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MINISTRY OF ELIJAH

Text: 2 Kings 8:7-29
18 May 2010

(I) MINISTRY OF ELIJAH

1. Some ministries were unfulfilled

2. These would have to be fulfilled

3. God’s word to Elijah (Cf. 1 Kings 19:15-18)

a) The anointing of Hazael

b) The anointing of Jehu

c) The anointing of Elisha

4. Only Elisha had been anointed (Cf. 1 Kings 19:19-21)

(II) MINISTRY OF ELISHA- IN ISRAEL

1. He had already established himself as a prophet of God

2. His ministry was very extensive:-

a) Teaching of the sons of the prophets

b) Special ministry to individuals

c) Special ministry to the king of Israel (a national ministry)

(III) MINISTRY OF ELISHA- OUTSIDE ISRAEL

1. Elisha’s presence in Damascus (2 Kings 8:7)

2. Sending of Hazael to consult with Elisha by Ben-Hadad, king of Syria (2 Kings 8:8)

3. Ben-Hadad’s inquiry

“Shall I recover from this disease?” 2 Kings 8:8

4. Elisha’s enigmatic reply

“You shall certainly recover” 2 Kings 8:10a

“However the LORD has shown me that he will really die.” 2 Kings 8:10b

(IV) CONVERSATION WITH HAZAEL

1. Elisha wept as he looked at Hazael (2 Kings 8:11)

2. Hazael’s inquiry

“Why is my lord weeping?” 2 Kings 8:12a

3. Elisha’s sad answer

a) Hazael would become the next king of Syria (2 Kings 8:13b)

b) He will do great evil against Israel (2 Kings 8:12b)

i) He will set Israel’s strongholds on fire (2 Kings 8:12c)

ii) He will kill many young men (2 Kings 8:12d)

iii) He will kill children too (2 Kings 8:12e)

iv) He will even viciously kill pregnant women (2 Kings 8:12f)

4. Hazael’s protest

a) He protests vehemently (2 Kings 8:13a)

b) He swears that he would never “do this gross thing” (2 Kings 8:13b)

(V) FULFILMENT OF ELISHA’S WORD

1. Hazael reports to Ben-Hadad and says that he would recover from his illness (2 Kings 8:14)

2. Hazael assassinates Ben-Hadad the very next day (2 Kings 8:15)