Today's readings are 2 Kings 6.1-23 and Philippians 1.21-2.11
In our reading from 2 Kings today we see how God is able to simultaneously overwhelm the enemies of his people and seek reconciliation. We recall the readings from the last few days pertaining to Naaman the Syrian. What we may not have recalled is how serious the conflict was between Syria and Israel. The Syrians were at war with Israel. Actually, they were at war with everyone who opposed them, bent on world conquest. But world conquest isn't always all it is made out to be.
When the Syrians are evaded by the Israelites, in search of the intelligence leak, the Syrian king finds that Elisha the prophet is responsible for reporting future actions of his army to the king of Israel. He sends forces to capture Elisha, who in turn is protected by God and his angelic forces. Rather than killing the Syrian division, the Lord uses Elisha to bring the Syrian division into the midst of forces of Samaria, who also abstain from killing them. On the contrary, they feed the Syrians as captured enemies, chastise them, humiliate them, and send them home. Syria ceases hostilities against the people of God.
We read throughout the Scripture that God is able to protect his people. His ability goes far beyond what we could imagine. So does God's mercy. We are struck by the fact that we, while we were sinners at enmity with God, were redeemed from the curse of sin. God the Son gave himself for us, for forgiveness. He feeds us, gives us sight, turns our hearts, and sends us home. We are no longer God's enemies but rather his allies, through the work of Christ on our behalf.
In our reading from 2 Kings today we see how God is able to simultaneously overwhelm the enemies of his people and seek reconciliation. We recall the readings from the last few days pertaining to Naaman the Syrian. What we may not have recalled is how serious the conflict was between Syria and Israel. The Syrians were at war with Israel. Actually, they were at war with everyone who opposed them, bent on world conquest. But world conquest isn't always all it is made out to be.
When the Syrians are evaded by the Israelites, in search of the intelligence leak, the Syrian king finds that Elisha the prophet is responsible for reporting future actions of his army to the king of Israel. He sends forces to capture Elisha, who in turn is protected by God and his angelic forces. Rather than killing the Syrian division, the Lord uses Elisha to bring the Syrian division into the midst of forces of Samaria, who also abstain from killing them. On the contrary, they feed the Syrians as captured enemies, chastise them, humiliate them, and send them home. Syria ceases hostilities against the people of God.
We read throughout the Scripture that God is able to protect his people. His ability goes far beyond what we could imagine. So does God's mercy. We are struck by the fact that we, while we were sinners at enmity with God, were redeemed from the curse of sin. God the Son gave himself for us, for forgiveness. He feeds us, gives us sight, turns our hearts, and sends us home. We are no longer God's enemies but rather his allies, through the work of Christ on our behalf.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
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