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Call to worship: Psalm 23

Text: 2 Kings 6:8-23

Summary

The king of Syria, in initiating war with Israel, intends to encamp at a certain place in the hope of successful raids. The King of kings consistently frustrates his best laid plans. Elisha, the man of God, is God's vessel of revelation for the peace of God's people. Greatly vexed, the Syrian king learns of Elisha's debilitating ministry and seeks to capture him. An army of men is deployed against the man of God. Elisha's servant awakes to this enemy army. Elisha meets his fear and anxiety with a world present but unseen. 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' According to Elisha's prayers for sight and blindness, the Lord helps the servant see the unseen, while blinding the enemy to what they could see. Elisha leads the blind into the seat of Israel's king and power. Expecting judgment, however, the prophet wins the king to pity instead of punishment. Mercy received, the raids end. The passage is for our confidence in the Lord when pressed hard by enemies, big, small, near, far. It's for living, not by sight, but by faith, with all its implications in tow.

Sermon Outline:

• Be equipped with the Word: Israel's prophet (6:8-12)
• Be equipped with a worldview: Elisha's perspective (6:13-18)
• Be equipped for the wayward: Elisha's pity (6:19-23)

Prepare

Discussion Questions:

• Read 2 Kings 6:8-23. Consider it in light of the other passages for Scripture reading.
• Who initiated war and all things of warfare? Why was the Syrian king continually frustrated? What's the relationship between the Word of God and the salvation of the Israelite king and people? Do you have someone in your life to whom you can turn for trustworthy (and soul-preserving) communication of God's Word? How does the Syrian king account for their failure? What do his servants know that he doesn't? Does that keep him from opposing God, Israel, and their king?
• Why would the Syrian king send an army of men to seize one man of God? Why wouldn't his apparent awareness of Elisha's reputation give him pause in taking him captive? What basic worldview sits at the roots of his actions? Why do enemies move in the dark?
• What does Elisha's servant see as he awakes? How might this relate to the strategy of enemies of your soul? Does Satan wait for you to waken, stir, armor-up, and act before surrounding you with the worst intentions? What does the servant see, and not see? How does that play into his fear and anxiety? What does Elisha know that the servant overlooks? What role do you think a biblical worldview plays in convictional discipleship? What does Elisha pray? How does the Lord respond to his prayer? What does the servant see?
• What happens to the Syrian soldiers? Where does Elisha lead them? Who's seat resided in Samaria at that time? What is the reader expecting? What does the Israelite king ask of Elisha? What does Elisha advise, and what is the conclusion to this account? What did the enemy army receive? How does that connect with Christ's call upon our lives in relationship to our wayward enemies?