Meditations on 2 Kings 13

2 Kings 13 begins with a discussion of the wicked reign of Jehoahaz in Israel. As a result of his wickedness, God delivered Israel into the hands of Syria. Jehoahaz besought the Lord and God delivered Israel yet, “Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein; and there remained the Asherah poles also in Samaria.” (v. 6)

Too often, we cry to God for help and when it comes, we are not thankful. We continue to walk in sin and unrighteousness rather than turning ourselves fully to the Lord our God, and as a result our relief is only temporary because it’s just a matter of time until we pay the wages of sin, which is death.

Next we come to the story of the Prophet Elisha’s death:

Now Elisha had fallen sick with his sickness whereof he died. And Jehoash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof!”

And Elisha said unto him, “Take bow and arrows.” And he took unto him a bow and arrows.

And he said to the king of Israel, “Put thine hand upon the bow.” And he put his hand upon it, and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands.

And he said, “Open the window eastward.” And he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot.” And he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the LORD’S deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria, for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek till thou have consumed them.”

And he said, “Take the arrows.” And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, “Smite upon the ground.” And he smote thrice, and ceased.

And the man of God was wroth with him and said, “Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times. Then had thou smitten Syria till thou had consumed it, whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.” vs. 14-19

This is an interesting story in scripture? Why the smiting of the ground with arrows? Like the call for Naaman to go and wash in the Jordan, this really comes down to a question: How much do you want God to move? How much do you believe he’ll move? Are you willing to do something that may look a little silly because God says so? That’s the test of faith. The Challenge to Joash was to believe that God was a mighty deliverer, yet he couldn’t grasp it. He knew what a great man Elisha was and how much he meant to Israel, but he could not grasp the importance of following the Lord’s command. Let’s be willing to grasp fully onto the Lord’s deliverance and not hold back:

And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulcher of Elisha. And when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood up on his feet.-vs. 20, 21

Elisha did God’s work even after he was dead. While no one may come to life from touching our dead bones, there are many ways we can continue to serve God after we’re dead.

Writers and ministers can continue to speak, even if their pulpit is reduced to a dusty spot in the library. Long after they’ve passed from one life to the next, they continue to speak the words of truth–the words of God. Think of Matthew Henry, or Spurgeon, or AW Tozer. Their works speak for them.

Those who have money can use their money to set up endowments and trusts that will nourish and provide for needs of people and for Kingdom work long after they’re gone.

Parents, by raising and shaping their children to be Godly men and women, can have an impact on this world that lasts beyond their lifetime.

Our goal should be the service of God, and to continue that service as long as possible. The Bible tells us that at the River of Jordan when Joshua crossed the Jordan, they left stones at the Jordan River as a memorial to remind their descendants. Southern Gospel group Legacy sings a song, “Where are the monuments we should be building so our children can find the way home. We should be laying stones so they can follow the pathway that leads to God’s throne.”

Amen. Let us leave behind a Godly legacy for those who follow after.

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