The Sin of Disobedience

INTRO

We continue our study today with 2 Kings 7. To paint the backdrop for this lesson, remember 2 Kings 6 records that Samaria was under siege, and they were without food. A woman had called out to the king in desperation because another woman had wanted to kill her own son so they would have food for that day and promised they would eat her son the next. The women ate the first son, but then the mother of the second child hid her son away (vv. 28–29). The king was mortified by what happened and put on sackcloth to show his grief (v. 30). This is the backdrop for chapter 7.

TEACHING

2 Kings 7:1–20: We could title this section, “Elisha to the Rescue” because once again, Elisha jumped in and did some saving. Elisha proclaimed that the Lord promised food would be sold the next day at the gate of Samaria (v. 1). But the royal officer, whom the king relied on, doubted Elisha’s word (v. 2a). Elisha responded that the officer would see the food but not eat it (v. 2b). Four men with leprosy sat outside of the city, knowing they couldn’t go inside the city, and would die where they were. They went to the camp of the Arameans, hoping the Arameans would provide for them (vv. 3–4). However, they found the camp deserted because the Arameans had fled (vv. 5–13). When the king received the news, the people went out and plundered the camp (v. 14–16). The king appointed the royal officer who had doubted Elisha’s word to take charge of the gate, but in their haste to get to food, the people trampled him, and he died (vv. 17–20).

As Christians, this is our story. We were those sinful lepers. We were sick and starving outside the camp of God’s provision. Deserving death for our rebellion against God, we humbly stumbled into the presence of God. Instead of death and bondage, we found grace. We found life. We ate and drank of the goodness of God. We discovered great treasures and riches and have taken them and hidden them in our hearts (Psalm 34:8). We have the way to salvation within us (Revelation 3:17). I invite you to come out of your walls. Come out of safety. Leave what is comfortable, and you will find life.

2 Kings 8:1–6: Remember the son of the Shunammite woman who died, and Elisha brought back to life (2 Kings 4)? Elisha spoke to the woman again and warned her a famine was coming (v. 1). To pack up everything you own and move away because of the coming famine would have taken a degree of humility and faith. However, this woman had a long-term relationship with Elisha. He stayed in her upper room when he traveled through the area. He told her of the coming birth of her son and then restored him back to life. She trusted him and went to the land of the Philistines for seven years (v. 2). At the end of seven years, she returned home (v. 3a). Isn’t it interesting, how God used these cycles of seven years of famine over and over to test His people (Genesis 41:17–30)? Seven years indicated completion. Possibly in this case God used the famine for discipline or cleansing.

The woman had to go to the king to ask for her house and her field to be returned to her (v. 3b). When she came before the king, he was in conversation with Elisha’s servant Gehazi, asking what great things Elisha had done (v. 4). It is interesting that the king of Israel would be asking to hear what Elisha had done. As Gehazi responded, the woman appeared, and Gehazi explained how Elisha had restored her son to life (v. 5). Was this a coincidence or by divine appointment? Personally, I don’t believe in coincidences. The king heard her story and restored everything she had left behind (v. 6).

2 Kings 8:7–15: The king of Aram was sick. When he heard Elisha was nearby, he sent his servant Hazael, with forty camels loaded with gifts, to find out if he would recover from the sickness (vv. 7–9). Elisha promised the king would survive the illness, but he would still die (v. 10). Then Elisha fixed his eyes on Hazael, and Elisha wept (v. 11). Elisha said Hazael would become king of Aram and would do horrific things to the people of Israel (vv. 12–13). This is another example of God using a lying spirit (1 Kings 22:20). Is it possible this prophecy from Elisha enticed Hazael to murder his master, the king? When Hazael returned to the king, he only told him half of what Elisha said (v. 14). The next day, Hazael murdered the king (v. 15).

2 Kings 8:16–24: In the fifth year of Joram’s reign as king of Israel, Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, became the king of Judah (v. 16). Jehoram was thirty-two at the time, reigned eight years, married the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, and was an evil king in the sight of the Lord (vv. 1–18). Jezebel was the daughter of the King of Sidon. The picture created is that the King of Sidon was reaching all the way through Israel and into Judah, so his influence was powerful (Deuteronomy 7:3–4; 2 Corinthians 6:14). At this point, Jezebel was still alive. Yet, God was unwilling to punish Judah because of the Davidic covenant (v. 19). Edom revolted against Jehoram, and then Libnah revolted (vv. 20-23). Jehoram died and was buried in the city of David with his fathers. His son Ahaziah became king (v. 24).

2 Kings 8:25–29: Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king and reigned only one year (vv. 25–26). He too did evil in the sight of the Lord (v. 27). He went to war with his uncle, King Joram, against Hazael, the king of Aram. Joram was wounded and was taken to Jezreel (where Jezebel lived) to be healed (vv. 28–29a). Ahaziah followed Joram to Jezreel (v. 29b).

CLOSING

The battle between good and evil, and godly leadership versus evil leadership, plagued both Israel and Judah. Those kings who chose to walk in obedience to the Lord were few and far between. Those who refused to walk obediently continued to damage their countries from a national perspective and the people within their nations as well.