Tales of more evil kings

II Kings Chapter 8

Elisha told the woman (whose son he had brought back to life) to move to another place because the Lord was about to give Israel a famine that would last seven years. So she did as instructed and went to live in the land of the Philistines for seven years.

After the famine ended, she returned and went to see the king about getting her house and land back. As she came in, the king was talking withe Gehazi the servant of Elisha. Gehazi was telling about the time Elisha brought a boy back to life. When Gehazi saw the woman, he told the king it was she- the one whose sone was brought back to life. The king then gave her back everything she had lost in her absence, including the value of crops that had been harvested while she was gone.

Elisha went to Damascus the capital of Aram where King Ben-hadad lay sick. When the king heard Elisha was there, he had Hazael take a gift to the man of God and wanted him to ask the Lord if he would get well again. Hazael loaded forty camels with the finest products and went to Elisha to ask if the king would get well. Elisha replied for him to go tell the king he would recover. But the Lord had shown Elisha that he would actually die. Elisha stared at Hazael until Hazael became uneasy, then Elisha began to weep. When Hazael asked him why, Elisha replied that he knew Hazael would become the king of Aram and would do terrible things to young men and dash their children to the ground and rip open their pregnant wives.

Hazael replied that he was a nobody and how could a nobody accomplish such a great feat. But Elisha answered that the Lord had shown him. When Hazael went back to the king, he told him that the man of God said he would recover. But the next day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and held it over the king's face until he died. Then Hazael became the next king of Aram.

In Judah, Jehoram son of King Jehoshaphat ruled for eight years, but he was as wicked as King Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab's daughters. But the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah because of his convenant with David that his descendants would rule forever. During Jehoram's reign the Edomites rebelled and crowned their own king and became independent.

After Jehoram died, Ahaziah his son ruled over Judah and followed the evil example of King Ahab's family, doing what was evil in the Lord's sight. He joined King Joram of Israel in his war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead and was wounded and returned to Jezreel to recover and while there King Ahaziah went to visit him.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: This chapter may be out of order in the Bible, because it must have happened before Gehazi was struck with leprosy. When Elisha prophecised that Hazael would sin greatly, Hazael did not protest or claim he would not do such things. But he was impatient and instead of waiting for God's timing, he took matters into his own hands and murdered the king. God used Hazael as an instrument of judgment against the disobedient Israelites.

King Jehoshaphat arranged a marriage between Jehoram and Athaliah, the daughter of wicked Ahab and Jezebel. Athaliah was an idol worshiper and brought Baal worship into Judah. When Ahaziah was killed, she murdered all her grandsons except Joash and made herself queen.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? The example of Elisha's concern for the widow whose son he brought back to life was important to show us the kind of concern we should have for others. His was a long-term concern. Ours should be too. Though we Christians cannot perform miracles, we can minister to others like Elisha. Help care for your fellow man. It is what God wants us to do.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Update on Stella: I’m sorry to report that this tiny baby has finally passed and is in heaven with our Lord. She fought a long fight and endured much in her few months. Pray for her family.
Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for Brian and Ashley, as they lost the expected baby boy. It was so sad because she was 4 months and we had seen the sonogram of him moving and sucking his thumb.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.