2 Kings 6:8-23
Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”
The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”
“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”
“Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Devotion
This is an interesting story from the Old Testament that has a surprise ending. The Arameans were constantly at war with Israel. In this battle, Elisha prayed to God and asked him to blind the Arameans. God answered Elisha’s prayer and blinded Israel’s enemies. Elisha then led these blind troops to the city of Samaria. After arriving there, Elisha prayed and asked God to open the eyes of their adversaries. Much to the Arameans’ dismay, they realized that they were captured and at the mercy of the Israelites. The king of Israel inquired of the prophet as to whether or not he should kill them. Elisha’s response was shocking. He said, “Of course not! Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home to their master.” What? Are you kidding me? I am sure this is not the response the king of Israel expected. In his wisdom, Elisha chose to show mercy over vengeance. He did not counsel the king with worldly wisdom. Instead, he counseled him with godly wisdom. Now some might argue this was bad advice. After all, you have spared your enemy only for them to return another day.
Let’s look at the rest of the story. “So, the king made a great feast for them and sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel.” Because the power of God was manifested in their midst and manifested in the mercy of their captors, the Arameans did not bother Israel again. Worldly wisdom often comes into conflict with godly wisdom. The world’s value system is very different than God’s value system. The world condones hatred and murder and vengeance. God’s values are love, mercy, and reconciliation.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is emphasizing the importance of godly character. God works inside of each believer to conform them to the image of His Son. As this transformation is taking place, the believer will reflect the heart of the Son and of the Father. The believer will begin to embrace the values of the kingdom of God and in time reject the values of this world. Jesus is not talking about just keeping the religious rules. He is talking about a transformation that changes the way a person thinks and acts. Jesus wants to transform us from the inside out. The Sermon on the Mount is quite radical when you compare it to the world’s way of thinking and acting.
Of course, personal application of this message is critical. In Matthew chapter seven, Jesus said, “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock…But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” James writes, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Questions to Ponder:
Have you embraced the kingdom values that Jesus spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount? In what ways are you still holding onto some of the values of this world? How did Elisha’s counsel to the king of Israel reflect the kingdom values that Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount? How are you living out God’s Word today?
Prayer Points
- Praise God for being the perfect example of what the Kingdom of God looks like on earth.
- Ask God to help you live out the Kingdom values that we’ve been talking about the past two weeks.
- Pray that as you look more like Jesus, that God would use you in greater ways in the people in your life.
- Ask the Lord to go before you today. Ask Him to empower you to be obedient to Him, to yield to His Spirit and to share Jesus with those around you.
Suggested Prayer
Eternal God, I bow down and worship You in Spirit and in truth. I confess You are holy, righteous, all knowing, sovereign, forgiving, redeeming, loving, and faithful. Thank You for loving me just as I am. Thank You for your tender care, consistent nature and for being the lifter of my head.
Father I ask right now that You would allow me to know You better. Prune my heart, discipline me, and refine me for Your glory and for Your kingdom. Lord, open my eyes so I can see what You see. Give me strength as You send me out today so that I may be Your hands and feet. Speak to who You want me to speak with. Give me and your church a heart of love that brings lasting fruit.
Bring me into intimacy with You. I want to know You as You really are! I want to know You, experience You, feel your very presence with me. Baptize my heart into Your love once again. Open the eyes of my heart so that I may know You Jesus. I am undone in Your holy presence! I cry out Thy kingdom come in and through my life today. Thy will be done Lord in and through me as it is in heaven. In the Name of Jesus Christ I ask. Amen.