Today’s passage: 2 Kings 11:1-21

Helpful thoughts:

• Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, didn’t weep when she learned of her son’s death.  She saw opportunity and sought to kill her own family.
  • It comes as no surprise (Though it should be shocking) that Athaliah’s reign included the construction and operation of a temple to Baal.
• Johoiada was the high priest in the Temple during Athaliah’s reign on David’s throne.
  • Little Joash was able to live in the Temple for six years undetected.
  • His survival would have been a secret to the country.  As far as they knew, the line of David was dead and Athaliah was Queen.
• In Deuteronomy 17:18-20, the Lord commanded the kings to write and have their own copy of the Law/Testimony in order to know the Lord and rule in obedience to Him (Verse 12).

Questions to consider:

1. In relation to the way we see political terms in office in our day, what would it have been like to have “Queen Athalia” in charge of Judah, on the throne of David in Jerusalem for six years?  Did God lose control for a little while there?  Has he lost control in the nations of the world today?
2. In what ways was the age of Joash and the need for Jehoiada’s leadership through this “coup” a blessing to Judah?  How did it help to set things right and lead to some repentance?  What was the Lord doing?
3. Was Joash’s copy of the Bible (As far as it had been written then) given to him as a good luck charm?  What would he need to do with it if it was going to help him?  Be encouraged to keep reading and studying God’s Word!  Way to go!

Today’s passage: 2 Kings 10:1-36

Helpful thoughts:

• As long as Ahab’s descendants lived in Israel, they had a right to the throne and Jehu was a criminal on the loose.  Jehu’s only path to victory was to wipe out Ahab’s line.  Therefore, he issued this challenge.
• Once again, the king’s own servants willingly (And gruesomely) executed those in Ahab’s household.
  • Jehu wasn’t yet satisfied however, as he went on to kill all the servants of Ahab’s house in Jezreel, and later in Samaria as well.  He would later be judged for this extra bloodshed (Hosea 1:4).
• Jehu vocalized his own zeal for the Lord, but in reality, he only had zeal to do what the Lord had prophesied in ways that brought him to power.
  • Jehu was content with the amount he knew, with the amount that brought him to power.  Even the destruction of the temple to Baal and those worshippers was a way of eliminating all who were loyal to Ahab.

Questions to consider:

1. Did the willingness of Ahab’s servants to slaughter his descendants truly show a sincere loyalty to Jehu?  What were they truly motivated by (Verse 4)?  Were they following Jehu (Or the Lord’s commands) with their whole heart?
2. Is it always good to feel strongly about something?  Does feeling strongly/passionately about something automatically mean you are right? (Proverbs 19:2)
3. What was Jehu truly passionate about in the end?  What guided his desires and actions?  What does it mean to walk with the Lord will all your heart?  What do we need to know and where do we go to learn it in order to follow the Lord with all our heart (2 Timothy 3:16-17)?

Today’s passage: 2 Kings 9:1-37

Helpful thoughts:

• This prophet under the leadership of Elisha was to go, give the prophecy and get out as fast as possible.  This was a dangerous mission.
  • However, the readiness of the people to revolt against the line of Ahab (And Jezebel) is quite apparent.  Jehoram’s men and even Jezebel’s own personal assistants turn on them at the first opportunity.
• Jezebel called Jehu, “Zimri” to remind him of Zimri’s fate (1 Kings 16:9-20).  She was not speaking kindly or fearfully.  She was mocking him and trying to intimidate him.
• Ahaziah (King of Judah) was also family with the line of Ahab through Athalia his mother.
  • The next chapters will show a great threat to the Davidic line in Judah.

Questions to consider:

1. So far, what does it look like God is doing through Jehu, the new king of Israel?  What might we expect from him once he has confirmed the throne?  Do you think he will follow the Lord as he has seen these prophecies fulfilled?
2. Knowing the spiritual condition of the northern kingdom of Israel, do you think that Jehu and his men were eager to follow the Lord upon hearing of this anointing or was their readiness to act more closely tied to their hatred of the king and the line of Ahab/Jezebel?
3. How does Jezebel’s taunting of Jehu and her own assistant’s actions, along with the fact that no one stopped the dogs from eating her dead body, show us about her attitude and actions?  How did she see herself?  How must she have seen and treated others?  How would God want us to treat other people?  For whom do they exist?

Today’s passage: 2 Kings 8:1-29

Helpful thoughts:

• Elisha was not being dishonest in verse 10.  Ben-Hadad did not die of his sickness, he was murdered.
• There was a Jehoram as king of Israel and as king of Judah at the same time.  The name “Joram” is used for both as well.
  • Their name was not the only thing they had in common.  Jehoram of Judah lived and ruled like a king from Samaria.
• Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel.  She became the wife of Jehoram/Joram in Judah and also the mother of the next king, Ahaziah.
  • She influenced these kings of Judah, her husband and son, in the same way Jezebel had influenced Ahab.

Questions to consider:

1. In a book which records much disobedience and discipline, how does the narrative of this woman differ (Verses 1-6)?  What did she do when Elisha gave her this instruction?  Whom did God use to make things right when she returned?  Is anything too hard for the Lord?
2. Read 2 Chronicles 22:10-12.  What did Athaliah do in order to rule over Judah herself?  Whom did she seek to kill, what relation were the heirs to the throne?  What relation was her own son to our Savior (As a prince of Judah and descendant of David)?  In what way did she go even beyond the wickedness of Jezebel?
3. Even though we might see the kings of Israel and of Judah as being separated from each other, what is true of them at this point?  How closely are they related?  How would/did these family connections push the kings of Judah away from their Davidic ancestry?

Today’s passage: 2 Kings 6:24-7:20

Helpful thoughts:

• Elisha was praised when the Syrian raiders were captured in Samaria, and hated in the time of famine.
  • Of course, it wasn’t Elisha that was hated as much as it would have been his God.  Even if King Jehoram had focused his anger on God’s prophet, God was the one in sovereign control.
  • When we are angry with our circumstances, we are angry first at God.
• The Lord’s power is on display again as not a single fight broke out in this battle.  Syria fled without any effort on the part of Israel.
  • They were helpless and hopeless on their own.  Our God is a God of salvation.

Questions to consider:

1. Why was King Jehoram’s complaint truly against the Lord?  When things don’t seem to be going the “right” way in our lives, what must we remember?
2. When any “trouble” comes from the Lord, what is our right response?  To whom should we cry and in what way?  What should the king’s sackcloth have represented first, Israel’s hunger or their need for repentance?
3. What does the church need the most?  What does the Lord desire of our hearts and then our actions?

Today’s passage: 2 Kings 6:1-23

Helpful thoughts:

• The miracle of the floating ax head took place while the prophets under the tutelage of Elisha were building a bigger setting for their instruction.
• By calling Elisha, “My father” King Jehoram was indicating he was now well aware of who held the most power in Israel.
• These raiders would not continue their raiding in Israel, but in tomorrow’s passage we will see a more formal attack attempted by the Syrian king.

Questions to consider:

1. What is significant of Elisha’s request to have the young man’s eyes opened?  Did the angel army come at their request or had they already been there?  Why were those angels there already?
2. Is God fighting our battles for us, or are we on God’s side and therefore His battles are our battles, and our battles His?  Why is this distinction so important?
3. Why can it be so easy to forget about the work of angels around us?  If you were an angel that was spending a great deal of time working around and for you, what growth would you be encouraged to see?

Today’s passage: 2 Kings 5:1-27

Helpful thoughts:

• The king of Syria would not have attributed Naaman’s victories to the Lord.  But, in truth, it was the Lord who sovereignly gave Naaman these victories.
  • God does not only pay attention to the Jews or to Christians.  He is the God of all creation and His Kingdom will consist of saints from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
• After his healing, Naaman the Syrian was one of the only people in Israel who only believed in the one true God.
  • Elisha, desiring to set himself apart from other “prophets” would not accept anything in return from Naaman.  He wasn’t in a “business” for profits.
• It was believed that a person could only truly worship a god of any nation on that nation’s soil.  Naaman wanted to take some Israel back to Damascus so that he could worship the Lord.
  • Naaman’s position required he assist with the king’s pagan idolatry.  He would not be worshiping in his own right and did not want his duties to be misconstrued as divided loyalty.

Questions to consider:

1. How would the false doctrine of only being able to worship the gods of a particular nation when on their soil have impacted worship in that day and region?  Why do you think that false doctrine ever emerged?  What would it prevent the nations from doing?  What happens when patriotism gets mixed with false worship?
2. Gehazi decided he would try to take something from Naaman behind Elisha’s back.  What did he actually receive?  Why were Gehazi’s actions wrong?  How could he have impacted Elisha’s testimony and the ministry of the Lord if they were acting like the other false prophets who were in it for the money?
3. What is the irony of this narrative?  Compare and contrast the beginnings and endings of Naaman and Gehazi.

Today’s passage: 2 Kings 4:18-44

Helpful thoughts:

• The husband’s question in verse 23 may be an indication that his wife had not told him their boy had died.
  • He could not think of a reason for her to go to Elisha when it wasn’t their typical practice.  Like going to Church on a Tuesday…
• The scene from verse 34 is just like that of Elijah in 1 Kings 17:17-24.
• The miracle of feeding these hundred men and having food left over set a precedent for similar miracles performed by the Messiah!

Questions to consider:

1. What was the point of all three of these miracles?  Was there a flaunting of power or more a care for people?
2. Why do you think Gehazi was not able to see the boy healed before Elisha arrived?  What was the purpose of the Lord using Elisha specifically to heal the boy?  Whom did the Lord choose to speak to His people through specifically at this time?
3. What was the purpose of Jesus’ miracles?  Were the miracles the greatest part, or did they point to something more important?  What do they prove?

Today’s passage: 2 Kings 4:1-17

Helpful thoughts:

• Today’s reading shows us two of the miracles God did during the ministry of Elisha.
• The Old Testament Law allowed for debtors to sell themselves into slavery for six years maximum (Deuteronomy 15:12-18).  This was much different than the sinful slavery that we know from our nation’s history.
• Many people have started “Prophet’s Chambers” ministries based off of this notable woman’s and her husband’s kindness to Elisha.

Questions to consider:

1. Some might be tempted to say the application from the miracle of the oil would be to prepare as many vessels as you can. Meaning, if the woman had more vessels (More faith) she would have received more blessing.  Why wouldn’t this be a right application?  Does the historical record of God doing a miracle for a woman and her children at that time automatically mean He intends to do the very same miracle and more for anyone and everyone who’s willing to obtain enough “vessels” today?
2. What was Elisha doing for Gehazi throughout this time?  What would Gehazi’s involvement and interaction with people prepare him to do when Elisha was no longer serving?  How was Gehazi’s service also his training?
3. How did the woman respond to the promise of a child?  (Psalm 127:3-5)