Bible Talks: 2 Kings 2:23-3:8.

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After healing the waters of Jericho, Elisha went up to Bethel. This was where God had made His promises to the patriarchs long before. Elisha re-enters these places, utterly ruined as to man’s responsibility, but now to display the grace of God. But what of those who despised it? It is solemn here to see that the children who came out and said to Elisha, “Go up, thou bald head,” were torn to pieces by bears. Yes, the curse of this man of God came upon those who despised the grace of God. So it will be that when the kingdom is established in peace and blessing in the millennium, those who will not take their true place in repentance and acknowledge that “He (Christ) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed,” Isaiah 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5), will be sent away into everlasting punishment — how solemn! (Matthew 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46).) The judgment of eternal hell will also come upon all those who reject the grace of God today. As we read of these children being torn by bears, in the very place where God’s wonderful promises were made, it makes us think of children in Christian homes who despise the grace of God which they have heard so often. May it be a warning to any unsaved reader of this little paper.
Elisha then came to Carmel. This was the place where judgment had been executed on Baal (1 Kings 18:2020So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. (1 Kings 18:20)), and reminds us of how when the Lord Jesus was rejected, as Elijah had been, He said, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” John 12:31, 3231Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:31‑32). Christ rejected becomes the new gathering center, not only for Israel but for all men; and thus Elisha’s ministry is one o grace not only for Israel but reaches’ out to the Gentiles too. Carmel means a fruitful place, and how it makes us think of that little hymn,
“The river of Thy grace,
Through righteousness supplied,
Is flowing o’er the barren place,
Where Jesus died.”
It is only as we see Christ, the One who was rejected here, now in glory at God’s right hand, that we can truly represent Him here, and bear fruit that is pleasing to God. God’s grace so fully displayed at the cross, now shines in the face of Jesus Christ above, but Satan will always seek to blind men’s eyes to it. “The god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4). Let us not faint with such a blessed ministry, in spite of the opposition of the enemy.
We now come to the character of things in the midst of which Elisha bore his testimony. Although Jehoram was not as wicked as his father had been, yet he walked in the evil ways of Jeroboam. Because of his sin, the Lord allowed the king of Moab to rebel against him, but instead of turning to the Lord he sought a military alliance. He asked Jehoshaphat the king of Judah (who was, sad to say, related to him by marriage), if he would help him fight against the king of Moab. What a terrible alliance this was! But it reminds us of some of the strange alliances of our day, when it does not seem to matter with whom Christians are linked as long as it is for a “good cause.”
ML 11/11/1956