The Weeping Prophet (2 Kings 8:7-15, Matthew 23:34-39)
Rev. William L. Barron, July 24, 2022Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Ben Hadad knew Elijah and Elisha as true prophets, and he could never conquer the northern kingdom. He became very sick. Knowing that Elisha was in the capital city, he sent Hazael to hear a prophecy from Elisha about any recovery. Elisha sent word that Ben Hadad would recover, but he would die. Elisha wept, knowing that Hazael would ascend to the throne, and also about Hazael's planned destruction of Israel. Hazael was of no pedigree; he was a Babylonian. Long before, Elijah knew from the Lord that Hazael would be anointed king over Syria, and that Elisha would be anointed prophet. Along with God's grace comes God's judgment. Hazael would give account for his actions before God. We see a parallel with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and His weeping lament over Jerusalem's idolatry and rebellion. Do we weep over the wicked? Will we stand for God? Will we obey God rather than man? As we weep for the lost, we must tell them about Jesus.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « If God Is For Us | None | On What Mountain Do You Worship? » |
2 Kings 8:7–15 (Listen)
7 Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8 the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels’ loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the LORD has shown me that he shall certainly die.” 11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” 14 Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.
(ESV)
Matthew 23:34–39 (Listen)
34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
(ESV)