The Second Book of Kings
Chapter 2
¹ Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 1)
Oh God, my father You do not have a particular moment to call on us and intervene in our lives. You are not limited by time, therefore any time can be the time or moment of our deliverance. I pray that we be aware of both ourselves and of such delicate moments when we witness You in action Amen.
² Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel". But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 2)
Oh God, my father at times we need to overcome ourselves and our needs and totally obey You my God and Father. Although for us humans this is not an easy task, however with Your help anything is possible Amen.
³ The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 3)
Oh God my Father many times You try to make us aware of our situations, however, we tell You to keep silent and let us be the judges of our own situations. How blind was I when I did the same thing. I pray that others will wait on You for a reply before making a move, that they think is right because after the decision is taken there is no going back Amen.
⁴ Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 4)
Many times oh God my Father we receive messages from others that are not always good news or even based on the 'Good News'. Once the doctors told me that I had irritable bowel syndrome and that it was a chronic disease, however, You gave me Your healing thus proving the message to be false. I pray oh God that we always be aware of such messages and messengers so that we will not be negatively influenced Amen.
⁵ The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know, be silent."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 5)
Oh God, my Father, it is easy for me, as happened to me yesterday that we become prophets of doom and start focussing on all the negative things that might happen instead of the good that can come about. I pray that even during a seemingly negative situation I focus on the positive because in one second You can totally change a scenario that is totally or seemingly negative Amen.
⁶ Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 6)
Oh God, my Father, the hardest thing for us humans is to obey. We end up putting You to the test in the same way that we place each other.
⁷ Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 7)
Oh God, my Father, I wonder how I stand in my relationship with You, or better in Your relationship with me. Am I one of Your inner circles or do I still worship from a distance, meaning, that I would like to be with You, but I am so cautious that I keep my distance and do not fully trust in You? I pray that You have a good relationship with me, even though as a human I may not always obey Your will, for at times I am still weak, but with the power of Your graceful love, I can do all that You want me to do, instead of what I feel that I need to do Amen.
Oh God, my Father, even though the song may say that You see us from a distance, however, I believe that in truth that distance is not that far away, for I feel You close to me as if my own flesh Amen. I invite you reader to click on the following link and pray by means of the following son by Sir Cliff Richard credit to Kim Chung who uploaded this video on You-tube.
Song From a distance
⁸ Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 8)
Although Elijah knew that it was time to take the decision and do what You my God had asked of him to do, Elijah did not leave Elisha to face the situation on his own but remained with him up to the final minute. Oh God, my Father, I thank You for Your support and Your care. I thank You for sending such people who care for us especially during moments when we need to part with our loved ones or others with whom we are close. Amen.
⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 9)
Oh God, my beloved Father, if You had to ask me today what You could do for me, I would ask You to take my life so that I could be forever with You in everlasting happiness. If this is not possible, I would pray that You give me a portion of faith in You so that I could imitate You throughout the course of my life Amen.
¹⁰ He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 10)
Oh God my Father, even I have asked a hard thing, for You are the one who has the authority to give life and the authority to take life and the same is valid where faith is concerned. Amen.
¹¹ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 11)
Oh God my beloved Father, there is a time for unity and there is also a time for separation. I accept all that You are permitting to take place, and whatever is going to take place in the coming future. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
¹² Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 12)
When exposed to such situations oh God my Father, as in the case of Elisha I do not know what to say and how to behave, for although Elisha believed in You this was a loss for him. I pray for such people who have experienced such a loss or any other forms of loss and are still in a state of bereavement. I pray that You console and comfort their hearts Amen.
¹³ He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 13 to 14)
Oh God my Father during hard times of tribulation we tend to question Your presence, however, this is not the fruit of doubt or unbelief but that of agony and sorrow especially after having experienced some form of loss. I pray for those of us who have either made such an experience or are maybe still stuck in a state of bereavement so that You can give them the needed healing and comfort for their souls Amen.
In order for us to imagine such a situation that is found in the Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 13 to 14 I have inserted the following video clip which is in credit of Faithspeaker
Elisha at the Jordan credit to Faithspeaker
¹⁵ When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 15)
Oh God my Father, many times You give me or others insights or actions that I might think I am doing for their own sake, while in truth I would be observed by others who would be noting a good example and would be experiencing spiritual gain. I pray oh God my Father, that You continue to use me as a beacon of help for others Amen.
¹⁶ They said to him, "See now, we have fifty strong men among your servants; please let them go and seek your master; it may be that the spirit of the LORD has caught him up and thrown him down on some mountain or into some valley."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 16)
Oh God my Father how hard it is for us to accept the fact that we are to die and leave this world. Even though they witnessed with their own eyes the way Elijah was taken away they still kept on lingering on the possibility that God had dropped him in a different town or valley. Amen. I pray oh God my Father that I also accept the fact that one day I will be with You in heaven Amen.
¹⁷ But when they urged him until he was ashamed he said, "Send them." So they sent fifty men who searched for three days but did not find him. ¹⁸ When they came back to him (he had remained at Jericho)., he said to them, "Did I not say to you, Do not go?"
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 17 to 18)
Oh God my beloved Father, many times we may tend to give in to what others say or make us believe that is the truth. You love me so much that You do not discourage me from acting according to my ways, however when I experience the consequences of my action, You also make me aware that You had previously shown me that the outcome of my decision was going to be negative, however, You do not force Yourself and Your ways on me or anybody else. Thank You, Jesus.
¹⁹ Now the people of the city said to Elisha, "The location of this city is good, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 19)
Oh God, my beloved Father, we could also be like this land. I could be in an ideal setting to give you praise and worship along with others or even by myself, but my source might be corrupt, in the sense that I would not be passing Your message but simply what I think which is not always correct. Therefore in a spirit of prayer, I beg of You, that I pass on to others the clean water, that I am receiving from You so that both myself and others can bear much fruit in abundance Amen.
²⁰ He said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. ²¹ Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, "Thus says the LORD, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 20 to 21)
Oh God, my Father, many times You mentioned that we are the salt of the world. We are the agent that can improve a situation and we are also that agent that can make it worse if we lose our taste and become bad salt. You have placed me in the world to give life and a positive attitude so that the attributes of salt that as in verse 20 are life and generation of more life can be made possible Amen. May those who were in my presence, experience, this attitude and draw from it Amen.
²² So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 22)
Oh God my blessed Father, may all be according to Your Word, may those ordained to speak Your Words be good tools in Your hand so that they can continue leading us in Your ways according to Your will Amen.
²³ He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him saying; "Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!" ²⁴ When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. ²⁵ From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and then returned to Samaria.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 23 to 25)
Oh God, my beloved Father, the evil one can take on many different forms and possession of both humans and non-humans in order to perform the tasks that these evil spirits aim to accomplish. The evil spirits could not tolerate the good spirit of Elisha, therefore, they protested against him by jeering at him to go away.
I would like to end this second chapter of the book of Kings with the following prayer:
Oh God, my beloved Father, the evil one cannot stand Your Holy presence. I pray that we become so closely attached to You that the evil one cannot stand a chance against us and that we be totally protected from its temptations Amen
² Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel". But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 2)
Oh God, my father at times we need to overcome ourselves and our needs and totally obey You my God and Father. Although for us humans this is not an easy task, however with Your help anything is possible Amen.
³ The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 3)
Oh God my Father many times You try to make us aware of our situations, however, we tell You to keep silent and let us be the judges of our own situations. How blind was I when I did the same thing. I pray that others will wait on You for a reply before making a move, that they think is right because after the decision is taken there is no going back Amen.
⁴ Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 4)
Many times oh God my Father we receive messages from others that are not always good news or even based on the 'Good News'. Once the doctors told me that I had irritable bowel syndrome and that it was a chronic disease, however, You gave me Your healing thus proving the message to be false. I pray oh God that we always be aware of such messages and messengers so that we will not be negatively influenced Amen.
⁵ The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know, be silent."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 5)
Oh God, my Father, it is easy for me, as happened to me yesterday that we become prophets of doom and start focussing on all the negative things that might happen instead of the good that can come about. I pray that even during a seemingly negative situation I focus on the positive because in one second You can totally change a scenario that is totally or seemingly negative Amen.
⁶ Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 6)
Oh God, my Father, the hardest thing for us humans is to obey. We end up putting You to the test in the same way that we place each other.
⁷ Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 7)
Oh God, my Father, I wonder how I stand in my relationship with You, or better in Your relationship with me. Am I one of Your inner circles or do I still worship from a distance, meaning, that I would like to be with You, but I am so cautious that I keep my distance and do not fully trust in You? I pray that You have a good relationship with me, even though as a human I may not always obey Your will, for at times I am still weak, but with the power of Your graceful love, I can do all that You want me to do, instead of what I feel that I need to do Amen.
Oh God, my Father, even though the song may say that You see us from a distance, however, I believe that in truth that distance is not that far away, for I feel You close to me as if my own flesh Amen. I invite you reader to click on the following link and pray by means of the following son by Sir Cliff Richard credit to Kim Chung who uploaded this video on You-tube.
Song From a distance
⁸ Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 8)
Although Elijah knew that it was time to take the decision and do what You my God had asked of him to do, Elijah did not leave Elisha to face the situation on his own but remained with him up to the final minute. Oh God, my Father, I thank You for Your support and Your care. I thank You for sending such people who care for us especially during moments when we need to part with our loved ones or others with whom we are close. Amen.
⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 9)
Oh God, my beloved Father, if You had to ask me today what You could do for me, I would ask You to take my life so that I could be forever with You in everlasting happiness. If this is not possible, I would pray that You give me a portion of faith in You so that I could imitate You throughout the course of my life Amen.
¹⁰ He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 10)
Oh God my Father, even I have asked a hard thing, for You are the one who has the authority to give life and the authority to take life and the same is valid where faith is concerned. Amen.
¹¹ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 11)
Oh God my beloved Father, there is a time for unity and there is also a time for separation. I accept all that You are permitting to take place, and whatever is going to take place in the coming future. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
¹² Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 12)
When exposed to such situations oh God my Father, as in the case of Elisha I do not know what to say and how to behave, for although Elisha believed in You this was a loss for him. I pray for such people who have experienced such a loss or any other forms of loss and are still in a state of bereavement. I pray that You console and comfort their hearts Amen.
¹³ He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 13 to 14)
Oh God my Father during hard times of tribulation we tend to question Your presence, however, this is not the fruit of doubt or unbelief but that of agony and sorrow especially after having experienced some form of loss. I pray for those of us who have either made such an experience or are maybe still stuck in a state of bereavement so that You can give them the needed healing and comfort for their souls Amen.
In order for us to imagine such a situation that is found in the Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 13 to 14 I have inserted the following video clip which is in credit of Faithspeaker
Elisha at the Jordan credit to Faithspeaker
¹⁵ When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 15)
Oh God my Father, many times You give me or others insights or actions that I might think I am doing for their own sake, while in truth I would be observed by others who would be noting a good example and would be experiencing spiritual gain. I pray oh God my Father, that You continue to use me as a beacon of help for others Amen.
¹⁶ They said to him, "See now, we have fifty strong men among your servants; please let them go and seek your master; it may be that the spirit of the LORD has caught him up and thrown him down on some mountain or into some valley."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verse 16)
Oh God my Father how hard it is for us to accept the fact that we are to die and leave this world. Even though they witnessed with their own eyes the way Elijah was taken away they still kept on lingering on the possibility that God had dropped him in a different town or valley. Amen. I pray oh God my Father that I also accept the fact that one day I will be with You in heaven Amen.
¹⁷ But when they urged him until he was ashamed he said, "Send them." So they sent fifty men who searched for three days but did not find him. ¹⁸ When they came back to him (he had remained at Jericho)., he said to them, "Did I not say to you, Do not go?"
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 17 to 18)
Oh God my beloved Father, many times we may tend to give in to what others say or make us believe that is the truth. You love me so much that You do not discourage me from acting according to my ways, however when I experience the consequences of my action, You also make me aware that You had previously shown me that the outcome of my decision was going to be negative, however, You do not force Yourself and Your ways on me or anybody else. Thank You, Jesus.
¹⁹ Now the people of the city said to Elisha, "The location of this city is good, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 19)
Oh God, my beloved Father, we could also be like this land. I could be in an ideal setting to give you praise and worship along with others or even by myself, but my source might be corrupt, in the sense that I would not be passing Your message but simply what I think which is not always correct. Therefore in a spirit of prayer, I beg of You, that I pass on to others the clean water, that I am receiving from You so that both myself and others can bear much fruit in abundance Amen.
²⁰ He said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. ²¹ Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, "Thus says the LORD, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 20 to 21)
Oh God, my Father, many times You mentioned that we are the salt of the world. We are the agent that can improve a situation and we are also that agent that can make it worse if we lose our taste and become bad salt. You have placed me in the world to give life and a positive attitude so that the attributes of salt that as in verse 20 are life and generation of more life can be made possible Amen. May those who were in my presence, experience, this attitude and draw from it Amen.
²² So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 22)
Oh God my blessed Father, may all be according to Your Word, may those ordained to speak Your Words be good tools in Your hand so that they can continue leading us in Your ways according to Your will Amen.
²³ He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him saying; "Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!" ²⁴ When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. ²⁵ From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and then returned to Samaria.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 2 verses 23 to 25)
Oh God, my beloved Father, the evil one can take on many different forms and possession of both humans and non-humans in order to perform the tasks that these evil spirits aim to accomplish. The evil spirits could not tolerate the good spirit of Elisha, therefore, they protested against him by jeering at him to go away.
I would like to end this second chapter of the book of Kings with the following prayer:
Oh God, my beloved Father, the evil one cannot stand Your Holy presence. I pray that we become so closely attached to You that the evil one cannot stand a chance against us and that we be totally protected from its temptations Amen
