's cool stuff. What resource did you get it from? Thanks for looking/digging - it's inspiring to find new sources of insight into the history and culture and background of biblical events.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home