Sermon Tone Analysis

Elijah and Elisha 13.

We are drawing near the end of the story of Elijah.

Last time we looked at 2 Kings chapter 1; a story that is not often told.

After chapter one comes ……? Chapter two!

In chapter two there is a story that is often told; Elijah going up to heaven in a whirlwind, passing his mantle onto Elisha.

But there is another mention of Elijah, and it is often overlooked.

And because it is a bit more obscure, and for completeness; I thought that I would deal with it.

The thing is that it is not even found in the book of Kings, but in 2 Chronicles 21 [P] which is unusual – why is that unusual?

I need to give a bit of background in order to explain.

Do you remember this picture from the last time I spoke?

[P] King Ahaziah sent messengers from Israel, to Ekron in Philistia to inquire of their god.

He didn’t send to Judah, which was a nation to the south.

Judah and Israel were, at one time, a single nation.

That nation’s monarchy only lasted 120 years: Saul reigned 40 years, David reigned 40 years and Solomon also ruled 40 years; a total of 120 years.

After that the nation split in two.

Jeroboam split 10 tribes from the 12, forming the nation of Israel; leaving two tribes remaining in the South, the nation of Judah.

Two separate nations.

Elijah lived and prophesied in Israel, the northern nation.

Now, you have to understand that we have 2 accounts of the history of Israel’s monarchy: one in Kings, one in Chronicles.

They cover quite a bit of the same material; but there are some notable differences.

Chronicles was written much later, after Israel returned from exile in Babylonia; some say that it was the work of Ezra.

But it was Judah who returned from exile in Babylonia, not the 10 tribes of Israel; so, for that reason, the book of Chronicles is written from Judah’s perspective.

Whilst the books of Kings record the history of the kings of both Israel and Judah; the book of Chronicles only deals with the kings of Judah.

So, all these stories of Elijah do not appear in Chronicles, because he was a prophet to Israel, not Judah.

Yet Elijah does figure in 2 Chronicles 21; or at least what he wrote does.

And that is unusual too, because, the record of Elijah is all about what he did.

He was a man of action, as were Samuel and Elisha – they weren’t prophets who left their writings behind.

Look at the majority of the prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel; we have what they wrote, books of prophecy.

But 2 Chronicles 21 contains the only written words of the prophet Elijah that we have.

Let’s read the chapter: [2 Chronicles 21:1–20 Then Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers (he was a good king) and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place.

Now when Jehoram had taken over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the rulers of Israel also.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

(he was not a good king.

He murdered his brothers and those who threatened his rule.

He was concerned just with himself making himself secure) He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did (for Ahab’s daughter was his wife), and he did evil in the sight of יהוה.

(This was the lowest ebb of the kingdom of Judah.

Judah was where the worship of יהוה was preserved.

But through Jehoram the corruption of idolatry of Israel infected the nation.

He married Athaliah, Ahab’s daughter.

Through her, Baal worship came into the nation.

She went on to become the only queen Israel ever had, she was also the only monarch not of the dynasty of David.

She almost wiped the line of David out.

If it hadn’t been for Joash being hidden away, the line leading to the Messiah would have been wiped out!

Jesus would not have been able to be born!

This was a satanic attack right at the very heart of יהוה’s plans and purposes!

This was a massive threat to the whole plan of redemption – yet still God is patient, gracious:) Yet יהוה was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.

In his days (that is, Jehoram’s reign) Edom revolted against the rule of Judah and set up a king over themselves.

Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots with him.

And he arose by night and struck down the Edomites who were surrounding him and the commanders of the chariots.

So, Edom revolted against Judah to this day.

Then Libnah revolted at the same time against his rule, (things were turning to custard all around him – why?) because he had forsaken יהוה God of his fathers.

Moreover, he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot and led Judah astray.

(not only did he go astray, he led others into apostasy.

When you lead the innocent into stumbling there is a terrible consequence; there is a warning in [Mark 9:42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.]

And warning from יהוה indeed there came:) Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet saying, “Thus says יהוה God of your father David, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and the ways of Asa king of Judah (good kings), but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, (brothers and sisters, there is a consequence for the way we walk) and have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot as the house of Ahab played the harlot, and you have also killed your brothers, your own family, who were better than you, (accusations of leading into apostasy and of murder – this man was king; but Elijah pulled no punches.

He boldly confronted him with his sin.

Because sin has consequences!)

behold, יהוה is going to strike your people, your sons, your wives and all your possessions with a great calamity; and you will suffer severe sickness, a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the sickness, day by day.’” (not a pleasant death!

A drawn out painful and ignominious death.

There is the written prophecy of Elijah).

Then יהוה stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabs who bordered the Ethiopians; (yet another rebellion, who stirred them up against Israel?

יהוה did!

He is sovereign!

The nations did as He directed them.

Something to bear in mind as we see the posturing of North Korea and USA, and the rise and fall of politicians in our own country) and they came against Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions found in the king’s house together with his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

So, after all this יהוה smote him in his bowels with an incurable sickness.

(why was he sick?

Who smote him in his bowels?

יהוה did!) Now it came about in the course of time, at the end of two years, (two drawn-out years of excruciating, humiliating, disgusting disease and suffering) that his bowels came out because of his sickness and he died in great pain.

(he lost his possessions, he lost his loved ones, he lost his own life, his life ended in agony, ignominy and disgrace) And his people made no fire for him like the fire for his fathers.

He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.]

He died in agony, no one regretted he was gone, no one mourned his death, he died in shame.

There was no honour in his death.

He was not honoured.

People were glad that he was gone.

His life counted for nothing!

It is a tragic picture.

He made a decision which way to walk and had to die with the consequences of that.

Our choices have consequences.

It is a depressing discouraging story; but I want to focus on the message of Elijah.

His message too, is harsh.

It is not a pleasant message.

In fact, when you take the messages of the prophets in the Scriptures, on the whole they are not pleasant words.

But there is a reason!

Why the doom and gloom?

The prophets were a miserable bunch; always telling the people off, kill-joys!

Why were they so harsh?

How would you like to get a letter like that?!

There is a reason; and, if we think about it, we all know it only too well.

How many of you have had children?

Delightful creatures and we love them dearly.

We rejoice in their progress and delight as the begin to explore this world that is new to them.

And inquisitive creatures they are.

As toddlers, they are into everything, and investigate everything around; usually with their mouth.

So, you have to keep your eye on them!

[P] What do you do in a situation like this?!

There is real danger, there could be devastating, life-threatening consequences!

We love them, they are precious to us; so, we lovingly say: “Darling, perhaps you should be careful.

That nasty power-socket could hurt you.

I don’t want to be mean, but your Mummy and I really would prefer if you didn’t do that.