2 Kings 1

When we're tempted to live more selfishly than that, it's so easy, isn't it, just to make ourselves forget that God says that in his word, to avoid God's word.

But 2 Kings 1 shows us you can't avoid God's word.

But with that warning, there's also real encouragement there for the faithful people of God who do love his word.

And that's our second lesson.

Their only hope is to run to Jesus.

And all around us we face such pressure, don't we, not to speak God's word about Jesus to others.

And 2 Kings 1 encourages us, whatever pressures we would face, legal restrictions or just enormous social pressure, the pressure of, well, if I speak about my faith, I'm just going to get ridiculed.

I'm going to get mocked.

There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land.

The people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations that Yahweh had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Kings 17.10 says, From every watchtower to every fortified city, they built themselves high places in every place they lived.

They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree.

At every high place, they burned incense as the nations whom Yahweh had driven out before them had done.

Even before Elisha possesses miraculous powers, he uses his own resources to feed others.

This anticipates the two food miracles narrated together in Second Kings four, verses thirty-eight to forty-four, the healing of the poisoned food and the multiplication of the food.

In the first story, Elisha says, "Sak la'am v'yochelu," serve it to the people and let them eat.

Even more striking is the wording in the story that follows immediately afterward, in which Elisha twice commands, "Ten la'am v'yochelu," give it to the people and let them eat.

As the story develops, Elisha occupies more and more narrative space, while Elijah gradually fades into the background.

The format of the story therefore anticipates the larger transition from Elijah to Elisha.

Finally, Elisha's eagerness here anticipates his determination in Second Kings two.

There, he repeatedly refuses to leave Elijah and insists on accompanying him to the very end.

They were special feasts on the first day of the month, Numbers chapter ten, verse ten, and were celebrated by sacrifices, Numbers chapter twenty-eight, verses eleven to fifteen.

Among the ten tribes, it was regarded as the time suitable to go to the prophets for instruction, Second Kings chapter four, verses twenty-three.

Three, the annual feasts.

There were several of these.

Exodus chapter twenty to First Samuel chapter thirty-one, from the giving of the law to the reign of David.

Five: the Davidic Age.

Second Samuel chapter one to Second Kings chapter twenty-five, from David's ascension to the throne to the restoration.

Six: the Ezraitic Age.