As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Please strike these people with blindness." So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha. As the Arameans came down against himThe Arameans, also known as the Syrians, were frequent adversaries of Israel during the time of the divided kingdom. This phrase sets the scene for a military confrontation. The Arameans were likely coming from the north, as their capital was Damascus. Historically, the Arameans were a powerful group, often clashing with Israel over territory and influence. This context highlights the constant threat Israel faced from surrounding nations, emphasizing the need for divine intervention. Elisha prayed to the LORD
Elisha, the successor of Elijah, was a prophet known for his miracles and close relationship with God. His immediate response to pray underscores the importance of seeking divine guidance and intervention in times of crisis. This act of prayer reflects a deep trust in God's power and willingness to act on behalf of His people. Elisha's reliance on prayer serves as a model for believers, illustrating the power of prayer in overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges. “Please strike these people with blindness.”
Elisha's specific request for blindness is significant. In biblical terms, blindness often symbolizes spiritual ignorance or a lack of understanding. By asking for physical blindness, Elisha is effectively neutralizing the threat without resorting to violence. This request demonstrates the prophet's wisdom and reliance on God's power to protect His people in a non-lethal manner. It also foreshadows the New Testament theme of spiritual blindness and the need for divine revelation to see the truth. So He struck them with blindness
God's immediate response to Elisha's prayer highlights His sovereignty and willingness to act on behalf of His servants. This divine intervention serves as a testament to God's power and the authority granted to His prophets. The miraculous nature of this event underscores the reality of God's involvement in the affairs of His people and His ability to alter the natural order to fulfill His purposes. according to the word of Elisha
The phrase emphasizes the authority and prophetic power vested in Elisha. It shows that God honors the words of His prophets, fulfilling their requests when they align with His will. This connection between the prophet's word and God's action is a recurring theme in Scripture, illustrating the close relationship between God and His chosen messengers. It also points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's word through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, who has authority over all creation. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God, successor to Elijah, known for his miracles and deep relationship with God. In this passage, he demonstrates his reliance on God through prayer. 2. ArameansA group of people from Aram (modern-day Syria), often in conflict with Israel. Here, they are attempting to capture Elisha. 3. DothanThe city where Elisha was staying when the Arameans surrounded it. It is significant as a place of divine intervention. 4. BlindnessA miraculous condition inflicted upon the Arameans, symbolizing both physical and spiritual blindness. 5. The LORDThe God of Israel, who answers Elisha's prayer and demonstrates His power and protection over His people. Teaching Points Reliance on PrayerElisha's immediate response to danger was prayer, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's intervention in our lives. Divine ProtectionGod's ability to protect His people is evident. Believers can trust in God's power to shield them from harm. Spiritual BlindnessThe physical blindness of the Arameans serves as a metaphor for spiritual blindness. We must seek spiritual sight through Christ. God's SovereigntyThe passage underscores God's control over all situations, encouraging believers to trust in His plans and purposes. Faith in ActionElisha's faith led to miraculous outcomes. Our faith should also lead us to act in accordance with God's will. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Elisha's response to the Aramean threat challenge us to respond to our own challenges today? 2. In what ways can we experience and recognize God's protection in our daily lives? 3. How does the concept of spiritual blindness apply to our understanding of faith and salvation? 4. What are some practical ways we can cultivate a prayer life that reflects Elisha's reliance on God? 5. How can we apply the lesson of God's sovereignty in this passage to situations where we feel out of control? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 19The blinding of the men of Sodom parallels the divine intervention to protect God's people. Acts 9Saul's temporary blindness on the road to Damascus serves as a spiritual awakening, similar to the Arameans' experience. Psalm 34:7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, illustrating divine protection as seen in Elisha's situation. John 9The healing of the blind man by Jesus highlights the theme of spiritual sight versus blindness. People Aram, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Elisha, Shaphat, SyriansPlaces Dothan, Jordan River, Samaria, SyriaTopics Accordance, Aramaeans, Blind, Blindness, Elisha, Eli'sha, Elisha's, Nation, Please, Prayed, Prayer, Prayeth, Request, Saying, Smite, Smiteth, Smote, Strike, Struck, SyriansDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 6:18 5296 disabilities 2 Kings 6:17-18 5134 blindness, natural 2 Kings 6:18-23 1416 miracles, nature of Library Young Man! a Prayer for You
THIS YOUNG MAN waited upon a prophet: he could not have had a more instructive occupation; yet his eyes needed to be opened. He was well disposed towards good things, for the tone of his language to his master shows that he was heartily at one with him; but his eyes were not yet half opened. Being in great alarm for his master's safety, he ran to him to warn him: good servants should be their master's best friends. In return, his believing master prays for him. If we desire the good of our servants, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891Of the Practice of Piety in Fasting.
There are divers kinds of fasting--First, A constrained fast, as when men either have not food to eat, as in the famine of Samaria (2 Kings vi. 25;) or, having food, cannot eat it for heaviness or sickness, as it befel them who were in the ship with St. Paul (Acts xxvii. 33.) This is rather famine than fasting. Secondly, A natural fast, which we undertake physically, for the health of our body. Thirdly, A civil fast, which the magistrate enjoins for the better maintenance of the commonwealth. Fourthly, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Whether a Mann is Bound to Correct his Prelate?
Objection 1: It would seem that no man is bound to correct his prelate. For it is written (Ex. 19:12): "The beast that shall touch the mount shall be stoned," [*Vulg.: 'Everyone that shall touch the mount, dying he shall die.'] and (2 Kings 6:7) it is related that the Lord struck Oza for touching the ark. Now the mount and the ark signify our prelates. Therefore prelates should not be corrected by their subjects. Objection 2: Further, a gloss on Gal. 2:11, "I withstood him to the face," adds: "as …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The Absolute Godhood of God is Seen in Administration
God not only created everything, but everything which He created is subject to His immediate control. God rules over the works of His hands. God governs the creatures He has made. God reigns with universal dominion. When He pleased, the sun and moon stood still (Josh. 10:12, 13); and at a word from Him the sun went backward ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz (Is. 38:8). At His command the Red Sea ceased to flow, and at His command it resumed its normal course (Ex. 14). In response to the prayer of Elisha, …
Arthur W. Pink—The Godhood of God The Christian Convert Warned Of, and Animated against those Discouragements which He must Expect to Meet when Entering on a Religious Course.
1. Christ has instructed his disciples to expect opposition and difficulties in the way to heaven.--2. Therefore a more particular view of them is taken, as arising from the remainder of indwelling sin.--3. From the world, and especially from former sinful companions.--4. From the temptations and suggest ions of Satan.--5, 6. The Christian is animated and encouraged, by various considerations, to oppose them; particularly by the presence of God; the aids of Christ; the example of others, who, though …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul In the Creation of the World, and all Things in It, the True God Distinguished by Certain Marks from Fictitious Gods.
1. The mere fact of creation should lead us to acknowledge God, but to prevent our falling away to Gentile fictions, God has been pleased to furnish a history of the creation. An impious objection, Why the world was not created sooner? Answer to it. Shrewd saying of an old man. 2. For the same reason, the world was created, not in an instant, but in six days. The order of creation described, showing that Adam was not created until God had, with infinite goodness made ample provision for him. 3. The …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Helpless State of the Sinner under Condemnation.
1, 2. The sinner urged to consider how he can be saved from this impending ruin.--3. Not by any thing he can offer.--4. Nor by any thing he can endure.--5. Nor by any thing hr can do in the course of future duty.--6-8. Nor by any alliance with fellow-sinners on earth or in hell.--9. Nor by any interposition or intercession of angels or saints in his favor. Hint of the only method to be afterwards more largely explained. The lamentation of a sinner in this miserable condition. 1. SINNER, thou hast …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul Prayer
But I give myself unto prayer.' Psa 109: 4. I shall not here expatiate upon prayer, as it will be considered more fully in the Lord's prayer. It is one thing to pray, and another thing to be given to prayer: he who prays frequently, is said to be given to prayer; as he who often distributes alms, is said to be given to charity. Prayer is a glorious ordinance, it is the soul's trading with heaven. God comes down to us by his Spirit, and we go up to him by prayer. What is prayer? It is an offering …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments May one Lose the Blessing?
The question trembles from many a lip--If I get the blessing, may I lose it? Most certainly. But, glory be to God! He has made ample provision for failure. There is no reason why we should fail; God has made ample provision against failure; we must not expect to fail; but in case we do fail, provision has been made. The most prolific cause of loss is disobedience--disobedience either to one of God's written commands, or to the inward promptings of His Holy Spirit. "The Holy Ghost whom God hath …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life Meditations for the Morning.
1. Almighty God can, in the resurrection, as easily raise up thy body out of the grave, from the sleep of death, as he hath this morning wakened thee in thy bed, out of the sleep of nature. At the dawning of which resurrection day, Christ shall come to be glorified in his saints; and every one of the bodies of the thousands of his saints, being fashioned like unto his glorious body, shall shine as bright as the sun (2 Thess. i. 10; Jude, ver. 14; Phil. iii. 21; Luke ix. 31;) all the angels shining …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux The Roman Pilgrimage: the Miracles which were Wrought in It.
[Sidenote: 1139] 33. (20). It seemed to him, however, that one could not go on doing these things with sufficient security without the authority of the Apostolic See; and for that reason he determined to set out for Rome, and most of all because the metropolitan see still lacked, and from the beginning had lacked, the use of the pall, which is the fullness of honour.[507] And it seemed good in his eyes[508] that the church for which he had laboured so much[509] should acquire, by his zeal and labour, …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 6:18 NIV2 Kings 6:18 NLT2 Kings 6:18 ESV2 Kings 6:18 NASB2 Kings 6:18 KJV
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