Day 337 – Deliverance

2 Kings 13:1 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned seventeen years. 2 He did evil in the sight of JEHOVAH and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He did not depart from them.

 3 Then the anger of JEHOVAH aroused against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-Hadad the son of Hazael, throughout their days.

 4 Thus, Jehoahaz pleaded with JEHOVAH, and JEHOVAH listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 Then JEHOVAH gave Israel a deliverer, so they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before.

 6 Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin, but walked in them; and the wooden image also remained in Samaria. 7 For He left of the army of Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers; for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.

 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, everything he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 9 Then Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Joash his son reigned in his place.

 10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned sixteen years. 11 He did evil in the sight of JEHOVAH. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, but walked in them. 12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, everything he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 13 Thus, Joash rested with his fathers. Then Jeroboam sat on his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

 14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”

 15 Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” Then he took himself a bow and some arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” Thus, he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. 17 He said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. He said, “The arrow of JEHOVAH’S deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” 18 Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so, he took them. He said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so, he struck three times and stopped. 19 The man of Elohiym became angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! However, now you will strike Syria only three times.”

 20 Then Elisha died, and they buried him. The raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year.

 21 Then it happened, as they buried a man, they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

 22 Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel throughout the days of Jehoahaz.

 23 However, JEHOVAH was gracious to them, had compassion for them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.

 24 Now, Hazael king of Syria died. Then Ben-Hadad his son reigned in his place.

 25 Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz recaptured from the hand of Ben-Hadad, the son of Hazael, the cities which he took out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times Joash defeated him and recaptured the cities of Israel.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Deliverer

Gracious

Compassionate

When you learn a family member is about to die, you visit them. You want to be close to them and have those last words with them.

Despite the wars going on in Israel, Joash, king of Israel went to see Elisha when he learned he was dying. When he came to him, Elisha instructed him to shoot arrows out he east window and strike the ground with the arrows, indicating victory over Syria. However, the king only smote the ground three times. Elisha admonished him for only striking the ground three times. If he had struck the ground five or six times, Israel would have had complete victory over Syria.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, Satan went to war against you. However, you have the upper hand over Satan through the blood of Yeshuwa. When you spend time with Yeshuwa in prayer and Bible study, you gain the victory over Satan. However, when Satan piles up trouble against you, many times you fail to read your Bible or pray, giving Satan the upper hand in your life. It’s the same as only striking the ground three times when Elisha told the king he would have victory only as often as he struck the ground. You need to strike Satan every day with prayer and Bible study. You need to meet with other believers so you can remain strong against your enemy, and he flees from you. When you realize your failure in prayer and Bible study, and become faithful in it again, you revive your spirit and Satan must flee. He cannot stand against you when you pray and study Yeshuwa’s word.

What trouble do you face? When was the last time you opened Yeshuwa’s Word or met with other believers in Bible study and prayer? Determine to spend time in Yeshuwa’s Word. Pray, read your Bible and send Satan fleeing in defeat. Then your trouble will disappear, and you will have victory over Satan, instead of him having victory over you.

Let’s pray: Father, let me find Your grace and compassion in my life when I spend time with You in Your Word. Deliver me from Satan’s attack and let me see my troubles evaporate like smoke when I pray and seek Your face in Bible study and receive encouragement from other believers. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 21 December 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux