2 Kings 13:10-25
The Death of Elisha
 
The next king of Israel, Jehoash, was like those who came before: he did evil in the eyes of the LORD, reigned for a while, and died. The only remarkable thing about Jehoash is that he was involved in Elisha’s final prophetic words when he visited Elisha on his deathbed. Pastor Dave explained several interpretations of Jehoash’s emotional greeting (“My father! …” v14), but the most likely seems to be that it was a desperate plea for miraculous deliverance from the Syrians, who were oppressing Israel. Elisha’s response involved strange, symbolic actions with arrows. Elisha told the king to shoot an arrow toward the east, and the king did. Elisha explained that it was the Lord’s arrow of victory, that the king would have victory over Syria. Then Elisha told the king to strike arrows on the ground. Perhaps expressing confusion or impatience or half-heartedness, Jehoash struck the arrows only three times. Elisha foretold three victories over Syria but rebuked him for not striking the arrows five or six times.
 
In our dealings with God, are we like Jehoash? Do I seek Him out only to complain about difficult circumstances and ask for miraculous deliverance? Or, do I look to Him as my provider and protector, day in and day out, in good times not just bad times? On how many days do I have the attitude, I don’t really need God. Oh, we would never say that! But is that how we sometimes live? If so, our lives are diminished. Dave said that God has an infinite number of “victory arrows.” But if we do not turn to Him and seek Him, we miss out. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to examine us and show us whether we faithfully (albeit imperfectly) track with the Lord or whether we wander off, veering back to Him only when we're desperate. Ask, how many victory arrows over problems I don’t even see in myself have I missed?
 
Well before Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, his successor as God’s prophet, Elisha, was already in place. Dave pointed out that Elisha died with no successor established; the northern kingdom of Israel was experiencing a pulling back of God’s presence. They didn’t know it, but total defeat by the Assyrians and exile were looming. The holy God draws a line, for nations and for individuals. At some point, He will turn His face from rebels and He will close His ears to their cries. Pray today for people you know who are still in full rebellion against their Creator and also for those who have professed faith in Christ but later walked away.
 
Calvary Family
 
Support Fall FunFest in prayer this week. Pray that all of us who serve on Saturday will exude the love of Jesus to everyone who attends. Pray that unchurched families from our neighborhood will have their misconceptions about church upended and that they will be intrigued enough to visit on a Sunday morning. Pray for the more than three dozen foster families who have RSVP’d to attend as our guests, asking the Lord to bless them for caring for children who are among “the least of these.” (Matthew 25:40)
 
If you are a believer who has not been baptized, ask the Lord if He would have you attend the baptism class on November 2. Perhaps you are someone who has not pursued membership at Calvary because you were baptized as an infant. Prayerfully consider attending the baptism class to discuss our church’s stance on infant baptism.
 
When we study the Bible, we know the purpose is not head knowledge only; application is vital. I hope that this blog is a weekly reminder that prayer is a valuable application of Scripture! I’d like to challenge all of us to look for ways to pray for the body of Christ at Calvary, not just for ourselves as individuals, from whatever your small group is studying. My group is in the gospel of John this year and, this week, I want to pray that everyone at Calvary would be a true disciple of Jesus, not a fan mainly interested in miraculous answers to prayer. What about you?

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert