I'm sure that most of us here, not necessarily all of us, but most of us here are fairly familiar with the Gospels in the New Testament, those extraordinary documents that recount the life, the death, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
They are remarkable in a whole lot of ways. We're going to pick up some of the ways in which they're remarkable over the next few minutes and also tomorrow.
But it is always a shame when you become so used to something that you don't notice how remarkable it is.
That's almost unavoidable, but every now and again you just sort of take stock and say this is utterly remarkable.
It's not only that these accounts, we call them the Gospels, of course, it's not only that the Gospels tell a remarkable story, they certainly do that, but as documents they are remarkable, they are unique.
There's nothing like them really in world literature.
I'll expand on that in a little while, I think.
But I wonder what you make as you read the Gospel accounts of the accounts that you find there of the miracles performed by Jesus.
I mean, they're everywhere, aren't they?
Not counting the remarkable events associated with the birth of Jesus, put those to one side for a moment,
and put to one side the events surrounding the death and the resurrection of Jesus.
On one count that I looked up, I didn't do the count, but I found somebody who did.
It's always helpful to find people like that, isn't it?
There are 36 different occasions recorded when Jesus, with a word or with a touch,
or in some other remarkable way, healed people, cast out demons,
controlled the forces of nature, even raised dead people back to life.
And you'll probably be familiar with the words in John's Gospel, where he assures us
that there were many more such episodes which are not written in this book, his book.
He says if they were, the world wouldn't be big enough to fill them all.
Well, perhaps that was a little bit of an exaggeration, but nonetheless, there were so many episodes like that.
And we read the stories, and so we witness them through those who tell us about them.
And the question I want to reflect on for a moment with you is,
what impact should these stories have on us?
As you read of this incident, this incident, this incident in Jesus' life.
At a very basic level, of course, the stories challenge the modern unbeliever
who imagines that science can explain everything.
Tell you what, science is going to have some trouble explaining some of these things
that you read in the Gospels.
You see, the Gospels insist that Jesus Christ cannot be contained in such a narrow view of reality.
The reactions of those who were there show a whole lot more insight than today's sceptics.
They said things like, what sort of man is this?
That even the wind and the sea obey him.
We read that when the crowd saw it, another incident, they were afraid, and they glorified God.
Or they said, never was anything like this seen in Israel.
Another one said, truly you are the Son of God.
And then in another place, they glorified the God of Israel.
Those were some of the reactions that you see as you read these accounts.
We might reasonably add that many of Jesus' miracles displayed his kindness in a most remarkable and powerful way.
His compassion.
The stories are massive displays of his goodness.
You remember how again and again and again those who sought his mercy found it.
Often in the most remarkable ways.
Well, that's a good start, I think.
But the miracles of Jesus are even more important.
Consider these devastating words concerning two of the towns which had witnessed those mighty works of Jesus.
I'm reading from Matthew 11.
You needn't look it up, but just listen.
You'll be familiar with the words, I think.
Woe to you.
Jesus is speaking.
Woe to you.
Chorazin.
Woe to you, Bethsaida.
For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
It's another wow moment, isn't it?
Golly.
Tyre and Sidon, they were pagan cities up to the north of Israel.
They were famous.
You read references to them in the Old Testament.
You read great poems about them in the Old Testament, actually.
They were famous for their tyrannical arrogance, their wealth, their cruelty.
They were tough places.
They were pagan places.
And Jesus claimed, again, perhaps with a little bit of hyperbole,
he was given to hyperbole from time to time,
that if those cities had witnessed the mighty works that had taken place in Chorazin and Bethsaida,
both Israelite cities, of course,
then those notorious pagans would have been brought to their knees in repentance.
But that hadn't happened in Chorazin and Bethsaida, so woe to you.
But that raises a question, doesn't it?
What is it about the miracles of Jesus
that ought to have led those who witnessed them to repentance?
Now, wonder, get that, understand that.
Of course, if you saw what Jesus did, the wind and the waves obeyed him,
you just, jaw drops and you say,
who is this man?
Wonder, yes.
Amazement, certainly.
But why would the pagans of Tyre and Sidon have repented?
What's the connection between the miracles,
if only you saw them,
if you'd been there,
that you ought to have repented?
Why should the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida have repented?
And the answer is,
quite simple,
that the miracles were signs.
And the importance of a sign is not the sign itself,
but what it signifies,
what it points to.
And the miracles of Jesus were signs pointing to God's kingdom.
God's kingdom where the blind will see,
the deaf will hear,
the lame will leap,
and the dumb will sing for joy.
Jesus, you see,
in those things we call the miracles,
was demonstrating his power and authority
as God's king.
That's what he was doing.
And the signs accompanied his message,
which was,
repent,
for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The kingdom of heaven
is the long-promised reality of God's
good and righteous reign
as king
over all things.
And God's good and righteous reign
involves
judgment.
Because evil will be overthrown.
All evil
will be overthrown.
And righteousness and peace
will be established.
And repentance
is the radical change
that is demanded by the coming
of God's king.
God's king is coming,
it means turning away
from all evil.
It means submitting
to God's king.
And because Jesus' miracles
are signs of the kingdom,
they demand repentance,
not just awe and wonder,
but repentance.
Repent
for
the kingdom of heaven
is at hand.
Now,
something
similar
happened
much earlier
in the history
of the Israelite people.
You've been,
in many of you,
most of you,
I think,
in your groups
have been reading
through two kings
and you've been reading
the story of Elisha
and you've been seeing
a lot more of the story
of Elisha
than we're going to manage
to see this weekend
because I'm so slow
in the way in which I work
through these stories.
You may have picked that up.
But the miracle stories
in the New Testament gospels
have a kind of background.
If you think of
the gospel stories,
they're kind of,
what's remarkable about them,
when I said
there's nothing like this
in world literature,
if you try and describe
what they're like,
they're little incident
after incident
after incident.
Of course,
there's much more
to the gospels than this.
But you move
from one incident
to another,
don't you?
And each one has its point.
And many of the incidents
are miraculous.
Well,
where do you find
anything like that
in the Old Testament?
And the thing that's closest to it
is the story of Elisha,
which again,
is you have incident
after incident
and a whole lot of them
are miraculous.
And it seems to me
that this is again
the New Testament writers,
to a certain extent,
I think they've modelled
their accounts
of the life of Jesus
on the Old Testament
story of Elisha.
Again,
another indication
of what we saw earlier on,
there are connections
between the story of Elisha
and the story of Jesus
and we should move
between them both.
Now,
certainly the stories
in the New Testament
gospels
surpass
the accounts
of the prophet Elisha
and his mighty works
in two kings.
you might,
in the New Testament,
find yourself saying
something greater
than Elisha is here.
Well,
certainly that's true
but there is
a striking similarity.
So we're going to go
and pick up Elisha's story
where we left off
last time
in 2 Kings chapter 2
and the passage
that was just read to us
a few moments ago.
You remember what happened?
Elisha had crossed
the Jordan River
in a remarkable
kind of reenactment
of Joshua's crossing
the river before
coming back
as he was travelling
from east to west.
I think I've got it
right this time.
Joshua probably did that,
quite possibly did that,
very close
to the spot
where Jesus
would be baptised
by John
some centuries later.
And although
the New Testament gospels
I don't think
at any point
make an explicit
reference to this,
I'm pretty sure
if you'd been there
and you knew
your Old Testament
and as you read
the Gospels
if you know
your Old Testament
when you see
Jesus being baptised
you're reminded
of this moment.
You might be reminded
of some other moments
as well
but you're reminded
of this moment
where Elisha
came into the land.
And Elisha
proceeded to retrace
the steps of the Israelites
in Joshua's day
as they were taking
possession of the land
that God had promised
their forefather Abraham.
So he came to Jericho
in chapter 2 verse 18
and like them
shortly he will move on
to the vicinity
of Bethel.
And in this study
we are really going
to focus on
what happened
in those two cities
in Jericho
and Bethel
where two very remarkable
things happened.
We could call them miracles.
I think that would be
the kind of category
but they were more
than miracles
they were signs.
They were signs
of Elisha's message.
What was Elisha's message?
Well I think it's summed up
in his name
My God saves.
So if you look at your notes
what we're going to see
is Jericho
a troubled city
that sought
and received help.
And then we're going
to move on to Bethel
a rebellious city
that mocked God's prophet
and received its due.
And then very briefly
at the end
we'll move on to
Mount Carmel
and Samaria.
And the question
we're asking
all the way through
is what do we make
of these stories?
Before you can answer
that question
you've got to actually
look at the stories
and hear the stories
well and carefully
and then say
what do we make
of these?
You'll be aware
in the second
of those stories
you listened to
it a moment ago.
I wonder how many
of you are sitting there
saying surely
he's not going to
talk about that one.
It's a pretty horrible
story isn't it
coming up
when we get to Bethel
don't glance ahead
if you weren't listening
before too bad
you don't know
what I'm talking about
you will shortly.
When you're teaching
the Bible
and when you're
reading the Bible
it's really important
that when you see
something
I don't want to deal
with that
when you see that
bit that you don't
want to deal with
it's really important
that you deal with it.
It's very important
that we don't skip
over parts of the Bible
that are a bit
frightening and a bit
scary.
This one's a bit
frightening and a bit
scary.
I was tempted
to skip over it
and then I thought
I better not
because David
will come and
chip me later on
and tell me
I shouldn't have.
So I won't.
First of all
however we come
to Jericho
that's not too bad
that one
we can cope
with the Jericho
story I think.
Jericho
was a city
with quite a story.
Here's a clue
in reading
the Old Testament
there are lots
of little skills
you can develop
and one of the
things that I've
always found
very very helpful
is you can't
do it all the time
because it's too
time consuming
but when you come
across a place name
first of all
I said earlier
look it up
on an atlas
and see where it is.
So you follow
where you're moving
what's close to what
what direction
are people moving
and get an idea
of the geography
of a place
where the place is
but the other thing
is that
not all
but very very
many Bible
places
have a big story
behind them
and there are
associations
with the place
many places
in the Bible
are like
is that noise
annoying people?
Yeah it's annoying people
can you stop it?
If we have problems
I can shout
but
okay they're working
on it
we'll concentrate here
it's my fault
that might
okay
thank you guys
thank you
let them do their thing
so
I'm saying that
many place names
in the Bible
have associations
that
you need to know
your Bible
really really well
to pick them up
and the
way to get it
for those of us
who are
you know
still working
at knowing the Bible
really really well
is a Bible dictionary
the most valuable
reference book
for reading
and studying the Bible
is a good Bible dictionary
like the new Bible dictionary
I think that's probably
still the best one around
it's been around
for a long long time
and a Bible dictionary
is really a Bible
encyclopedia
they're not really dictionaries
they're encyclopedias
and you can look up
and you
if you looked up
Jericho
there would be
an article
not a very long one
but it would take you
through the whole
Bible history of Jericho
what's happened in Jericho
and so when you come
to Jericho
you say
what's associated
with this town
it's a bit like New York
if you think of New York
all sorts of associations
aren't there
you think of Paris
all sorts of associations
London
associations
Newcastle
well
yeah
associations
cities have a history
and a feel
what do you think of
when you hear of Jericho
what's the thing
that
the biggest thing
that comes to mind
I think you'll all remember this
what is it
the walls of Jericho
that came down
in Joshua's day
that was the very beginning
of the entry
into the land
as they were taking the land
the walls of Jericho
came down
but you mightn't
remember what happened
after the walls of Jericho
came down
very important
that Joshua
said
because this was
the big sign
of God's judgment
on the inhabitants
of the land
they were terrible
and this was the beginning
of the judgment
of the peoples
of the land
the walls of Jericho
fell down
and Joshua said
this is Joshua 6 verse 26
for those who are taking notes
cursed before the Lord
be the man
who rises up
and rebuilds
this city of Jericho
so it was flattened
and
here's the word
cursed before the Lord
be the man
who rises up
and rebuilds
the city of Jericho
and that was remembered
and for centuries
Jericho lay in ruins
and no one dared
to rebuild it
because it was there
and it was meant
to remain
like that
as a sign
of what God did
both to save
his people
and in judgment
on the wickedness
of the people
of the land
you mightn't be
all that surprised
to hear
that it was
in King Ahab's day
that a man
named
Hiel
H-I-E-L
he's not very famous
nor should he be
but he was allowed
by King Ahab
to defy
Joshua's word
and rebuild the city
you'll read about it
in 1 Kings 16
and it was a mark
of King Ahab's
defiant disobedience
and flagrant
unfaithfulness
that he allowed
the city of Jericho
to be rebuilt
and it was
by this man
Hiel
well now
it has been rebuilt
it's been rebuilt
for some time
and Elisha
was staying
in the city
of Jericho
with all of its
associations
the city
that had been
rebuilt
in disobedience
and unfaithfulness
it was
if Joshua's word
is to be believed
and I believe it is
it was a city
under a curse
that was
it was a city
under God's judgment
for the disobedience
and unfaithfulness
that had allowed it
to be rebuilt
what do you think
will happen
when Elisha
my God
saves
spend some time
in Jericho
verse 19
now the men
of the city
said
to Elisha
behold
the situation
of this city
is pleasant
the word is good
as my Lord
sees
but the water
is bad
and the land
is unfruitful
perhaps the men
of the city
had been influenced
by the followers
of Elijah
and Elisha
the sons
of the prophets
remember
there was
this group
in Jericho
that lived there
they were faithful
they were disciples
of Elijah
and Elisha
and they lived
in the city
perhaps they'd
influenced the city
and they had been
the first
of course
to receive
and acknowledge
Elisha
in his new role
and the men
of the city
now approached
Elisha
with respect
and with a problem
Jericho
well the city
looked pleasant
enough
looked nice
looked good
the houses
were fine
the city's
defences
were strong
and so it seemed
but appearances
can be deceptive
the city
had a serious
problem
the water
supply
was poisonous
with tragic
consequences
I think the
translation's
probably not
quite right
there
the language
is a bit
difficult
but the word
unfruitful
probably actually
means causes
miscarriages
so there was
some poison
in the water
something in the
water that was
causing that
kind of tragedy
repeatedly
in the town
Jericho
was suffering
the words
of the men
suggest that
they're aware
of God's
promises
you see back
in Exodus
again for
note takers
Exodus 23
verse 26
God had
promised that
in the promised
land none
shall miscarry
but the land
of which
was supposed
to have flowed
with milk
and honey
now had
water
that caused
miscarriages
at least that
was the situation
in Jericho
perhaps the men
of the city
understood that
their troubles
were related
to the curse
that Joshua
had spoken
centuries earlier
and the humility
and the respect
with which they
brought this
problem to
Elisha
indicates the
very high regard
in which they
must have held
the man of God
on whom the
spirit of Elijah
now rested
what did they
expect him to do
though
well Elisha
responded to them
in verse 20
bring me a new
bowl and put
salt in it
and that's a
rather strange
thing to say
don't you think
you can sort of
imagine the people
saying really
Elisha a bowl
with some salt
look our problem
is a poisonous
water supply
for the whole
city
how do you think
a bowl of salt
is going to help
well importantly
these instructions
came from the
mouth of God's
prophet
and these words
strange as they
sounded
are going to
determine the
future of this
city
the immediate
and unquestioning
obedience of
the people
to the prophets
odd instructions
underlines their
humble trust
with which they
had approached
Elisha
you see verse 20
again so they
brought it to him
they didn't actually
argue
they did as
they were told
and in the city
of Jericho
symbol
if you like
of King Ahab's
disobedience
and unfaithfulness
we're now seeing
something new
humble obedience
to the words
of God's prophet
I read somewhere
I haven't been on
one of those tours
to Israel
some of you may
have
and maybe you can
confirm or deny
this but I
understand that
there is a
spring near
Jericho
to this day
that is believed
to be
many of the
sites
in Israel
that are believed
to be
are probably not
what they're
believed to be
but this one
is believed to be
the source of the
city's water
for centuries
it's known today
as Elisha's
spring
and it may be
the very spot
where we read
in verse 21
Elisha went to
the spring of water
and threw
salt in it
now
Elisha's
action
by itself
a little bit
of salt
thrown into
the gushing
water
wouldn't have
any significant
effect
but the action
was accompanied
by an astonishing
word
Elisha said
verse 21
thus says
the Lord
I have healed
this water
from now on
neither death
nor miscarriage
shall come
from it
this is the
first time
that we hear
from Elisha's
mouth
those magnificent
powerful words
thus says
the Lord
a little bit
more literally
it should be
translated
wherever it
comes up
I think
thus the Lord
has said
see Elisha
like Elijah
before him
and the prophets
that preceded
and the prophets
that will follow
them both
they had the
task of
delivering a
message that
God had
spoken
now Elisha
my God
saves
delivered this
saving word
from God
I have
healed
this water
that's the
kind of thing
that God
does
people seek
mercy
and he
shows mercy
the outcome
will be the
restoration of
the blessing
promised in the
book of Exodus
from now on
neither death
nor miscarriage
shall come
from this
water
now we don't
know how many
of the citizens
of Jericho
heard those
words that
Elisha
uttered
but what
news this
was and I
suspect it
spread very
quickly
indeed
everywhere you
went through
Jericho that
day
have you heard
what Elisha
has said
that God
has said
could it
be true
and verse
22 we read
so the water
has been healed
to this day
according to
the word that
Elisha
spoke
the impact
of the word
of the Lord
spoken by
Elisha on
that day
can still be
seen the
writer assures
his first
readers
he says to
them
if you choose
to visit
Jericho
you'll find
that the
water supply
is still
fresh and
healthy
you can still
taste even
today he says
to his early
readers
even today you
can taste the
effect of
God's saving
mercy on the
city of
Jericho in
the days of
Elisha
it was a
sign
it points to
what God
is like
the kind of
thing that
God does
it was if you
like a sign
of God's
kingdom
well let's
move on
from Jericho
verse 23
he went up
from there
to Bethel
he's still
following in
the steps of
Joshua and
the people as
they came into
the land he
moved from
Jericho to
Bethel
Bethel was
another town
you might
remember from
earlier in the
chapter another
town like
Jericho where
there was a
group of the
sons of the
prophets living
we saw that
back in verse
three of this
chapter
Bethel
now again
Bethel is a
city with quite
a story and
I look up my
Bible dictionary
and I read the
story to see
what sort of
associations would
Bethel have
had what's the
history and a
number of you
will be able to
think of various
things that
happened in
Bethel the
thing that I
think is most
relevant and a
lot of them
might be the
most relevant I
think is is
relatively recently
about 70 years
earlier King
Jeroboam now
King Jeroboam
was the first of
the kings of the
breakaway northern
kingdom of Israel
we were talking
about last night
King Jeroboam
set up his
idols in
Bethel also
in Dan but
in Bethel
they were
alternatives to
the house of
the Lord down
in Jerusalem
he set them
up King
Jeroboam
this sort of
idolatrous
alternative worship
system it's in
1 Kings chapter
12 if you want
to read about
that and
Bethel in a
very strange
chapter in 1
Kings chapter
13 Bethel had
been visited
by a prophet
don't know his
name he's called
a man of God
from Judah who
pronounced God's
judgment on the
altar that
Jeroboam had
erected there
however Jeroboam
heard the word of
that prophet but
he didn't repent
didn't change and
over the years
that followed the
many years that
followed the
king after king
after king persisted
in this idolatry in
Israel that was
trying to hold the
people from going
back to Jerusalem
and in Elisha's
day Bethel was
still a centre of
idolatrous worship
a disturbing
reminder of you
know that phrase
you come across as
you're reading
through this history
the sins of
Jeroboam with
which he sinned
and made Israel
to sin that's
referring to the
idolatry that
Jeroboam set up
and king after
king after king
just kept up with
that policy being
idolatrous stopping
the people from
going to Jerusalem
stopping the
people from
hearing the
promises of God
that they would
hear if they
went to Jerusalem
and as we watch
Elisha approaching
Bethel we're
reminded of this
terrible refrain that
runs through the
book of kings
every single king
in the northern
kingdom persisted in
that policy of
Jeroboam's of
keeping the people
away from
Jerusalem and
Bethel was a
key to that
policy now
interestingly for
the present
story I'll just
throw you into
all these sort of
details you can be
interested in them
or not be
interested in them
do what you like
with them but
Bethel was the
home of a man
named Hiel
what did Hiel do
he rebuilt Jericho
this was his home
that's where he
learnt the kind
of attitude that
would go about
rebuilding Jericho
when you knew what
Joshua had said
about Jericho
no doubt Bethel
was the kind of
town that taught
you to defy
the word of
the Lord
well that was
Bethel
now apparently
it seems from
the way in which
this story is going
to unfold that
the sons of the
prophets in
Bethel had
rather less
influence there
than they had
had in Jericho
and as Elisha
was on his way
up to the town
verse 23 we
read that some
my ESV says
some small boys
I usually like
the ESV
here I don't
I don't think
they were small
boys I think
they were young
lads I think
the NIV has
youths and I
think that's a
more accurate
rendering here
these young
lads came out
of the city
and jeered at
him saying
go up you
bald head
go up you
bald head
or something like
that I don't
know the tone
once again
they came out
of the city
to mock
and to jeer
at the prophet
how different
to Jericho
yeah
now who were
they as I say
they're probably
not small boys
but young lads
possibly in their
late teens
the vocabulary
would fit
young people
in their
even early
twenties
we will see
shortly that
there was quite
a crowd of
them this
wasn't two or
three kids
this was
over fifty
perhaps a hundred
or more of them
a mob of
hoodlums really
coming out
to jeer
and to mock
at God's
prophet
and in their
complete
lack of
respect
they make
a stark
contrast
to the men
of Jericho
just a little
bit earlier
try and picture
the scene
they're on the
high ground
and these
louts
big mob
of them
hurling
their
scornful
mockery
down at
Elisha
as he was
making his
way up
towards the
city
it's a
rather nasty
turn of
events
because
since the
beginning
of this
chapter
when Elisha
left
Gilgal
with Elijah
do you
remember
on that
momentous
trek
that began
at the
beginning
of the
chapter
Elisha
has really
encountered
nothing but
supportive
and encouraging
responses
the sons
of the
prophets
are like
that
when he
comes back
even though
they want
to send
out a
search
party
there's
no real
friction
there
they respect
him and so
on
but here
he comes
to Bethel
and the
contempt
shown by
these young
thugs
probably
reflects
the attitude
towards a
prophet of
the lord
that they
had learnt
in their
town
certainly
they embodied
behaviour
that would
actually
characterise
the people
of Israel
over many
years
again if
you're
interested in
doing some
homework and
following up
some references
jot down
this
2 Chronicles
36 16
when much
later the
writer will
reflect on
the history
of Israel
and say
but they
kept
mocking the
messengers
of God
despising
his words
and scoffing
at his
prophets
until the
wrath of
the lord
rose against
his people
until there
was no
remedy
it's one of
the reasons
that I'm so
fearful for
our society
today
I mean
that's not a
bad description
is it
of Australia
today
I know
you've got to
translate it a
little bit
but listen
listen to this
and see whether
this fits
the Australia
you know
but they
kept mocking
the messengers
of God
despising
his words
and scoffing
at his
prophets
until the
wrath of
the lord
arose against
his people
until there
was no
remedy
and if
that's the
state
of our
nation
tremble
well that's
what was
happening
as
Elijah
approached
Bethel
you've got
this mob
of louts
coming out
expressing
that attitude
that probably
reflected the
attitudes
and the
approaches
of the
people
of their
town
you notice
the insult
they chose
I don't know
exactly what
they were
getting at
you're bald
head
I don't know
what that
meant
I mean I
know what
it meant
but
Elisha at
this stage
was a
relatively
young man
it's probably
unlikely that
he was sort
of naturally
bald
although some
young people
I've noticed
do get
bald rather
early
but more
probably I
think the
hooligans
were laughing
at Elisha
the word
had probably
got round
that Elisha
was Elijah's
successor
and they were
sort of mocking
him
you really
think you
were Elijah's
successor
because Elijah
was famously
very hairy
he had a
hairy cloak
and he himself
was a hairy
man it seems
did this
relatively bald
prophet really
think he could
do Elijah's
job
I wonder
whether there's
something of
that going
on
it doesn't
really matter
precisely
what was
going on
but also
baldness
or the
accusation
of baldness
could even
be associated
with the
way in which
people used
to shave
out of
sorrow
or mourning
or shame
so go up
you bald
head
whatever the
exact reasons
for it
or the exact
connotations
of it
they're saying
something like
you miserable
shameful
man
you
yeah
you can
think of
your own
insults
to paraphrase
what they
were saying
probably a good
idea not to
but you know
what I mean
how different
was Elisha's
intimidating
reception
as he
approached
Bethel
from the
earlier
respect
he received
from the
men of
Jericho
I'll tell you
something
his response
was different
too
verse 24
he turned
around
and when
he saw
them
he cursed
them in
the name
of the
Lord
you
don't want
to read
too much
between the
lines of
the Bible
it's more
important to
read the
lines than
read between
the lines
you understand
that people
get into
lots of
trouble
reading
between
the lines
let me
have a
go
these
rowdy
hoodlums
I
sort of
picture them
as
Elisha
turned
round
and looked
them in
the eye
I think
there's a
sort of
falling
silent
don't you
think
bullies
are like
that
then I
see them
trembling
a little
as he
fixes
his gaze
on them
I mean
Elisha's
not intimidated
not one
bit
he fixes
his gaze
on them
and when
he spoke
I reckon
the swagger
stopped
he cursed
them
in the
name of
the Lord
you remember
what happened
in Jericho
the prophet
proclaimed a
saving word
a word of
healing
and here we
have the
opposite
he added
a curse
a word
of judgment
both of the
messages
carried the
authority of
the Lord
thus says
the Lord
he said
in Jericho
and now he
cursed them
in the name
of the Lord
this is the
God who
both
wounds
and
heals
he blesses
and curses
he saves
and he
judges
and with
some
horror
I read
verse 24
and two
she bears
came out
of the
woods
and tore
42
of the
youngsters
it's
not clear
that they
died
perhaps some
of them
did
perhaps even
most of
them
don't know
the
awful
ramifications
of the
disaster
are
underlined
a little
bit
because
the
word
in the
ESV
boys
here
I just
said
youngsters
it's a
word
that sort
of helps
us see
them as
their
mother's
sons
I won't
go into
the
behind the
word
but it's
a word
that sort
of reminds
you of
their birth
these
lads
and judgment
fell that
day
not only
of course
on the
lads
but
on their
homes
the homes
in which
they'd been
raised
the homes
in which
they'd been
taught
to have
the attitude
they expressed
that day
it was a
dreadful
day in
Bethel
tears
were shed
in Bethel
that day
isn't it
odd that
the exact
number
who were
mauled
by the
bear
is remembered
it suggests
that this
incident was
very carefully
remembered in
Bethel
they did not
forget that
day
when 42
of their
sons
were attacked
by the
bear
it also
indicates
as I
suggested
earlier
that the
mob
that was
jeering
was quite
a large
mob
there were
obviously
more than
42
I think
there were
many more
than the
42
in that
mob
now as
far as
we know
Elisha
didn't go
into the
town of
Bethel
on this
occasion
after
this
hostile
reception
he moved
on
Bethel
had
rejected
the
Lord's
prophet
and
paid
a heavy
price
it was
not only
of course
the harm
that befell
the 42
sons
of the
town
but
the
rejection
of the
town
by God
signified
by the
departure
from there
of
Elisha
Bethel
would not
experience
the kind
of blessing
that had
come to
Jericho
very quickly
we've got
one more
verse to
notice
with two
locations
before we
just have
a quick
thought
about
what do
we learn
what do
we make
of these
stories
verse 25
from there
he went
on to
Mount
Carmel
Mount
Carmel
would become
Elisha's
base
as I think
it probably
had been
for Elijah
and no
reader of
this history
can hear
the name
Mount
Carmel
without being
reminded of
the showdown
between Elijah
and the
prophets of
Baal
recounted
in 1
Kings 18
Mount
Carmel
was the
place
where the
question
the question
of who
truly
is God
was settled
by going
to Mount
Carmel
Elisha was
embracing the
message of
Mount Carmel
what is the
message of
Mount Carmel
it is the
Lord
he is
God
the
Lord
he is
God
excuse me
for a
moment
the question
do you
remember the
question that
Elijah put to
them on
Mount Carmel
how long
will you go
on limping
between two
opinions
if the
Lord is
God
follow him
for goodness
sake
but of
course if
Baal is
God
go ahead
and follow
him
and as
events
unfolded on
Mount Carmel
it was
perfectly clear
who was
God
and who
was not
and the
absolute
folly
of following
a God
who is not
God
was
demonstrated
that day
well he
went to
Mount Carmel
the events
at Jericho
and Bethel
were signs
really
of the
Mount Carmel
message
the Lord
is the
one
who brings
blessing
as he did
at Jericho
and curse
judgment
as he did
at Bethel
the Lord
he is
God
and then
at the
very end
of our
passage
verse 25
and from
there he
returned
to Samaria
now that's
ominous
those words
indicate that
Elisha
he'd been
in Samaria
previously
presumably
with Elijah
his master
when Elijah
visited
Samaria
the Baal
worshipper
King Ahaziah
in 2 Kings
chapter 1
pick up the
story later
on in your
own time
but Samaria
was the
city where
Ahaziah's
father
Ahab
influenced by
his mother
Jezebel
had built
an altar
and a
house for
Baal
by returning
to Samaria
Elisha was
taking up the
battle against
the false
gods
where Elijah
had left
off
well let me
conclude
our question
is of course
what do we
make of these
two brief
stories that
have occupied
us
for the
last few
minutes
as
Elisha
entered
the land
God had
given to
his people
Elisha
my God
saves
these signs
of God's
rule
accompanied
him
the Lord
is indeed
God
and he
is the
one
who
wounds
and
heals
seek
mercy
from him
as the
men of
Jericho
did
and you'll
find it
mock
his
prophet
as the
young
hooligans
of Bethel
did
and you
will suffer
the consequences
these are
not just
two stories
they're
signs
signs of
God's
kingdom
and the
reality of
God's
kingdom
means that
there really
are only
two ways
there is
either life
under God's
blessing like
the people of
Jericho
or there is
death
under his
judgment
like the
people of
Bethel
and the
miracles of
Elisha
like the
miracles of
Jesus
are signs
of God's
kingdom
they point
to the
message of
the king
what is the
message of
the king
repent
for the
kingdom of
heaven is
at hand
it's
a good
kingdom
it's a
wonderful
kingdom
it's a
magnificent
kingdom
it's a
kingdom of
blessing like
you cannot
get your
head around
it
but this
is serious
friends I
think it's
right for me
at this
point
you know
one of the
things about
coming into
a church
that you
don't know
well
I know
of you
well and I
know some
of you
well but I
don't know
you as a
church well
I don't know
every individual
and I've got
no assumptions
and it's
perfectly
possible in
a church
like this
that there
are people
there might
not be many
there might
be a few
who haven't
done that
yet
who have
not yet
repented
that is
not yet
turned around
and said
no
God's king
is going
to be my
king
tell you
there's
nothing better
the blessings
that come
from God's
king
are wonderful
in this
life
and even
more glorious
in the
life to
come
hear the
message
of the
signs of
the kingdom
the Lord
is king
therefore
repent
and receive
him as
your king
because what
the stories
we've just
followed
in these
last few
moments
must impress
on us
is this
as serious
it's as
serious as
it gets
let's pray
together
just have
a moment
of quiet
please
as we
hear the
message
of
Elisha
my God
saves
has he
saved
you
repent
because the
kingdom of
God is
at hand
heavenly
father we
pray for
each other
we thank
you for
each other
it's so
good to be
together this
weekend in
each other's
company but we
pray for each
other we pray
that each one
of us
each one of
us wherever
we are in
life whatever
life is holding
for us at the
moment it's
anxieties it's
troubles it's
fears it's
hopes it's
joys it's
busyness we
pray that you
just help each
one of us to
repent to
turn away from
evil and to
receive your
wonderful king
the lord jesus
christ we pray
this in his
name
amen
you