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Home , 2 Kings 1, 2 Kings 2, Last prophet

2 Kings 1 and 2 – Is There a in Israel: Whom Will You Seek? Pray

In life we are faced with massive questions: Why am I here? What is my purpose? What will I pursue? Who will I marry? However, I believe one more important is – Whom Will I entrust my life to? This is a question of whom will we seek and entrust our life to when we are on our deathbed? When the end of life has come, where will we turn? - We live in a World that turns everywhere… that says all roads lead to the same place – but what if that is not true? - Unbeliever in this room… what if all roads don’t lead to the same place? What if there is only one way? Who will you entrust your life to when you are on your deathbed? Allah? Buddah? Smith? Yourself? Who will you seek to entrust your life to on the final day? - Believer – do you have the tendency to wonder? Are there idols (“”) that you are seeking? - At the end of our life we will have to entrust ourselves to someone or something… but what if all of the “gods” human beings entrust themselves too are impotent except one? What if?

Main Question in this Text is: Is there a God in Israel? Who will they seek? In this passage we will see that the King, and mocking boys look elsewhere besides Yahweh… Main Point: There is one true God we should seek, and He continually provides /His Word to turn His people back to Him

Potential Objections – to Miracles: I know that someone would say we are to sophisticated for that… - However, IF there is a God, than miracles are possible – He has power over nature and can step outside of the natural order! In this text we will see God operate outside of the natural order to validate His message, His man, and to bring judgment on those that show derision toward Him!

(Read/Summarize Quickly?) Context – this is one book in the OT, and we see last week’s End: - We see dead – Ahab has gone on to his eternal reward. We have seen him to be shown a fool who builds his life on a shaky foundation, building his whole life on things that pass away and gods who cannot hear or act! - The conclusion of First Kings is not a great climax (Vader’s not throwing the Emperor down the elevator shaft), you basically have the Kingdoms in decline and folly! o We see that overall was a good King: He walked in the ways of the Lord, but he was not the long expected King either – he didn’t tear down the high places, had bad alliances, married one of his son’s to Ahab’s daughter (this will have massive repercussions – ’s line in trouble) o Ahaziah as compared though is a complete train wreck walking like his father and doing evil in the sight of the Lord – meaning he continued the pagan worship of Jeroboam! - Now 2 Kings picks up right here, with the Kingdom spiraling in decline toward exile – God’s people being removed from God’s place because they would not submit to His rule! - They will be exiled for breaking the 1st and 10th Commandment in one – This nation that was brought into the promised land to be a light to the nations, instead coveted the gods and kings of those nations – And so God essentially says you want to be like them, then you will live with them outside the land of Promise!

I. : Is there No God in Israel - Ahab's Family Continues to Seek Impotent gods

(Read verses 1-8) – Confronts A Sick King and Kingdom

The contrast continues between the wicked Ahaziah who walks in the ways of his father, and Jehoshaphat who walks in the ways of (Asa) – Jehoshaphat is able to hang on to his vassal states, but the wicked offspring of Ahab cannot and the land is being compromised as the borders are not safe! - David had brought into subjection – but what we see is that the good King can control the Gentiles and the other who is in love with their gods cannot!

And almost representative of his kingdom, the King basically falls over a banister and is seriously injured to the point that he doesn’t know if he going to make it – The King, like his Kingdom, is now Hurting! - And we see this played out in his wellness plan – he lives out what is said of him in 1 Kings, he serves – we have to notice that this wasn’t a spur of the moment choice for Ahaziah when he got hurt, this is who he followed – WALKED IN THE WAYS! - He decides to seek outside of Israel for an answer – Mt. Carmel had not convinced him that Yahweh is strong and Baal is impotent and sleeping, and so he seeks a loser – but its worse than that he seeks a localized version of Baal among a group that they had soundly defeated and who had been their bitter enemies (Goliath) o Illustration – July 4th: Imagine if after we won our Independence from Britain, George Washington got sick… really sick and then went to King George to see if he would survive – this is TREASON! He’s seeking out Goliath’s god for an oracle!

And so even though Elijah has shown the ability to raise the dead, he seeks elsewhere – and so the spiral of the Kingdom has gotten worse, at least Jeroboam sought out a of God when his son was sick, but not so with the wicked line of Ahab! - The author likely uses a derogatory term for this Baal-Zebub instead of Baal-Zebul – it’s a play on words insulting him as the “Lord of flies” instead of “Baal the Exalted” – the author sees with disdain this deity that Ahaziah seeks. - And so the King believes his hope of the future rests in a pagan, enemy territory with a god whom Elijah embarrassed – And ironically turning to a pagan god is worthy of death Exodus 22:20: “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction.”

We see the sins of the Fathers manifested in the son – Ahaziah had seen the gracious and harsh acts of God towards Ahab, and yet he follows in the path of his father - Challenge to parents – If you detest God, or minimize Him don’t be surprised when your children do o Maybe closer to home for us would be passively and implicitly teaching your kids that God is not that important – that maybe through inadvertently teaching them that the World revolves around them by the way you plan your life or could be skipping Corporate worship to play on a travel baseball team because your son is so good – don’t be surprised when later in life he doesn’t see connection to the local body as that big of a deal! In that moment they will live out what they have been taught, whether it was explicit or implicit! Application: When you are staring your own mortality in the face, it is no time to play games with Mute, Impotent god! Whom will you seek? This idea of one true God smacks in the face of our culture, but if there is only one true God tolerance of mute, impotent gods is not loving – Some are turned off by this or say it is intolerant…but what if there is only one way? Is it intolerant then to follow that path? (Is it intolerant if you have a heart attack and Doc says only surgery will heal your heart?) - However Believer, we can fall into looking elsewhere as well – it could be overt like horoscopes, and palm readers, or it can be less clear with things like trusting Freud for counseling, Prosperity teachers for theology, or it could be alcohol or drugs or food as a coping mechanism (filled with the Spirit), could be turning to work for satisfaction and meaning, weights because obsessed with our looks…or sex for fulfillment! - We live in a world that will turn almost anywhere for relief (human spirit, the person within, or perhaps an idol we call that we really view as a Genie) – but don’t necessarily want to turn to a God that demands our all – WHERE DO YOU TURN?

And We see that God takes violation of the 1st Commandment very seriously –Ahaziah has belittled Yahweh, basically intimating that there is no God in Israel, or that He is impotent and less powerful than Baal- Zebub! - Application: This is our idolatry as well, when we seek idols (like the ones I mentioned) we are saying either Yahweh can’t help, or He’s not good enough to handle our problems and desires! - And so God sends Elijah deliver a message! God is not done pursuing Israel or her wayward Kings – and this is an act of mercy (again like a Doctor telling you are sick) - And the death notice is issued as the messenger returns to the sick King – what will Ahaziah's response be?

(READ 2 Kings 1:9-18) – Judgment and Mercy

Tragically, Ahaziah’s response is to send his army to detain the prophet and in so doing, like his father, seeks to control the Word of the Prophet – they foolishly try to bring the Word of God under human control – and again Yahweh will send fire to validate His prophet and judge the idolaters - Ahaziah rejects mercy though (The threat is conditional, he could turn) and God’s prophet and instead shows reverence to a mute god – And he is now sending captains to arrest Elijah. o Throughout there has been a showdown between Yahweh and Baal when it comes to Elijah, and this is represented in fire (which Baal is supposed to control), but he is an impotent god and now 100 men will die because of his ineptness and hubris as Elijah sends fire to judge Israel - The first captain of 50 asks and the 2nd captain DEMANDS (Almost Comical)– messengers have the authority of the one who sends them, and so these captains nor the King respect the one who sends Elijah – and so they would learn that they do not make demands of Yahweh or His man!

This must not only be seen as judgment but protection – its not like the 50 are headed toward him because they want to bring him down to play golf with Ahaziah – Yahweh is choosing to protect His prophet, He doesn’t always choose that - They are coming to liquidate Elijah, the fact that a regiment is coming shows Ahaziah’s hostility toward the Prophet and his hope to silence the prophecy by getting rid of Elijah. He believes he can control the oracle by putting the prophet under his authority! - He has refused to seek Yahweh or listen to His word – Deuteronomy 18:13-15: You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this. “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— - Elijah, like other prophets, call the King back to Covenant faithfulness – a covenant made by the gracious God who delivered them out of Egypt! But Ahaziah will not listen! (North Korea Captive and freed by a Warrior Leader – how would you have him respond if you spit in his face?)

Ahaziah also shows no regard for the life of his men but only his own interests – he sees them as expendable so only that he gets what he desires – They need a better King who looks out for the interests of others! DO WE DO THIS?

The third captain of fifty acts as the King and Nation Should – He gives a gospel response demonstrating how we should seek one to entrust our lives to – He comes humble and reverent – he seems to truly believe that Elijah is a man of God - This is a great example of Gospel confession and response – bow before God and cry out for mercy (let my life be precious) – He unlike Ahaziah recognized that mercy might be available, and it was - Application: The same is true continually for the believer; we daily fall on His mercy! Not a one-time thing! - If the King and nation would respond the same – then they would live (no exile) and stay in the Land!

Ahaziah’s attitude however does not change when he comes face to face with Elijah – and neither does Elijah, he confronts Idolatry and tells the king why his life is demanded! And the Word comes true, not surprising (NEED TO HEAR THIS)

Question – So Whom Will We Seek? Idols? gods? (Functional Saviors – Jesus +)? Or entrust your whole being to Yahweh? Whom are you seeking? Whom WILL you seek? The wages of sin is death – and so it is for this one who showed such derision for Yahweh, but there is mercy available as the 3rd Captain found out!

II. Chapter 2 – Elijah and ’s Ascension – God demonstrates He is still here by sending another prophet

(Read :1-12) – Elijah’s Ascension, He Finishes His Race

QUICKLY – Somehow it was known that the Lord would take Elijah, but we are not told how they knew: - A scene ensues where Elijah will go town to town sort of trying to shake Elisha – two of the towns are towns known as centers of pagan worship o – where Jeroboam set up the golden calf, named priests that weren’t Levites, and appointed a feast o – which had been cursed by Joshua

In these towns we are introduced to the sons of the Prophets (basically pupils of the prophets, part of the prophetic communities) who seem to have been set up strategically in these cities that are off the deep end – Saudi Arabia! - Elisha will not let Elijah shake him – and what is the point of him not leaving his side? Most think it is basically a test of whether Elisha will count the cost of discipleship, probably a final test to see if he will persist! o We see something of our own call here, to forsake ALL for the glory of the name! The question for us, like Elisha, will we persist and persevere? This is the sign of the true Disciple! That we bring the Word near and we delight in God above all else! (Jesus + nothing) o And Elisha is one, he had forsaken all (burnt the plows) to follow the prophet – this will not be the last time disciples forsake all to follow a prophet!

Elisha doesn’t want to hear it either that Elijah is being taken up – a deep bond has probably been built – imagine 18 years of apprenticeship (Aspire – 18 months) - And Elijah, the new , now parts the Jordan with language similar of the Exodus and they go across on dry land – And the sons of the prophets will get to witness this passing of the torch. Elijah has crossed the Jordan and is about to enter the most precious of promised Lands!

Once they cross Elisha asks for Double portion (Deuteronomy 21:17) – the inheritance of the first born (a double portion of the inheritance) – so its not wealth but prophetic power and he is basically saying he will count the cost and dedicate his whole life as though he is Elijah’s firstborn to carry his work on - And he asks this, probably similar to , realizing he will need great help as God’s representative to do the task to which he is called! - Illustration – what would you ask for in that moment: Imagine if you had 3 wishes? What would you ask for first? Would it be self-glorifying? Or God-glorifying? Probably reveals what you want most! May even reveal your gods? - Elisha shows his heart is committed to seeking Yahweh – he doesn’t seek own glory, but the glory of Yahweh! Do we want that? CONVICTED if honest!

Chariots of Fire – Now a War Vehicle comes for God’s Prophet: This is not fluffy cotton candy clouds, this appears as a war instrument! It is probably Elijah who is called the “Chariots and Horsemen of Israel” – Later Elisha is called the chariots and horsemen of Israel - This basically means that these prophets are the power of Israel because of the power of Yahweh in them – this was a means of military might and he is basically saying having Elijah is like having the army of God, the true defense of Israel because God is with him! - And now Elijah goes on to his eternal reward without tasting death… God is in control of death and can overrule it! - Elisha is saddened and shows signs of contrition over losing a mentor (Schemm – 18 years) - But the text leaves us with a question: Will we count the cost? Will we persist? Will we seek the glory of God over our own?

2 Kings 2:13-25 – Elisha’s Ascension (Read 13-18) – A New Joshua is on the scene – Elijah and Moses, Elisha and Joshua

- Elijah points us back to Moses – both died outside the promised land leaving behind disciples to take up the Work after calling Israel to covenant faithfulness - And we see now a new Joshua on the scene with a similar name Elisha (Yahweh saves, God saves) – who comes through the Jordan to Jericho and he comes to root out Canaanite worship (as we will see). - And Elijah points us forward to – to another prophet who would wear the same clothes as Elijah – one who would be a forerunner of a type of Joshua crying out in the wilderness against a national power with a woman at the center of it seeking his life! - He too would anoint his successor at the Jordan and would see their successors as the firstborn receiving the promised inheritance – God is orchestrating a plan for the salvation of His people and He will never cease to have a man calling Israel to faithfulness!

So at the moment it may have seemed that Israel’s defense system was gone, the one who had stood in the gap calling the Baal lovers to turn is gone! But God will not cease to have a man to call Israel to faithfulness. Elijah may be gone, but Yahweh isn’t! - The God of Elijah is still here – that is what Elisha is saying when strikes the river and says Where is the God of Elijah – he is saying he has not abandon us and that he relies on Yahweh for power! The new man is here! - This passing of the mantle to Elisha will be validated in three signs! The new Joshua now parts the Sea and heads toward Jericho and then Bethel to root out pagan worship!

The company of prophets realizes that Elijah has passed his prophetic work on to Elisha it in v. 15 with their words and actions – show him reverence to the new representative of God for Israel! - (QUICKLY – TIME!) He gives in to peer pressure here – he tells them not to seek for Elijah, but gives in – and then after a fruitless search basically says I told you so! This also validates Elisha as the one who not only bears the power of Yahweh, but His wisdom!

(Read 19-22) – Glimpse of Eden - We see another miracle to validate the work of Elisha – the men of the city seek Yahweh’s help - They basically say the city is pleasant but the water is causing Miscarriages or abortions both to humans and animals, something lethal it he water. - Joshua had cursed anyone who would rebuild Jericho, and during Ahab’s day someone did and paid the price of the curse… this city was under a curse now receives a blessing from Yahweh

TIME???Application: Isn’t it glorious that our God can give glimpses of Eden even to the formerly rebellious – this is all about whom you seek. Application: JUSTIFICATION for the abortionist, for those that have some horrible act of rebellion in the past, for adulterers, tax-cheats, liars, self-righteous, if you will turn and repent, the truth is not that God is tolerating you, but that He is delighting in you like the firstborn son! Elisha heals the water and assures them it will no longer cause death – we get a glimpse of what miracles do… they aren’t an invasion of the natural order, but a restoration of it - TIME.???In miracles you get a taste of the past and the future – we get a glimpse of Eden when there was no foul water and we get a glimpse of the future in the present when there will be streams of water that bring life and there is no death! We see GRACE! Don’t you long for that day – at the beach on the 4th - All Elisha does is restore it to its original design, the curtain of history is pulled back ever so briefly and the curse is lifted… You see its not just human beings who await the return of the King, the earth itself does, it is groaning Romans tells us, and just briefly those groans stop in Jericho of all places – and that is what we experience as well, NEW CREATION! - This will not be the last prophet with power over water and the curse!

(Read 23-25) – To Kill a Mocking Boy! - What do you all think Tony is trying to tell me continually giving me passages about animals mauling humans? But on face value not that strange right – who hasn’t wanted to call bears to maul middle schoolers 

But what we see here is the absolute affront mocking the Prophet of God is – they ridicule this new Joshua who now comes into pagan Bethel to root out Canaanite Worship! - Bethel is the town Jeroboam used to house the golden calf – and so it is not shocking that there are teens here that would mock and ridicule God’s prophet, they are like their fathers. He had proven who he was and yet he is still mocked. This will not be the last prophet who is mocked

“Go Up” They are basically saying get out of here, we don’t want anything to do with you and showing derision towards him - Mocking is ridiculing those made in God’s Image (HS students) and therefore mocking the one who made them! James 3:9-11: “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”

They show contempt and hostility towards Yahweh and His representative – the state of the town when punk kids don’t honor an elder who is a prophet: - These boys pose a physical threat to Elisha as well because there are so many

But something more sinister going on – Could compromise the coming if pagan worship persists! This is Satan’s plan, compromise the line of the Coming One through intermarrying with pagans so that they cease to exist as a nation… Elisha is the new Joshua protecting the promised Seed by protecting the line that will bless the nations! - The word for “small boys” here could be steward or servant – it is likely these are officials at the shrine to the Golden Calf – and so the new Joshua is beginning holy war against the shrines of the Canaanites and their central places of worship set up in Israel! - And so they are attacked by She-Bears – Leviticus 26:22: “Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins. And I will let loose the wild beasts against you, which shall bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock and make you few in number, so that your roads shall be deserted.” - God will not be mocked – Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” - We are not sure they are killed, the word actually means mauled, so may not have died… and some got away

And so covenant infidelity has brought on a curse – This curse on the boys was a warning to the nation, if they persist in mockery, disdain, disobedience, apostasy than a bear (Nebuchadnezzar) will come to get them. This was a sign to the people, and a great bear would come maul them and take them to exile! Application – What’s this mean for us? Call down bears when people mock Tony and Matt?  No it’s to honor the Lord, and not mock Him or His Word – and realize that it is sure – it can bring judgment or if we will be like the 3rd captain bring life!

Elisha, the new Joshua is on a conquest, but he has been shown as a true successor who brings both blessings (for those who cry out to God) and curses (for the mocking enemies of God) - Elijah’s Gone, but everything is Ok, Yahweh isn’t – Elisha is carrying on with power, wisdom, judgment, and grace

Summary: The judgment of both chapters is clear, those who seek and call on the Lord (3rd Captain, Jericho saying count my life as precious) will get Him and His grace… restored waters and new creation and those that don’t will suffer the loss of all things through fire and bear!

Christocentric – so in a world where there are many ways to turn, where does the Scriptures tell us to turn? They tell us to seek and entrust ourselves to a greater Prophet - One who will call Kings, and us, to repentance for the love of self and other gods - One who judges by fire like Elijah but one who takes the fire on Himself before He pours it on sinners... see on the last day a fire will come… it will either be poured out on this better prophet or it will be poured out on you – the disciples (TIME???) - He will set his face like flint toward saying that he had a baptism of fire that he must undergo and how he was anxious to undergo it!

This prophet is greater than Elijah; he doesn’t have to escape death by Ascension, but goes through death so He can defeat it before He ascends! - There will be another prophet who will be anointed for service at the – on that day he wont just get the double portion of the firstborn, He will actually be the Firstborn of God, in whom God is well-Pleased! - There will be another prophet who has command over the water – in fact the waters will rage against Him – BE STILL! And they Listen! Who is this man they ask?

Another prophet who will be mocked and have his hair pulled out, Thorns put on his head and he will not be told to go up, but will be mocked while He is on a cross and told to come down – and even in the midst of that He would show He is a gracious Prophet who would tell one of the mockers who turns and repents that he will be with this Prophet-King in paradise! - Another prophet who can pronounce blessing and roll back the curse by crushing that ancient Serpent! - This one will share the name of Joshua and Elisha, His name would be Jesus (Yeshua) …

You see one greater than Elijah or Moses is here, the God/Man Jesus – He doesn’t just call back to covenant faithfulness, he actually bears the penalty covenant breaking deserves and is lifted up on an instrument of torture… so that if you will seek Him, His judgment will be your Judgment and His resurrection your Resurrection!

This is the most important question today, on that final day, who will you trust? Yourself? Baal-Zebub, or this Messiah/Prophet/King? - Unbeliever – He will come again to judge the World who has rejected Him, on that day fire will fall… your judgment can already have been taken at the cross if you will Be like the 3rd Captain… Repent, and Say count my Life as Precious!

Believer – Lets look to this one as well – His ministry to the nations has now been Mediated to us! - We too had brothers standing and seeing the better Prophet taken up and he like Elijah left His Spirit for us to carry out the tasks given us as successors, heirs, and sons so that nations would delight in Yahweh! - And let’s do this work with hope because death cant touch us, we will ascend one day like our King because as we saw last week we hear our shepherds voice and we respond!

You see this chapter is not the last we hear from Elijah – he will make one more appearance with Moses – and the two prophets who had been permitted to see the Glory of God on a mountain in a CLOUD, will once again be on a Mountain seeing the glory of God, but this time in a FACE!

The question is do we see that glory? Or are we looking in Philistine Land? Who will we trust?

My prayer is that we can say with the Hymnist: All to Jesus I surrender; All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. All to Jesus I surrender; Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now. I surrender all, All to Thee, my blessed Savior!