2 Kings 6

Never was any prince so well guarded as a believer. The angels, 1. are a numerous guard, (2 Kings 6:17). The mountain was full of horses of fire round about Elisha.

2. Because God only can help. We may look to second causes, and cry as the woman did (2 Kings 6:26), Help my lord, O king. And he said, if the Lord does not help you, from where shall I help you?

As if they had said, if we die we will lay our death to your charge — here was enough to have made Moses call for fire from heaven upon them, but he passes by this injury, and to show he forgave them, he becomes an intercessor for them, verse 4, and set the rock flowing for them…

This effect must be understood of two worthy Prophets, Elijah and Elisha: for Elijah, we may read, that when he had slain Baal's Priests (1 Kings 19.1.) Jezebel the Queen threatened to kill him; which he hearing, fled into the wilderness, and thence was led to Mount Horeb, and t…

Why was it such a privilege? Truly, our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: so that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and saints, make up but one society, or family, where God will dwell, to comfort and solace them: the good angels their guard, to prote…

When the king of Syria sent his horses and chariots to take Elisha the Lord's prophet, because he revealed his counsel to the king of Israel: his servant saw them round about Dothan where he was, and he cried, Alas, master, what shall we do? Then Elisha answered, Fear not: for t…

Surely I should have had more care of the Ark of God, now God has built me such a stately Palace: But they in Haggai, We dwell in ceiled houses, therefore the time to build the Lord's house is not come; so they might live in pomp and ease they little cared how matters went with…

Query 3. Can you deny that there are some signs appearing in your soul, even while God suspends his answer, that argue your prayers are not rejected by him? First, though no answer comes, yet you are still resolved to wait — you dare not say as that profane wretch did, 2 Kings 6…

Sometimes it rises from an apprehension that God in the way of his providence deals unjustly with us. A good Prophet utters such a sinful speech in his passion (2 Kings 6:33). Behold, this evil is of the Lord — what should I wait for the Lord any longer?

The Lord sending a message by the Prophet, would have a representative body of all Judah to be gathered together for receiving it, as Tremellius notes. So (2 Kings 6:32) Elisha sat in his house, and the Elders sat with him. We read (2 Chronicles 19:8) that with the Priests were…

From this confidence, springs trust or hope, which is to wait and look for the help, which in confidence we assure ourselves of from the Lord (Psalm 33:18, 19, 20, 21). Yes, although means be wanting, we give glory to God (Romans 4:10; 2 Kings 6:16). From hence cometh it, that w…

Sometimes one Angel serves many persons (Psalm 34:7), The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them. And sometimes many Angels are about one person (2 Kings 6:17), And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots round about Elisha. And…

God can rain Manna out of heaven; but when the soil will bear corn, we must till it. When Elisha was in a little village, not able to defend him from the Syrians, he had chariots and horsemen of fire to defend him (2 Kings 6:17); but when he was in Samaria, a strong walled town,…

It is our part therefore to wait as David did, who says of himself (Psalm 69:3): I am weary of my crying, my eyes fail me while I wait for my God. For if we give over our patient expecting, and faint in our minds, seeking to anticipate this due time, this period which God has pr…

He that has God on his side, has also all things, that are seen and that are not seen. The mountain is full of fiery chariots for Elisha's defence, when outwardly there was no appearance (2 Kings 6:17). All things wait their Master's beck, to do him service, as for the destructi…

So one of these was to renew the Promise to Abraham; another to deliver Lot; and the third to destroy Sodom. But besides that this is a rule of their own making, and evidently false, as may be seen (Genesis 32:1, 2; 2 Kings 6:17), so in the story its self, it is manifest that th…

Sensible feeling of joy is withheld, and they have not patience to stay for the full recompense of reward. Hypocrites are all for present pay; and if they have not that suddenly which they desire, they bid adieu to religion; and say, as that wicked king (2 Kings 6:33), why shoul…

It is there said of Huldah the prophetess, that "she dwelt in Jerusalem, in the college." They had houses built, where they used to dwell together; and therefore those at Jericho being multiplied, and finding their house too little for them, desired leave of their master and tea…

So was Daniel who mourns and confesses and fasts three full weeks (Daniel 4; Daniel 10:2, 3), and ascribes righteousness to God. The more submission there is in Job, there is the more spiritual frame of a gracious spirit in him (Job 1:21, 22; 2 Samuel 16:10), and they who fret m…

My Mother, says Solomon to Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:20). I find also the title of Sir or Lord, used: a title of honor (1 Samuel 24:12; 2 Kings 5:13; Judges 18:19; 2 Kings 6:21; 1 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Timothy 5:1; Genesis 22:7; Genesis 27:18; Matthew 21:30; Genesis 31:35). 2. By using…

So the captains of the Syrians, when the Prophet had blinded them, and led them from Dothan to Samaria, what says the King of Israel? He is ready to kill them presently: No (2 Kings 6:22): Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. He w…

[reconstructed: Earthly kings], when they have authority and power, it is limited. (2 Kings 6:27) When the woman came to the king of Israel; Help my Lord, O King. And he said, If the Lord does not help [illegible], shall I help you?

He that walks in darkness knows not where he goes. Oh it is a sad judgment to wander in a maze of confusions, and to be like those that thought to go to Dothan, and found themselves in Samaria (2 Kings 6:20). Well then, the use is, have we this temper of God's people?

First, to entertain crosses with anger. (2 Kings 6:33) This evil is from the Lord, why should I wait any longer upon the Lord? Words of desperate distrust and murmuring.

Secondly, the eye of sense being shut, we are not discouraged with contrary appearances, nor with fears and troubles, and the trials of the present life, because hope sees sunshine behind the back of the storm. We have a notable emblem of the eye of faith, and the eye of sense,…

But men in love with their lusts, make a woeful use of this consideration, hardening themselves in their conceit, that there shall never be a change, and so sin more securely. See the like in other things: (1 Corinthians 7:29), (1 Corinthians 15:32), (Jude 24), (Romans 6:2), (2…

Men are busy in this world (like a company of Ants) creeping up and down from one Mole-hill to another, but are not so wise, for the Ants know, but poor blind men know not where they go, whether forward or backward, from home, or to home, they are in a maze, and bewildered; they…

I have been somewhat short in the application of it, and therefore let me here be your reminder in five important duties. First, take heed of resting in a form of godliness, as if duties ex opere operato could confer grace; a lifeless formality is advanced to a very high esteem…

The second extreme is hellish provocations, which we are to watch against in this work. When the sinner has set himself as he conceives [illegible] God's way, and about his work, and yet finds no success in what he does, our self-seeking hearts are apt to [illegible] with the Lo…

Roughness hardens men's hearts; meekness causes them to relent. 2 Kings 6:22-23: When the king of Israel feasted the captives he had taken in war, they were more conquered by his meekness than by his sword; the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel. Sixth, consider…

David would not offer burnt offerings without cost (1 Chronicles 21:24). A hungry man will give anything for food, as fell out in the siege of Samaria (2 Kings 6:25). That man never hungered after Christ who thinks much of parting with a little silver for the pearl of great pric…

I am the Lord your God, which teaches you to profit. God's children have that anointing which teaches them all things necessary to salvation; they see those mysteries which are veiled over to carnal eyes; as Elisha saw those horses and chariots of fire, which his servant did not…

As he said of that Axe which fell in the water. 2 Kings 6:5, Alas master, for it was borrowed. All a Man's Gifts, his pregnancy of Parts, ripeness of Wit, are borrowed from Heaven, and what wise Man would be proud of a Jewel that is lent?

But when his eyes are opened to see it, then he turns back. And when they are thus turning back — like Gehazi in 2 Kings 6:15-17, who, seeing an army coming against him and his master Elisha, cried out, 'What shall we do?' — Elisha answered: 'Do not be afraid, for those who are…

Now he smites others at such a time as they are most unfit for it, and that at the root, so that he causes them to wither — they are losers by it. As appears by that wicked king Jehoram (2 Kings 6:33): 'This evil is of the Lord — and what should I wait on the Lord any longer?' A…

So when the Servant of Elisha saw the place where they were, compassed with an Host, both Horses and Chariots that came to take them, he cryed out for fear, Alas my Master how shall we do? But upon the prayer of the Prophet, the Lord opening the eyes of the young man, to see the…

He can tell the Words we speak in our bedchamber,. 2 Kings 6:12. He is described with seven eyes to show his omniscience.

Methinks I see justice with a sword in its hand ready to strike, and mercy steps in for the sinner, Lord have patience with him a while longer: Methinks I hear the Angels say to God as the King of Israel once said to the Prophet Elisha, 2 Kings 6.22. Shall I smite them? shall I…

He that believes shall not make haste; he shall not be confounded with shame (so the Septuagint translates it, and Paul after them, Romans 9:33), as those who flee from the enemy out of hastiness, procured by base fear, which is a shame. I dare not say that the Septuagint reads…

The Sodomites who so fiercely assaulted Lot's house, being stricken with blindness could do no hurt (Genesis 19:9-11). Elisha himself alone led an army of his enemies (being made blind) wherever he wished (2 Kings 6:19). We to spirits are as blind men: we can neither see them, n…

Yet by nature we are all too prone to it: for we are ready to prescribe a time to God, and to say, So long will I continue to depend upon him, and pray to him; if by that time he hears not, he will never hear. This is the cause that oft we fail of the fruits of our prayers, and…