Elements of this chapter form the basis for language in Isaiah 49

We should be aware that elements of the history of Israel recorded in the historical books often form the basis for later teaching.

(With this version, it would have been a long stick or the axe head was fairly close to the shore). Either way, effort was required.

V.30 All this time Elisha was living in the city, still a trusted councillor, but the plight of the city and the sorry story of a woman he had just heard brought Joram to a decision.(V.31) Joram had reckoned without the hand of God. Not only was Elisha aware of the king's intention, but he was also ready with the news of the raising of the siege. Even to such a king, "son of a murderer" (v.32) as Elisha described him, was granted deliverance by the hand of God.

V.13 The incident at Dothan shows to us that what we see with the eye of objective reality is not the complete picture.  If we had the veil of sight lifted, then we would see the glorious reality of Yahweh at work.  One day this shall be so, but until then we must try to elevate our view to that of faith rather than sight. 

Dothan is about eleven miles north-east of Samaria, and so it was quite a journey to lead the blind.  Dothan is where Joseph sought his brothers before being hustled off to Egypt (Gen 37:17).  His brothers were blinded as to Yahweh's purpose with Joseph, and it took a time and a journey (to Egypt) before they received their sight.

V.24 The siege of Samaria was a terrible occurrence.  It shows how, even in the best regulated and lawful societies, human nature can deteriorate to its base behavior. 

V.25 The expression dove's dung does not refer to a bird's excrement but rather to a rough pulse which could have been made from peas, lentils, or other available seeds. A cab is equivalent to 2 imperial quarts, or 1.9 liters. 

Just to show the exorbitant prices being asked for items during the siege, at today's prices: an ass's head cost $517, while a fourth part of a cab of pulse cost $8. 

Vs. 28,29 Cannibalism, in the face of starvation, is a startling example of how easily a close society can breakdown under extreme pressure.

V.32 Although the name of the king is not revealed in this incident, it is Jehoram.  The clue is where Elisha mentions the king as this son of a murderer, a reference to Ahab, Jehoram's father. 

6:4,8  Notice ‘Jordan’ – the river that Naaman as to wash in and ‘the king of Syria’ – Naaman’s lord. There are threads running through these chapters which link together the seeming unconnected events.

V.21 The King of Israel, Jehoram, called Elisha father.  Later Joash would do the same (2Kin 13:14). Indeed, Elijah was called father by Elisha himself (2Kin 2:12). 

This appellation seems at odds with the interdiction of Jesus (Matt 23:9).  However, if seen in perspective, it is not contradictory.  Jesus' comment in Matt 23:9 is part of a tirade against the Pharisees (Matt 23:2-33).  Jesus accused them of being hypocrites and false leaders, and warned his disciples not to recognize them as true spiritual representatives.  (The warning extends to all subsequent false leaders also). 

On the other hand, Elijah and Elisha were true representatives of Yahweh.  Thus, they acted as spiritual fathers and were identified as such.

6:22-23 Israel were delivered from their enemy and their enemy was also delivered. God is not concerned to destroy men but to save them. Isa 49:25 – uses similar language and ideas to speak of the deliverance of Israel from the hand of their enemies and ultimate deliverance.

The King was absolutely right when he said "Surely this calamity is from the LORD!" (v33). It had appeared in prophecy in exact detail, see Deut 28:52-55. So even though he was angry enough to want to kill Elisha (v31) it shows that he was on the right track, the track to repentance. This was the reason God brought catastrophy upon Israel in the first place, as we can read in Deut 28. He wanted them to turn back to Him. The fact that the King was wearing sack-cloth further demonstrates his state of mind (v30).

When we see others angry at God, we shouldn't fear the worst. Someone who is angry at God at least believes God is working in his life, and may be at the very point of repentance. Job is a good example of someone who was angry in his afflictions, yet learned from it.

6:1 That the place was too small for the sons of the prophets is taken up by the prophet – Isa 49:20 – to speak of the increase of the disciples of Jesus.

V.6 Elisha, like Elijah before him, was a type of Christ.  Therefore, we should expect to learn something about Jesus through Elisha's dealings.  In the example shown here, there are two components: a stick (branch of a tree); and iron.  

Throwing a branch in the water was not necessary for Elisha to make the iron axe-head float.  He was illustrating a point.  Because of sin, human beings are under the weight (iron) of death (Psa 107:10). 

But, Jesus lifted that burden (i.e. iron floated) by His sacrifice on the cross (i.e. from a tree).  Moreover, He was endorsed as the promised Branch by other prophets (Isa 11:1;Jer 23:5,15; Zech 3:8,12).

6:11-12 Isn’t it interesting that the Syrians realised that the prophet of God could know what they were doing? Clearly they had some awareness of the powers of Yahweh.

V.15 We are equivalent to the servant of Elisha.  Elisha is a Christ-type and we are the servants of Jesus.  Like the servant of Elisha, we are limited in our understanding.  Elisha’s servant was shown a reality that exists, but which cannot be seen with human faculties. 

Let us remember that this divine reality is being played out before us.  We believe that angels attend us (Psa 34:7; Heb 1:14).  And yet, we do not see them during their activities.  Nevertheless, they really are present.  If our eyes were to be opened, like Elijah’s servant, we would actually see our angel at work.  Right now, we rest on our faith, but in the Kingdom, we shall see all (1Cor 13:12).

That Yahweh's angel attends us should give us encouragement and confidence in the knowledge that we are not alone.  By the same token, seeing that our angel is actually present with us, would we really want to do that questionable activity, in plain view of him?

V.31 Jehoram was mad at Elijah.  Maybe he thought Elijah was responsible for the conditions in Samaria. At least, having demonstrated divine power, Jehoram wondered why Elisha would not put a stop to the horrible circumstances.

6:23  One might have thought that slaying the Syrian captives would have removed the threat of Syrian invasion but no. It was the mercy of the king in letting them go that caused the Syrians to not come against Israel. A soft answer turneth away wrath – Prov 15:1 - so said the wise man.

David Simpson had some interesting 2004 comments re the resurrection.

 2Kin 6:2 - "beam" [Heb. "qorah" (6982) means "beam, rafter", etc.] is used with the implication rafters/beams will be used to build a dwelling place - the same word "beam" (6982) is used in V.5 which suggests a tree.

2Kin 6:4-7 - V4 mentions cutting down "wood" [Heb. "ets" (6086) means "wood, stick, tree, gallows", etc.] and V6 mentions a "stick" using the same Heb. word "ets" (6086) perhaps suggesting the cross which made the "borrowed iron axhead" (time in one's life is borrowed from God); V6 "swim" [Heb. "tsuph" (6687) means "float, swim"]. We have metal sinking in water (the burial of life?) and wood (the cross, Christ's sacrifice?) is thrown in by "Eisha" (a possible echo of Christ) and the metal rises to the surface to be lifted out (resurrection?) of the grave.

2Kin 6:13 - "Dothan" (1886) means "two wells" - could this echo the saving Word/living water of God for Israel and for Judah, or the saving Word/living water of God for Jews and for Gentiles?

 2Kin 6:17,18,20 - the servant's eyes had been blind and were opened then the Gentiles eyes were blinded and V.20 become opened. 2Kin 6:21-22 - both Jew and Gentile (perhaps an echo of being in captivity to sin and death) are spared/saved.

2Kin 6:23 - a great feast is prepared with eating and drinking (echo of the memorial feast?). 2Kin 6:25 - could this echo a spiritual famine in Israel? 2Kin 6:27  - "barnfloor" [Heb. "goren" (1637) means "threshing floor" - perhaps suggesting bread?] and mention of a "winepress" (echo of the memorial feast?).

2Kin 6:29 - we have the son eaten but a son also lives on (is this an echo of  "Take, eat: this is my body...as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" - 1Cor 11:24,26 - ?) not unlike Christ who escaped from death.

Again more links with Deuteronomy 28

V.15 "the perfection of beauty." The quotation is from Psa 48 "beautiful for situation (lifted up, exulted Zech 14:10; , Psa 68:15-16) is mount Zion; the city of the great king." As always, God's enemies see only the present and fail to comprehend the vast changes to be wrought in the future; as guaranteed by God; such as the exaltation of mount Zion and Jerusalem in the Millenial Age. Isa 2:2-4;, Isa 24:23

Vs.20,21 As with the siege of Samaria, human behavior during the siege of Jerusalem was equally depraved.  Young and old slain, their bodies left to rot in the streets; priests and prophets slaughtered in the sanctuary; mothers eating their children.  

Like its destruction in 587 BC, Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD was equally dire, when over one million Jews were slaughtered.  And so as we read Lamentations, we could be thinking about the final catastrophe which will occur in Jerusalem.  At that time, Jesus, and His saints, will intervene to save it (Zech 14:2). 

Throughout this chapter Jeremiah recounts how God has punished Judah.  The Lord has brought these dreadful conditions onto His special people. They must realise that their sin has been in their religion. They must listen to God in the future.  But do they?

2:1  Zion is covered with a cloud in God’s anger. In the past there had been a cloud of glory when Solomon dedicated the very temple – 1Chron 5:14  - which was destroyed before Jeremiah’s eyes.

V.14 The visions of the prophets were false and they did not warn the population against its sin.  The proverb rings true that without a (true) vision the people will die (Prov 29:18). 

We have the same responsibility to warn our brothers and sisters, whether individually or communally.  That is the role of a true watchman (Eze 33:1-6).

2:8The line stretched over Zion that Jeremiah speaks of here is the fulfillment of what God said to Manasseh – 2Kin 21:13

V.1 His footstool (KJV) refers to the ark.  Yahweh was so angry that the temple had to be destroyed, along with its accoutrements. 

The ark, also, represents Christ.  But, because Jesus always pleased His Father, He was never destroyed (Matt 3:17).  True believers are part of Jesus, and as such, are part of the ark.  If they please Yahweh, by keeping His commandments, they too will never be destroyed (1Tim 6:12). 

2:1 God had already spoken of Jerusalem as part of His footstool – Isa 66:1 so Jeremiah makes God’s comment in Isaiah more personal.

V.6 The violent taking away of the tabernacle is likened to that of a garden.  All gardens and vineyards in the Ancient Near East were hedged, or had walls around them.  These hedges or walls were put there to protect the garden.  Once they were taken away it meant that the garden was vulnerable to being destroyed. The garden figure was used to show that when Jerusalem’s defences were taken away, the city was destroyed (Isa 5:5). See vs.7-9.

2:2,3,4,5,6,8 Notice how Jeremiah recognises that all Jerusalem’s problems are of God.

This verse links up very well with Luke 18v18, where the ruler asked Jesus what he could do to "inherit" eternal life. Paul says that this is impossible, because "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God". It doesn't matter how good our flesh is. It doesn't matter if our flesh keeps all the commandments of God, or loves our neighbour as ourself. What is needed is to die to the flesh, and start again with the spirit (46-49). Paul says that we were born first of Adam, and therefore bore his image (or nature), but likewise we can be reborn in the image of Christ, by putting on his nature (v49). The advice of Jesus to the ruler was to give up everything he had, and come, follow him.

Christ's resurrection rests on the evidence of many eye witnesses, including Paul himself, and is the great fact preached as the groundwork of the Gospel: They who deny the resurrection in general, must deny Christ, and as the consequence of the latter will be, that the followers of Christ's preaching and faith are vain.(v.2) 

V.29 There are a couple of passages in this chapter which should be clarified. The expression baptized for the dead is believed by some groups to be an opportunity to ensure the salvation of those who have died by being baptized for them as a substitute.  This is a highly heretical error. 

All examples in the scripture of baptism are by individuals for the salvation of themselves and no one else.  Baptized for the dead is a reference to those believers who have died and who are now being replaced by new believers. 

Paul is saying that if the old believers are not going to rise from the dead, then what is the point of the new believers being baptized, because they are not going to be resurrected either.  But, of course, the thrust of Paul's thesis is that all baptized believers will surely be raised.

V.52 Then we read: and the dead shall be raised incorruptible.  This appears that the dead will emerge from the ground already in a immortal state.  But, that clause is followed by: and we shall be changed. 

The point of Paul's argument is that the chosen shall be raised and then changed to incorruptibility (Immortality). This is dependent upon acceptance at the judgement seat at which we must all stand (Rom 14:10). 

If we were automatically raised to immortality, then why would we need to appear at the judgement seat?

1Cor 15:15,19 - The disciples preached that God raised Christ from the dead. Paul noted that if they were wrong about Christ's resurrection then there is no hope for anyone to be resurrected (including themselves) and thus the remark that they are to be pitied as all these written accounts of the resurrection were authored by people not paid and in fact persecuted (often killed) for their beliefs. Incidentally, if Christ was not resurrected, why was an occupied tomb not produced?

V.33 - To avoid corruption we should do our best to surround ourselves with positive godly influences. With unprofitable influences a click away on the internet, movies, TV, and company that can divert us from serving God, etc. there is plenty of temptation to pick and choose in this age of information/communication.

15:45 The contrast between Adam – ‘a living soul’ and Jesus ‘a life giving spirit’ is in the abilities of the person named. Adam could only confer on his children his own nature Genesis 5:3 whereas the risen Jesus can confer eternal life on his children.

15:54 The swallowing up of death in victory’ is a quotation from Isa 25:8.

V.2 Paul's statement is a poignant reminder that just believing the Gospel message is not sufficient for salvation. A faithful maintenance of life in Christ is required - or as Paul puts it elsewhere: ...if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel (Col 1:23).

15:33 Do we really take this to heart ourselves? Or do we not take care about the company which we keep?

15:2 If we ever needed to have proof that not believing in, or misunderstanding the resurrection left believers ‘without hope’ here we have it!

HELL - part 2 of 2 [lesson 10 of 20 gleaned from "Outline of Basic Bible Teachings" by Wes Booker (for part 1 see October 26, Acts 20]

II. Hell in the New Testament. Three words (Hades, Tartarus, Gehenna) are translated as "hell".

     A. HADES, like SHEOL, simply means "the grave".   1.) Compare the following parallels - 1Cor 15:55 and Hos 13:14; Matt 16:18 and Isa 38:10; Acts 2:27 and Psa 16:10    2.) Though all go to Hades, the hope of the righteous is to be redeemed through resurrection - Hos 13:14;Isa 26:19;Dan 12:2-3;1Thess 4:13-16;Phil 3:8-11;Psa 49:15 (see Psa 17:15;71:20).   3.) Jesus Christ will liberate the righteous of all ages from sheol or hades - John 5:25-29;11:25-26;6:38,40;1Cor 15:20-23;Rev 20:13

     B. TARTARUS = the pit. Tartaroo (derived from tartarus) occurs only once, in 2Pet 2:4 (compare with Num 16:29-32). It signifies to cast into Tartarus. This verse may refer to the destruction of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in Num 16.

     C. GEHENNA = the valley of Hinnom. It is a Greek word which represents the Hebrew 'Ge-Hinnon' (the valley of Tophet), a contraction of 'Son of Hinnon'.   1.) It refers to a valley to the south of Jerusalem where the Israelites sacrificed their children to Molech in accordance with heathen practice - Josh 15:8;2Chron 33:6;Jer 7:30-31;32:35     2.) The valley was desecrated by Josiah in 2Kin 23:10   3.) After the practice of child sacrifice was stopped by Josiah, the valley was turned into a city dump. Fires were kept burning constantly to consume the rubbish and prevent pestilence. The carcases of animals and criminals crucified under Roman law were cast there as a further sign of shame. Worms were ever present, feeding on the carcases that escaped the fire. This valley, associated with the consummation of man's wickedness, becomes the appropriate symbol of divine judgment in the time of Christ. Gehenna is the only word that is translated "hell" with which fire is associated. It represents a judicial judgment to be rendered to the wicked - Mark 9:43-48;Matt 5:29-30   4.) The valley will be used in the latter days to receive the carcases of the unrepentant rebels against God - Isa 66:20-24;30:33;Jer 31:40

Vs.23-28 Paul provides a synopsis of events that will occur when the Lord Jesus returns to the earth.

When Jesus returns:

-He will set up His Kingdom and rule the earth from Jerusalem (Dan 2:44; Mic 4:2).

-He will put down those who oppose Him (Psa 2:9).

-Then a reign of peace and prosperity will ensue (Psa 72:16; Isa 11:1-9; Zech 8:4,5).

-Towards the end of the Kingdom age, a rebellion will occur that shall be quashed (Rev 7:10).

-A judgement will be made on those mortals who have lived during through the Kingdom period (Rev 20:11-13,15).

-Those accepted by the Lord will be immortalized and join the saints who were immortalized before the Kingdom age began.

-At this point Jesus will hand back the throne to His Father (v.24).

-Then the last enemy, death, will be destroyed (v.26).

-Then Jesus and the immortalized saints shall all be subject to God (v.28).

-Thus, the state of God-manifestation will be achieved for eternity.

15:19  Whilst this statement might seem to contradict what we might think of a life as a believer it in reality is so. If Jesus did not rise then we have no hope and all our actions in trying to be like the Jesus of the Bible are pointless. In comparison to other en we put ourselves in a disadvantaged position. We seek the benefit of others rather than ourselves and are willing to suffer wrong. All of this is pointless if Christ did not rise. That is the point that Paul is making.

THE BIGGEST NEED

What should we give people to take away from their time with us at church?

The trend that seems to be developing among many Christian groups is one that leads toward entertainment. Many groups provide the popular music, entertaining speakers, interactive programmes and drama. All of this is good because it encourages people to come along for the enjoyment, but if it is left at that, it doesn't necessarily fill the needs people have.

Some groups focus on the humanity of people and reach out to help with soup kitchens, fundraising ventures, collections for the needy, councilling and self-help classes. Again all of these are needed, but by themselves do not fill the greatest need we as humans have.

Some groups focus on Bible teaching, reading and study. They hold Bible classes, examine themes through the Scriptures, and learn the history and doctrines of the Bible. But again, the intellectual learning in itself will not fill the hole that God has put inside us.

Paul said, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was burried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." (1Cor 15:3-4) We need hope! We need to know that we can be forgiven! We need to know that the price for our sins was paid and that death is no longer our master. We need to know God's love for us. This is all shown in this simple gospel message shared by Paul.

Let us make sure that in whatever way we use to help spread the gospel, we pass on the hope, the message of forgiveness and salvation that has been offered through Christ.