4/24/2011 7:58:27 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: The God who shows mercy
Bible Reading
& Meditation Reference: 2Kings 6:18-23
Message of the verses: “18
When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said,
"Strike this people with blindness, I pray." So He struck them with
blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19
Then Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, nor is this the
city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he
brought them to Samaria. 20 When they
had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "O LORD, open the eyes of these men,
that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw; and
behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21
Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, "My
father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?" 22 He answered, "You shall not kill them.
Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set
bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their
master." 23 So he prepared a great
feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they
went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again
into the land of Israel.”
Elisha
had just asked the Lord to open the eyes of his young servant, and now he asks
the Lord to cloud the eyes of these soldiers who were sent to kill him. I believe that it is the Lord who prompted
Elisha to pray the way that he did both times here and so it was the Lord who
would answer Elisha’s prayer. In the
ninth chapter of Daniel the prophet prayed about things that were already
written in the Word of God, that God would honor His Word. Did Daniel have to pray that what God had
already promised to come about? I don’t
think so, but when one gets to know Daniel and this can be done by reading his
book, one realizes that this is the way that Daniel operated, and it is also a
wonderful example for me to follow too.
God graciously allows His servants to be a part of His plan by praying,
and praying the Scriptures is a good way to pray.
Elisha
leads the soldiers into the capital city of Samaria right to the king and then
they can see where they are. Of course
this evil, double minded king wants to kill them, but Elisha convinces the king
that they are his guests and that he should feed them. Dr. Wiersbe points out that this meal with
them is actually making a covenant with them and so when they go back home to
their king the raiding parties stop coming into Israel. Proverbs 25:21-22 reads as follows: “21
¶ If your enemy is hungry, give him food
to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22 For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And the LORD will reward you.” Paul
repeats this verse in Romans 12:20-21, and this is exactly what Elisha had the
king do for these soldiers. It must have
made a great impression on the soldiers and also the king.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: This is a great example for me as a believer
in Jesus Christ to follow. Showing
kindness is never the wrong thing to do even though at times the outcome is not
exactly what one desires, but still it is the best thing to do.
My Steps of
Faith for Today:
1.
Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted,
forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
2.
Continue to seek to learn contentment.
3.
Remember the battle rages on and I am in need of the
spiritual armor so that I can stand.
4/24/2011 8:24:09 AM
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