Day 130 · Part 8: Two Kingdoms

The Last of Elisha

2 Kgs 13–14 · 2 Chr 25 · 82 verses

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In the Story

Chapter 13: The Last of ElishaAbout 10 minutes, or listen

In context

Under Jehu’s son Jehoahaz, Syria leaves Israel only fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers; he begs the Lord, and the Lord gives Israel “a savior” (2 Kings 13:4–7). As Elisha lies dying, King Jehoash weeps over him and calls him “My father, my father,” the words Elisha cried when Elijah was taken (13:14; 2:12). Even after his burial, a dead man who touches Elisha’s bones comes back to life (13:21).

In Judah, Amaziah puts his father’s murderers to death but spares their children, as the law of Moses says (14:5–6; Deuteronomy 24:16). It is a hard reading: his army kills ten thousand Edomites and throws ten thousand more from a rock (2 Chronicles 25:11–12). He bows to Edom’s gods, then challenges Israel, and Jehoash of Israel breaks down about 200 yards of Jerusalem’s wall (25:14–23).

Jeroboam son of Jehoash reigns forty-one years and restores Israel’s border, as the Lord had said through “Jonah the son of Amittai,” whose own book is the next reading (2 Kings 14:23–25). The Lord “saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter” (14:26).

A word of hope

He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac, and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute; to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

Psalms 105:8–10 · The Lord had compassion on Israel “because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”; the psalm says, “He has remembered his covenant forever.”

In the Bible

World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).

A hymn for today

How Firm a Foundation · words by “K” in John Rippon’s Selection of Hymns

Organ and orchestra: an introduction, then each of the 7 verses. Tap a verse’s number to start there.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!What more can He say than to you He hath said,You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
In every condition, in sickness, in health,In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,As thy days may demand shall thy strength ever be.
Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;The flame shall not hurt thee; I only designThy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
E'en down to old age all My people shall proveMy sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,I will not, I will not desert to his foes;That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,I'll never, no never, no never forsake.