08/31/2022 – Day 185 – 2 Kings 1-5: “What an interest heaven had in the prophets.” // 1 of 2
I am repeating the 11/18/2020 post in the last cycle. Then in 2 of 2, I am going to give share an excellent summary of Elijah and Elisha, and their times to help give us perspective through the book of 2 Kings. So many christians seem to ignore the Old Testament, but I still yearn to complete an extended study of the prophets. We know so little about them. It is not about the messengers, but truly such a study would bring us still closer to God.
The reading was sublime just to witness God’s direction in the passing of the torch from Elijah to Elisha.
Matthew Henry comments on Chapter one – Elijah calling down fire from heaven and he makes an interesting comparison between the prophets and the twelve disciples, when they allude to this incident. Let’s review it: “Elijah calls for fire from heaven to prove his mission. It was not long since Elijah had fetched fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice (1 Kings 18:38), but, they having slighted that, now the fire falls not on the sacrifice, but on the sinners themselves. 1. What an interest the prophets had in heaven; what the Spirit of God in them demanded the power of God effected. Elijah did but speak, and it was done.
2. What an interest heaven had in the prophets! God was always ready to plead their cause, and avenge the injuries done to them. Doubtless Elijah did this by a divine impulse, and yet our Saviour would not allow the disciples to draw it into a precedent, Luke 9:54. ‘No’, says Christ, ‘ by no means you know not what manner of spirit you are of.‘ that is, (1) ‘You do not consider what manner of spirit, as disciples, you are called to, and how different from that of the Old Testament dispensation of the Spirit and of grace will by no means allow of it.’
(2) ‘You this occasion, actuated by, and how different from that of Elijah, he did it in holy zeal, you in passion; he was concerned for God’s glory, you for your own reputation only.’
Soli Deo Gloria!