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Prophets and Kings
God calls upon His faithful ones, who believe in Him, to talk
courage to those who are unbelieving and hopeless. Turn to the Lord,
ye prisoners of hope. Seek strength from God, the living God. Show
an unwavering, humble faith in His power and His willingness to
save. When in faith we take hold of His strength, He will change,
wonderfully change, the most hopeless, discouraging outlook. He will
do this for the glory of His name.
So long as Elisha was able to journey from place to place through-
out the kingdom of Israel, he continued to take an active interest in
the upbuilding of the schools of the prophets. Wherever he was, God
was with him, giving him words to speak and power to work miracles.
On one occasion “the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold
now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us
go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and
let us make us a place there, where we may dwell.”
2 Kings 6:1, 2
.
Elisha went with them to Jordan, encouraging them by his presence,
giving them instruction, and even performing a miracle to aid them
in their work. “As one was felling a beam, the axhead fell into the
water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And
the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place.
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And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and
took it.”
Verses 5-7
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So effectual had been his ministry and so widespread his influence
that, as he lay upon his deathbed, even the youthful King Joash, an
idolater with but little respect for God, recognized in the prophet a
father in Israel, and acknowledged that his presence among them was
of more value in time of trouble than the possession of an army of
horses and chariots. The record reads: “Now Elisha was fallen sick of
his sickness whereof he died. And Joash 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.”
2 Kings 13:14
.
To many a troubled soul in need of help the prophet had acted the
part of a wise, sympathetic father. And in this instance he turned not
from the godless youth before him, so unworthy of the position of
trust he was occupying, and yet so greatly in need of counsel. God in
His providence was bringing to the king an opportunity to redeem the
failures of the past and to place his kingdom on vantage ground. The