MINISTRY OF ELIJAH
Text: 2 Kings 8:7-29
18 May 2010
(I) MINISTRY OF ELIJAH
1. Some ministries were unfulfilled
2. These would have to be fulfilled
3. God’s word to Elijah (Cf. 1 Kings 19:15-18)
a) The anointing of Hazael
b) The anointing of Jehu
c) The anointing of Elisha
4. Only Elisha had been anointed (Cf. 1 Kings 19:19-21)
(II) MINISTRY OF ELISHA- IN ISRAEL
1. He had already established himself as a prophet of God
2. His ministry was very extensive:-
a) Teaching of the sons of the prophets
b) Special ministry to individuals
c) Special ministry to the king of Israel (a national ministry)
(III) MINISTRY OF ELISHA- OUTSIDE ISRAEL
1. Elisha’s presence in Damascus (2 Kings 8:7)
2. Sending of Hazael to consult with Elisha by Ben-Hadad, king of Syria (2 Kings 8:8)
3. Ben-Hadad’s inquiry
“Shall I recover from this disease?” 2 Kings 8:8
4. Elisha’s enigmatic reply
“You shall certainly recover” 2 Kings 8:10a
“However the LORD has shown me that he will really die.” 2 Kings 8:10b
(IV) CONVERSATION WITH HAZAEL
1. Elisha wept as he looked at Hazael (2 Kings 8:11)
2. Hazael’s inquiry
“Why is my lord weeping?” 2 Kings 8:12a
3. Elisha’s sad answer
a) Hazael would become the next king of Syria (2 Kings 8:13b)
b) He will do great evil against Israel (2 Kings 8:12b)
i) He will set Israel’s strongholds on fire (2 Kings 8:12c)
ii) He will kill many young men (2 Kings 8:12d)
iii) He will kill children too (2 Kings 8:12e)
iv) He will even viciously kill pregnant women (2 Kings 8:12f)
4. Hazael’s protest
a) He protests vehemently (2 Kings 8:13a)
b) He swears that he would never “do this gross thing” (2 Kings 8:13b)
(V) FULFILMENT OF ELISHA’S WORD
1. Hazael reports to Ben-Hadad and says that he would recover from his illness (2 Kings 8:14)
2. Hazael assassinates Ben-Hadad the very next day (2 Kings 8:15)