Sermon Notes + 11.2.2025

2 Kings 6:1-23

Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor

Overview: Elisha continues to serve others for the glory of God through a series of miracles, including his own school of prophets, the king of Israel, a frightened servant, and even Syrian soldiers who sought to cause him harm. His ministry to train future prophets has grown to the point of requiring a new structure for housing. In the process of cutting down trees, the head of a borrowed axe falls into the Jordan River. Elisha causes the axe to float, thus relieving his men from potential confrontation. Elisha also provides ongoing counsel to the king of Israel, enabling him to avoid confrontation with the Syrian army. When the king of Syria sends a great army to seize Elisha, his servant begins to panic in light of the show of force. Elisha prays for the servant’s eyes to be opened, whereupon he sees the angelic army ready to defend the man of God. Elisha then prays for the Syrians to lose their sight, thus enabling him to lead them to the king of Israel. Yet, instead of bringing harm upon them, Elisha prepares a feast for his enemies before sending them on their way home. This passage is a tangible reminder of the need for our eyes to be open to all that God is doing among us.

1. Why did the sons of the prophets need a new shelter? What does their situation suggest about Elisha’s influence in their lives? What current ministries at Northpoint are available for discipling men and raising up new leaders? What additional ministries or activities might be helpful to disciple men at Northpoint?

2. How did Elisha know to warn King Jehoram about Syrian troop movements (verse 8-12)? How did this information enable the king to avoid conflict with Syria? What information and warnings in Scripture are designed to keep us from temptation and sin? See Proverbs 1 and 1 Peter 5:6-11 for further insight.

3. What brought fear into the servant’s heart in verse 15? How did Elisha alleviate that fear in verses 16-17? Suppose we did not have verse 17—does that make verse 16 untrue? In other words, is sight required in order for us to exercise faith? How important is it for us to trust in the providences of God even when angel armies remain invisible to us?

4. Elisha requested that the Syrian soldiers be struck with blindness (verse 18). Why did he not call upon the angel armies to destroy them instead? Consider how merciful God is to His enemies by being patient with them in their blindness. Pray that the Lord will open the eyes of family and friends who do not yet know the Lord, and thank Him for his patient mercy.

5. What is King Jehoram’s initial reaction when he sees the enemy troops in his presence (verse 21)? Why does Elisha advise the king to prepare a meal before them instead? Are there any broken relationships in your life that might be mitigated by kindness? See Proverbs 24:17 and 25:21 for further insight.

For Further Reading: Sinclair Ferguson, Things Unseen: One Year of Reflections on the Christian Life (Ligonier Ministries, 2024)