The Lord, He Is Gracious
TEXT: 2 Kings 13:20-23
20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
22 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
23 And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
{REMINISCE ABOUT ELISHA}
-It was Elisha that was called by God to be Elijah’s successor
-It was Elisha that served Elijah
-It was Elisha that caught Elijah’s mantle when he went to Heaven in a fiery chariot
-It was Elisha that reprimanded the ill advised confederacy of the good Jehoshaphat and the evil Jehoram
-It was Elisha that provided Jehoshaphat with a successful battle plan against the king of Moab
-It was Elisha that prayed and God provided the cruses of oil for the preacher’s widow to fill and fill so she could pay her debts
-It was Elisha that ministered in prayer for the Shunnamite woman (whose hospitality built a prophet’s chamber) both to open her barren womb and later on to raise her son from the dead
-It was Elisha that healed the poisonous soup of the prophets
-It was Elisha that ministered to Naaman, the Captain of the Syrian army, so that his leprosy could be healed and he would know that the God of Israel was the God
-It was Elisha that caused the borrowed iron axe head to float in water
-It was Elisha that prayed and Gehazi saw the armies of the Lord protecting them
-It was Elisha that prayed and God smote an entire army with blindness
-It was Elisha that prophesied of famine and it was so
-It was Elisha that (on his death bed) prophesied victory for Joash, king of Israel, at his own death bed
-And then he was buried…and to our text…
I. Their Past--The Glory Days of Elisha
(Compare the Glory of Elisha’s Day with the Glory of America (STRESS 2ND GENERATION))
II. Their Position--The Grueling Days of Oppression v.22
(Compare the Aggressor’s Oppression with the Oppression of Today’s Aggressor)
III. Their Prospect--The Goodness of God v.23
A. Gracious--to show favor
B. Compassion--to love deeply
C. Respect--to turn toward
D. Cast them not from His Presence
SUMMARY
Read together Psalm 136 RESPONSIVELY.
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
