Word of Salvation – Vol. 47 No.19 – May 2002

 

Open Eyes – Closed Eyes

 

Sermon by Rev K Rietveld

on 2 Kings 6:8-23

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:1-6; Psalm 34:1-10

 

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In one of the countries of Africa, the Christian church often uses the following responsive greeting at the beginning of the service: The leader says, “GOD IS GOOD,” and the people respond, “ALL THE TIME!”  Then the leader says, “ALL THE TIME,” and the people respond, “GOD IS GOOD!”

And isn’t this the true experience of the Christian?  Yes, even in hard times we cannot fail to recognise that God is still good.  For example, we see that in our trials we learn endurance, and in endurance we learn to grow in our faith.  Our faith becomes stronger and more mature through trials because we learn to depend upon God more and more.

And we remember, too, that in all things, yes, even in the hard and difficult times we may experience, in all things God works for good for those who love him (Romans 8:28).

In looking at the life of Elisha, we see that he, too, experienced God’s goodness in many different ways.  It started already at the beginning of his ministry, when a double portion’ of Elijah’s spirit rested on him.  It was an indication that the Lord, who was surely with Elijah, will even more so be with Elisha.

And our story today follows quite a few experiences in the life of Elisha that really show us that God was with him and that God was working good things in and through Elisha’s life and ministry.  There was the widow’s oil jar that filled many pots of oil.  And a poisoning of the food pot, through an accident, was fixed up.  A borrowed axe-head, which fell in the water, was made to float, so it could be returned to the owner.  Namaan was cured of Leprosy.  A hundred people were fed from just 20 small loaves of barley bread.  Yes, God was good to Elisha, and through him, to many others, too.

So also in today’s story, we see God’s goodness displayed.  I have entitled this Sermon, “Open Eyes – Closed Eyes,” because in this story, eyes were opened, and eyes were closed.  The theme is, “God shows His goodness to different kinds of people.”

1.  God shows his goodness to Israel’s king (vss.8-12)

Who is this King of Israel mentioned here?  His name is Joram, and he was the son of the wicked king Ahab.  When Ahab died, his son Ahazia became King in his place, but Ahazia was just as evil as his father, and he only lasted two years as Israel’s king before he too died after an accident in his home.  And because he had no sons, Joram his brother became king of Israel.

Now Joram also was an evil king, though he was not as bad as his father Ahab, or his mother, the wicked queen Jezebel.  Nevertheless, he did not follow the Lord and he did not turn away from sinful practices.  And if Joram was to receive from the Lord what he deserved, he would be punished, too.  But something else happened.

The neighbouring king of Aram went to war against Israel, and every time he went into Israel with his raiding parties, it seemed that the King of Israel knew exactly where he was and was able to avoid his enemy.  The King of Aram became very frustrated at this, and wondered if he had a spy in his own camp who told the King of Israel exactly where he was going.  But one of his men pointed out that it was the Prophet in Israel who knew everything the king did, even what he said in his own private bedroom.  It was Elisha who told Joram about the King of Aram.

In this, we see the Lord’s goodness towards Israel’s King.  He did not deserve this, because he was evil – he did not follow the Lord as he should.  But God was good to him.  Why was God so good to him?  God wanted him to know that God was really in control of all things.  He wanted to show Joram that he was a good God, a faithful God, even when his people were unfaithful.

Maybe some of us are like Joram.  We know God – we count ourselves among His people, but we are not following Him the way we should.  There is still much sin in our lives and all too often we are going astray, we are backsliding, and we are not following God as we should.  And yet God continues to show His goodness to us.  He continues to provide for us, to meet all our needs and to show us His love in many different ways.  He does it so that we might repent from our sinful ways and turn to Him.

The Lord’s goodness (and we may call it ‘grace’, too) continues to be shown to us so that we might turn back to Him.  Are you like Joram?  Do you know God, but are not following Him faithfully?  Turn back to Him.  He shows you His goodness and love, and most beautifully so in the person of Jesus, who came into this world, so that we might understand in some small way the depth of God’s love for us.

2.  God shows his goodness to Israel’s prophet (vss.13-19)

When the king of Aram finds out it is Elisha who is telling Joram where he is, he wants to kill Elisha.  They find out that he is in a small place called Dothan and the king sends a strong force there during the night and they surround the city.  No one can escape.  Elisha will surely be killed.

Early in the morning, Elisha’s servant comes out of the house and sees that the town is surrounded by the soldiers of Aram.  He is very much frightened.  He rushes in to tell Elisha.  “What shall we do?” he asks.

But Elisha tells him not to be afraid.  He says, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (vs.16).  But how can that be?  The people of Dothan are not too many, and here outside their town is a strong band of trained soldiers.  But Elisha knows something the servant doesn’t.  He sees something the servant doesn’t.  The servant’s eyes are closed.  He cannot see the ring of protection around Elisha.  Lord, open his eyes, Elisha prays, so that he might see the goodness of your protecting love and care round about us.

Elisha, the servant of God, knows that God is good.  He knows that God cares for him in every situation.  Then the servant’s eyes were opened, and he saw the fiery chariots and horses all around Elisha.  He saw that God’s ring of protection was set around His servant.

How often are we afraid of the powers and forces that are against us?  Sometimes it is other people, but often enough it is the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Our enemy is the Devil and all his legions, and those who blindly follow him.  But those who are with us are more than those who are with them.  The legions of God are at hand for the care and protection of His beloved people.

“This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them” (Ps.34:6-7.

“If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways, they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” (Ps.91:9-12).

“Are not angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb.1:14).

But we have more than just guardian angels to watch over us.  The apostle John in his first letter writes: “You, dear children, are from God, and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1Jn.1:4).

Who is it that lives in us?  It is Christ Himself, through His Holy Spirit.  We have the conquering King with us at all times.  Jesus Christ, who said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age”, He is the one who has won the victory over death and evil and all the forces of Satan on the cross of Calvary.  When He cried, “It is finished!”, the battle was won, the victory accomplished.  And in Him, we too are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us!”

Elisha loved God, and as a precious child of His, he knew that he was protected.  But his servant had closed eyes and did not see it.  Do you see it, dear child of God?  Are your eyes open?  Do you hold fast to the promises of God by faith that He is with you always, and that He who is with you, even Jesus Himself, is greater than the one who is against us?  How are our eyes today?  Do we, with the eyes of faith, cling to and trust in all the promises of God?  Oh that God might open our eyes, if they are yet closed.  Oh, that we might see that He directs all the resources of heaven to work for good in the lives of those He loves and who love Him.

3.  God shows his goodness to Israel’s enemies (vss.18-23)

If Christians need at times to have their eyes opened again, then non-Christians usually think that their eyes are already open.  They think that they know enough about God, and that really He is quite powerless to do anything.  They think they can do what they want.

So it was with the King and soldiers of Aram.  They came up against Elisha, against the Lord’s anointed prophet, against His faithful servant, and thought they could just do to him as they pleased.  As they advanced towards Elisha, the prophet prayed a prayer: “Lord, strike these people with blindness!”  He prayed that what was spiritually true might also become physically true.  They must come to see, even in their blindness, that God can deal with all enemies as He pleases.  And so they were struck blind.

At this time, it would have been easy even for Elisha and his servant to put them all to death.  But that did not happen.  Elisha told them to follow him and he led them to Samaria, the home of Israel’s King Joram.  And as soon as they were inside the gate of the city, and quite powerless to do anything in the midst of the Israelite King and his army, their eyes were opened again.

Immediately Joram asks: Shall I kill them, my father?  Shall I kill them?  But instead, Elisha instructs that food and drink be set before them.  He wants these enemies of Israel also to experience the goodness of God.  And God’s goodness is displayed in the kindness of Elisha and Israel’s king.  Elijah asked for food and water, but they received a banquet, a great feast.  And then they were sent home!

Is this not exactly what the Lord teaches us, too?  “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Mat.5:44f).  Isn’t this what Jesus Himself did too, when He prayed for those who crucified him?  And Paul also teaches us the same in Romans 12:17-21 – “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge, I will repay,’ says the Lord.  On the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this you will heap burning coals upon his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

We, too, are to be kind to our enemies, to those who would hurt us, steal from us, ruin our reputation, or in some other way seek to harm or even destroy us.  And why would we do that?  So that these enemies might see our good works, that they might see something of the character of Christ in us, and so perhaps turn to this Christ and find life and forgiving grace in him.

After all, we too were once enemies of God.  And God showed his goodness and grace to us too, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  The blessed Saviour came into this world to save sinners like us – to lay down His life for you and me, so that we might have life and have it to the full.

Is it perhaps possible that even here there are those who may yet be enemies of God?  Those who have not surrendered their lives to the loving care of the Saviour Jesus?  Oh, dear friend, if this is you… if you are yet an enemy, remember that God is good, yes even to you.  He wants to fill you with all the riches of His tender love and compassionate mercy.  He wants you to experience the fullness of His grace and the assurance of eternal life.  That is why He holds out to you the promises of grace, the promises of love and life, if you would but turn to Jesus in faith.

Conclusion

God is good.  All the time.

He is good to His children who love Him and follow Him.  Oh, that we might always see His wonderful goodness and His protecting care in our lives, even in the hard times.

He is good, too, to those who may be sliding away.  Oh if this is you, look at the Lord’s goodness, through which He wants to draw you deeper into Himself again.  Do not harden your heart, but come to Jesus, all who are burdened and heavy laden, and you will find rest for your souls.

And yes, even for His enemies, the Lord is good.  But this goodness has its limits.  Turn to Him while you yet may, and He will abundantly pardon.  The offer of life and salvation in Jesus Christ is a genuine offer, which God in love holds out to you today.  Accept the offer – turn to Christ, and find the goodness of God in your life from now on.

God is good.  All the time!  All the time, God is good!

Amen.