Elisah, The chariots and horsemen of Israel

2 Kings 13:1-25

Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. The Lord provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria.

Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”

Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.

“Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”

Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”

Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.

Jehoash reigned for 17 years during which time Israel falls under Syrian domination.

Jehoash reigns for 16 years. There is war with Judah, and Elisha's last prediction of victory over Syria is realized. The prophet dies, but even in death, his body retains God-given power.

Why?

Jehoash sought the Lord's favor, but Israel did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.

Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” Jehoash knew Elisha is the power of Israel, so he came to see Eliash. Even though they defeated Aram three times, they did not turn away from their sins, so their destination was not changed.

Great prophet, Elisha still is a man, his life is limited by the Lord! But for the power of the Lord with him so even his dead body had the power of life.

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約哈斯敬畏神，亞蘭王來攻擊北國，其實是神的警告。拯救者是亞述王攻擊亞蘭，結果北國還是回去拜其他神亞舍拉、金牛犢，以致遭受四圍的攻擊。找神解決問題，問題解決就離開神

約阿斯也不敬畏神，以利沙的事奉，不僅約阿斯稱他為父，也是以色列的保護者。讓不信的人也肯定他。我們的事奉不應只在教會，而是走出教會讓別人看見，讓人尊敬。我們來找神要聽神的話，卻只聽一部份。

以利沙先說得勝的預言，接著要人的配合。打地沒有說打幾下，也就是自己做主，但是覺得這樣就夠了，神要幫助他，但是他做的不徹底。這是人的通病，想聽神的話，卻又不完全聽進去，有事找長老，牧師，事情解決又回去，不完全聽從神的吩咐。把神的話來參考，沒有完全依靠神，神的心意就無法在我們身上成就。

以利沙在死後影響力仍然存在，這是好的事奉！

神一直記念北國、南國的亞伯拉罕、雅各所立的約，即使人已經不守約了，神仍然愛我們，守約施慈愛！

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How?

Change our heart and mind, focus on the Lord is the only of blessing in our life.