Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
1:2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.”
Accidents happened then too! Yet Ahaziah (king of Israel) first response is to seek advice from the ungodly rather than the Lord. His first reaction is not to turn to God but away from him.
1:2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.”
Accidents happened then too! Yet Ahaziah (king of Israel) first response is to seek advice from the ungodly rather than the Lord. His first reaction is not to turn to God but away from him.
2:9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
From Constable's Commentary: "The double portion that Elisha requested was the privilege of God's richest blessing on
his life that customarily went to the first-born son in the ancient Near East."
God treats his children like privileged first-borns!
See also Isaiah 61:7.
2:9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
From Constable's Commentary: "The double portion that Elisha requested was the privilege of God's richest blessing on
his life that customarily went to the first-born son in the ancient Near East."
God treats his children like privileged first-borns!
See also Isaiah 61:7.
3:27 Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall. The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to their own land.
Joram, king of Israel, only wanted Moab to keep paying tribute to Israel v.4-6 following the death of his father, Ahab. So Joram's intention was to subdue the Moabites not wipe them out. But to Mesha, king of Moab, the battle had become so important he was prepared to sacrifice his first born son.
How sad when people sacrifice their children because of their desire for power and control. Today some parents do this on a spiritual level.
3:27 Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall. The fury against Israel was great; they withdrew and returned to their own land.
Joram, king of Israel, only wanted Moab to keep paying tribute to Israel v.4-6 following the death of his father, Ahab. So Joram's intention was to subdue the Moabites not wipe them out. But to Mesha, king of Moab, the battle had become so important he was prepared to sacrifice his first born son.
How sad when people sacrifice their children because of their desire for power and control. Today some parents do this on a spiritual level.
4:6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
God's filling is dependant on our capacity. The more emptiness we have the more God is able to fill us.
4:6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
God's filling is dependant on our capacity. The more emptiness we have the more God is able to fill us.
5:13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!”
Sometimes we want God to give us some big important task to do but often he asks us to be faithful in the small, unimportant tasks. We sometimes think these small tasks are not significant and are reluctant to complete them because we don't see the bigger picture.
5:13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!”
Sometimes we want God to give us some big important task to do but often he asks us to be faithful in the small, unimportant tasks. We sometimes think these small tasks are not significant and are reluctant to complete them because we don't see the bigger picture.