THE KING’S BUSINESS
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its real security, Elisha won for himself the title, “The chariot of Israel and the horse man thereof” (ch. 13:14). Israel’s chief trouble at this time was with the King of Syria, but Elisha constantly averted the mischief which he sought to do. It was principally by his prayers that Elisha con tributed so. much to the. nation’s safety. Elisha does not seem to have received from God, many deep revelations of truth to give to his own generation or posterity ; but he knew God and had power with Him, and was gifted .in the matter.of practical warn ings for daily life. Such, men are of the highest usefulness. "And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of,- and saved himself there, not once nor twice.” King Jehoram showed his wis dom by obeying the prophet’s warning; thus “he saved himself.” That is always the way to save one’s self, by obeying the word of God (John 5;24). Thus Noah also saved himself and his house- (Heb. 11:7). Few men nowadays are as ready to heed the warnings of God’s word and God’s servants, and therefore there be few that are saved. Jehoshaph.at’s advice is of perennial signifi cance, “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chron.- 20:20). v. 11. "Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king-¿>f Israel?” The King of Syria thought he had a traitor in his camp, and that that was the cause of his plans being discovered and overthrown; but the ultimate reason why the King pf Syria’s counsel and plans all came to naught, was that they were against God (Prov. 21:30). God was with Israel (Isa. 8:10; cf. Rom. 8:31). Elisha was the instrument that God had chosen to use for the carrying out of His plans.: It was1 the heart-oi the King of Syria that was troubled. The wicked are bound to have heart trouble. There, is no peace for them (Isa. 57:31). The only permanent.cure, for: Keartitrouble is faith in
God and faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:1, A. R. V,). Unfortunately,, the heart of the King of Syria was not troubled about his wrongdoing, but about the miscarriage of his wrongdoing. This; is usually the case with sinners. vs. 13-14. “And he saidT Go and spy where he is, that I may. send and fetch himi And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. -Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host', and they came by night, and compassed the city about." The King of Syria, was more afraid of Elisha than of Israel’s generals and armies. He sent -a great host- of chariots and horses to take-this ,one-man, -The king had good reason to-'be afraid of Elisha, for the man of God is the most dangerous foe anyone can have. But the King of Syria’s plan was both foolish and futile. How ab surd to imagine that he could take by sur prise the one who prevented him from sur prising others. There -was one great trouble with his plan, he left God out of it. The deep-laid plans of thè wicked are always failing because they leave God out. There is only “woe” for those who “seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord” (Isa. 29:15). The thing for the wicked to do is not to seek to put a stop to God’s knowing their plans, but to give those evil plans up. The King of Syria fancied that by sending the army by night that he would catch Elisha napping. He did not realize that Elisha’s keeper never sleeps (Ps. 121:4). 5 v. 15. “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, a host compassed the city, both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Atas, my master; how shall we do?” It did look dark for Elisha with the city encompassed about with horses and chariots to take him. But it only looked dark to the natural eye, and when the ser vant really got his eyes opened it did not look dark at all: So it often looks dark to us -when we have only natural vision, but to the open eye of faith it never looks dark.
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