Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 6:1-7.

“Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too limited for us.  Please let us go to the Jordan and each of us take from there a beam, and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live.”  So he said, “Go.”  Then one said, “Please be willing to go with your servants.”  And he answered, “I shall go.”  So he went with them;  and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.  But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water;  and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master!  For it was borrowed.”  Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?”  And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float.  He said, “Take it up for yourself.”  So he put out his hand and took it.”   2 Kings 6:1-7.

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God daily bears our burdens.  We see it through Elisha’s miracle of lifting the axe head from the depth of the water to make it float.  We see it through the other different things that Elisha did for his servants.

Elisha allowed his servants to go and prepare a bigger place to live.  Our God does even more.  He Himself prepares a place for us.  “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;  if it were not so, I would have told you;  for I go to prepare a place for you.”  John 14:2.

Elisha went with his servants on that trip.  Our God does even more.  “… He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”  Hebrews 13:5.

The axe head is a symbol of our burden.  It is heavy, and in this context, losing it was a heavy burden to Elisha’s servant.  But, not only did Elisha miraculously lift the heavy axe head to the top of the water, Elisha lifted the heavy burden off the shoulder of his servant.

In sharpest contrast to the Pharisees who “… tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.” (Matthew 23:4), God daily lifts the burdens off His people’s shoulders.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation.  Selah.”  Psalm 68:19.

And, as Elisha did bear the burdens of his servants, we too are called to “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians 5:2.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 5:15-27.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought.  As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.”  So Gehazi pursued Naaman.  When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?”  He said, “All is well.  My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim.  Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.’”  Naaman said, “Be pleased to take two talents.”  And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and gave them to two of his servants;  and they carried them before him.  When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.  But he went in and stood before his master.  And Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”  And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.”

Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you?  Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants?  Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.”  So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.”  2 Kings 5:20-27.

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Gehazi did not turn his thoughts from all the treasure that Naaman brought with him and offered to Elisha.  Eventually, his greed took action.  “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin;  and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. ”  James 1:14-15.

Gehazi’s greed and accomplished sin had startling consequences.  “Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.”  Verse 27.

But, “… From everyone who has been given much, much will be required;  and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”  Luke 12:48.  Gehazi had been given much, the privilege of witnessing Elisha’s miracles and being taken care of by Elisha, and so much was required of him.

There is a warning for us today who also have been given much, the privilege of being able to read all of Scripture and having many preachers and teachers and so many other resources available to help us.

But, there is hope!

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.  For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.”  Colossians 3:1-7.

More hope!

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”  2 Peter 1:2-4.

And, there is even more hope beyond the proper focus and resources to escape lust!  

There is the hope of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, as stated in the following part of the Canons of Dordt.

Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.  But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.  FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 5:1-14.

“1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram.  The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper.  2 Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel;  and she waited on Naaman’s wife.  3 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria!  Then he would cure him of his leprosy.”  4 Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel.”  5 Then the king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”  He departed and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothes.

6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “And now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”  7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?  But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me.”

8 It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes?  Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”  9 So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha.  10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.”  11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’  12 Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Could I not wash in them and be clean?”  So he turned and went away in a rage.  13 Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”  14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God;  and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.”  2 Kings 5:1-14.

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We want salvation on our own terms.

Naaman said:  “Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Could I not wash in them and be clean?”  So he turned and went away in a rage.”

Likewise, we say:  “Are not works and free-will, the rivers of salvation of our doctrine, better than all the Reformed Doctrine?  Could I not wash in them and be clean?”

But, the word of God determines how we are saved like the word of the man of God determined how Naaman would be made clean.

“So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:16.

“So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:18.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

And all of this word of God basis of salvation is summarized by “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  There is no condition that man produces whether it be works or alleged free-will choice or any other condition which motivates God to pick that person for salvation.

Here is what the Canons of Dordt state about “Unconditional Election” in part.

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation. 

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification;  and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace;  as it is written:  “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love;  having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,”  Ephesians 1:4,5,6.  And elsewhere:  “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called;  and whom he called, them he also justified;  and whom he justified, them he also glorified,”  Romans 8:30.  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 4:38-44.

“38 When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land.  As the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.”  39 Then one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, for they did not know what they were.  40 So they poured it out for the men to eat.  And as they were eating of the stew, they cried out and said, “O man of God, there is death in the pot.”  And they were unable to eat.  41 But he said, “Now bring meal.”  He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people that they may eat.”  Then there was no harm in the pot.

42 Now a man came from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack.  And he said, “Give them to the people that they may eat.”  43 His attendant said, “What, will I set this before a hundred men?”  But he said, “Give them to the people that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’”  44 So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.”   2 Kings 4:38-44.

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“2 Great are the works of the Lord;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
3 Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5 He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.”  Psalm 111:2-5.

Elisha’s miracle of feeding the people with only twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain such that there were even left overs reminds us of Jesus’ similar miracle.  “Then He (Jesus) took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.  And they all ate and were satisfied;  and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.”  Luke 9:16-17.

And, Elisha’s miracle of making the poisonous stew edible reminds us more generally of Jesus’ miracles of healing.  “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.”  Matthew 4:24.

Jesus abundantly gave food such that they all ate and were satisfied and there were even left overs filling twelve baskets.

Jesus abundantly healed such that it was reported He was “healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.”

Jesus abundantly proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom.  “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom”.

In summary, today’s Scripture about Elisha points us to Jesus as summarized in John 10:10:  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;  I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 4:18-37.

“18 When the child was grown, the day came that he went out to his father to the reapers.  19 He said to his father, “My head, my head.” And he said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”  20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her lap until noon, and then died.  21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door behind him and went out.  22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and return.”  23 He said, “Why will you go to him today?  It is neither new moon nor sabbath.”  And she said, “It will be well.”  24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, “Drive and go forward; do not slow down the pace for me unless I tell you.”  25 So she went and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, there is the Shunammite.  26 Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you?  Is it well with your husband?  Is it well with the child?’”  And she answered, “It is well.”  27 When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet.  And Gehazi came near to push her away;  but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is troubled within her;  and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.”  28 Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord?  Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”

29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand, and go your way;  if you meet any man, do not salute him, and if anyone salutes you, do not answer him;  and lay my staff on the lad’s face.”  30 The mother of the lad said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”  And he arose and followed her.  31 Then Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the lad’s face, but there was no sound or response.  So he returned to meet him and told him, “The lad has not awakened.”

32 When Elisha came into the house, behold the lad was dead and laid on his bed.  33 So he entered and shut the door behind them both and prayed to the Lord.  34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm.  35 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and stretched himself on him;  and the lad sneezed seven times and the lad opened his eyes.  36 He called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.”  So he called her.  And when she came in to him, he said, “Take up your son.”  37 Then she went in and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground, and she took up her son and went out.”  2 Kings 4:18-37.

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The Shunammite woman showed her faith.

She laid her dead son on the bed of Elisha, the man of God, believing that God could resurrect her son.

She replied to her husband, “It will be well”, believing in the resurrection of the dead.

She was not daunted by the journey to Elisha, “Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, “Drive and go forward;  do not slow down the pace for me unless I tell you.”, showing the steadfastness of her faith.

She answered to Elisha, “It is well.”, showing the present peace that faith produces.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”  Romans 5:1.

And, although Hebrews Chapter 11, the “Hall of Fame of Faith”, does not specifically name this Shunammite woman, Hebrews 11:35 does generally state that by faith, “Women received back their dead by resurrection …”  as this Shunammite woman by her faith received back her dead son by resurrection.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 4:8-17.

“Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food.  And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food.  She said to her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually.  Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand;  and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”

One day he came there and turned in to the upper chamber and rested.  Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.”  And when he had called her, she stood before him.  He said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Behold, you have been careful for us with all this care;  what can I do for you?  Would you be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the army?’”  And she answered, “I live among my own people.”  So he said, “What then is to be done for her?”  And Gehazi answered, “Truly she has no son and her husband is old.”  He said, “Call her.”  When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.  Then he said, “At this season next year you will embrace a son.”  And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God, do not lie to your maidservant.”

The woman conceived and bore a son at that season the next year, as Elisha had said to her.”  2 Kings 4:8-17.

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The Shunammite woman was good to the prophet Elisha, and she received a great reward of a son.

“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:10.

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward;  and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.  And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”  Matthew 10:40-42.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat;  I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink;  I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;  naked, and you clothed Me;  I was sick, and you visited Me;  I was in prison, and you came to Me.’  Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’  The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”  Matthew 25:34-40.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 4:1-7.

“1 Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord;  and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”  2 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you?  Tell me, what do you have in the house?”  And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”  3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.  4 And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.”  5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons;  they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured.  6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.”  And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.”  And the oil stopped.  7 Then she came and told the man of God.  And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”   2 Kings 4:1-7.

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We notice two things about this widow that were important for her to receive the miracle.  First, she “cried out to Elisha”.  Second, her husband (and presumably herself) “feared the LORD”.

When we review the following Scriptures in the Psalms, we see these two common elements present.  I highlight the element of fearing the LORD described in different ways.

“In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.”  Psalm 18:6.

“To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.”  Psalm 22:5.

“6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.”  Psalm 34:6-7.

“15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  Psalm 34:15-18.

“1 Hear my cry, O God;
Give heed to my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.  Selah.”  Psalm 61:1-4.

“3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
For to You I cry all day long.
4 Make glad the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”  Psalm 86:3-4.

“17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
And kind in all His deeds.
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord keeps all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.”  Psalm 145:17-20.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 3.  This chapter covers the subservience of Moab to Israel and their payment of tribute to Israel, the rebellion of Moab against Israel after the death of Ahab, and the military campaign to quash of the rebellion.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom;  and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey, and there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them. 10 Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” 12 Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

“13 Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do I have to do with you?  Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.”  And the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab.” 14 Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.  15 But now bring me a minstrel.”  And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.  16 He said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’  17 For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain;  yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts.  18 This is but a slight thing in the sight of the Lord;  He will also give the Moabites into your hand.  19 Then you shall strike every fortified city and every choice city, and fell every good tree and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.’”  20 It happened in the morning about the time of offering the sacrifice, that behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.”

21 Now all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them.  And all who were able to put on armor and older were summoned and stood on the border.  22 They rose early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.  23 Then they said, “This is blood;  the kings have surely fought together, and they have slain one another. Now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”  24 But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites arose and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them;  and they went forward into the land, slaughtering the Moabites.”  2 Kings 3:9-24.

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The most urgent need was for water.  If the military campaign had to end, and they had to turn back and not receive any tribute from Moab for at least a while, that was acceptable.  But, they needed water to survive.

They sought a prophet of the LORD to inquire of the LORD.

What they received was more than just water.  They received a total victory over Moab.

And, how they received the victory was equally amazing.  The water was not brought by wind or rain as it is commonly received.  And, the water was used by the LORD to gain the total victory.  The water appeared as blood to Moab in early morning when the sun shone on it, and the water enticed Moab to give up its superior defensive position to be exposed to Israel.

“This is but a slight thing in the sight of the Lord”  Verse 18.

“‘Ah Lord God!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too difficult for You,”  Jeremiah 32:17.

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Behold,  I am the Lord, the God of all flesh;  is anything too difficult for Me?”  Jeremiah 32:27.

Today, this week, or this year, you too may have an urgent need and make a prayer request to the LORD.

The LORD may dazzle you too.  The LORD may grant more than what you request, and He may show off too on how He grants your request.  “but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9.

“He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.”  Deuteronomy 10:21.

“Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”  Psalm 33:8.

“6 Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.
7 They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness
And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.”  Psalm 145:6-7.

“5 Come and see the works of God,
Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land;
They passed through the river on foot;
There let us rejoice in Him!
7 He rules by His might forever;
His eyes keep watch on the nations;
Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.  Selah.”  Psalm 66:5-7.

Nothing is too difficult for our Almighty God and Faithful Father!   

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 2:15-25.

“15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”  And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him.  16 They said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, please let them go and search for your master; perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.”  And he said, “You shall not send.”  17 But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men;  and they searched three days but did not find him.  18 They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

19 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold now, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees;  but the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.”  20 He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.  21 He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I have purified these waters;  there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer.’”  22 So the waters have been purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

23 Then he went up from there to Bethel;  and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead;  go up, you baldhead!”  24 When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord.  Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number.  25 He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.”  2 Kings 2:15-25.

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In today’s Scripture, Elisha provides us an example of five Godly qualities that we see in the following 1 Peter 4:14-19.  I will first quote 1 Peter 4:14-19 and then tie Elisha’s qualities to the relevant part of 1 Peter 4:14-19.  Hopefully, Elisha’s example in today’s Scripture and 1 Peter 4:14-19 will combine to help us exhibit those Godly qualities.

“12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;  13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.  14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;  16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.  17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God;  and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?  19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”   1 Peter 4:14-19.

First, “they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”  Verse 15.  Likewise, in 1 Peter 4:14, we read “the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”

Second, we see that Elisha urged the fifty strong men to not search for Elijah.  He wanted to spare them the trouble.  Elisha was not a troublesome meddler.  Verses 15-18.  Likewise, in 1 Peter 4:15, we read:  “Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler.”

Third, Elisha did good in purifying the water.  He did what was right.  Verses 19-22.  Likewise, in 1 Peter 4:19., we read:  “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

Fourth, to a degree, Elisha was reviled and experienced suffering when “young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead;  go up, you baldhead!”  Verse 23.  Likewise, in 1 Peter 4:13-16, we read that Christians will “share the sufferings of Christ” and be “reviled for the name of Christ” and “suffers as a Christian”.

Fifth, Elisha had to endure this difficulty and suffering, but the young lads who reviled him were tore up by two bears.  Verses 23-24.  Likewise, in 1 Peter 4:18, we read:  “And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?”

In summary, through God’s grace, when we experience a little suffering as a Christian, let us not be surprised.  Let us live by the Holy Spirit.  Let us walk by the Holy Spirit.  Let us not snap back and do evil in return.  Let us endure.  Let us do what is good and right.  Let us rejoice that we have a faithful Creator Who will cause us to do what is right and Who will guard and preserve our soul to salvation.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 2:1-14.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+2&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“8 Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.”  And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”  10 He said, “You have asked a hard thing.  Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you;  but if not, it shall not be so.”  11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them.  And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.  12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”  And he saw Elijah no more.  Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.  13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan.  14 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?”  And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there;  and Elisha crossed over.”  2 Kings 2:8-14.

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In sharpest contrast to Ahaziah who was punished for not seeking the God of Israel, but rather who sought to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether he would recover from his sickness (in the previous chapter), Elisha immediately sought God after he took up Elijah’s mantle to begin his own ministry as shown by his words:  “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” 

“Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.”  Isaiah 55:6.

And, what were the results of Elijah seeking the LORD? 

“And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there;  and Elisha crossed over.”  Verse 14.

Today, we cross over from a weekend of rest and recreation to a week of work.  Some of us will cross over into new employment or new projects or new challenges.

Will we just proceed to cross over? 

Or, will we first seek the LORD?   

“⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6.

“9 The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;
10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”  Psalm 9:9-10.

“The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.”  Psalm 34:10.

“3 Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.
4 Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face continually.”  Psalm 105:3-4.

“Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand all things.”  Proverbs 28:3-4.

“25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.                                                                                                                                      26 It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man that he should bear
The yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and be silent
Since He has laid it on him.
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust,
Perhaps there is hope.
30 Let him give his cheek to the smiter,
Let him be filled with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not reject forever,
32 For if He causes grief,
Then He will have compassion
According to His abundant lovingkindness.”  Lamentations 3:25-32.

“Seek the Lord,
All you humble of the earth
Who have carried out His ordinances;
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
Perhaps you will be hidden
In the day of the Lord’s anger.”  Zephaniah 2:3.