King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, July 01, 2025
Chapters: II Kings 1-3
Message: II Kings: Elisha Succeeds Elijah
Hello My Friend,
As we begin the reading of II Kings, we learn that God gives all the opportunity to repent, but has no respect for those who choose Satan over Him. We also learn that God chooses His servants and until His Son returns He will keep the light burning from one servant to the next, [John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.]
The Book of 2 Kings contains twenty-five chapters, the author is Jeremiah and it was written to Israel. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 896 BC to 588 BC. The purpose of the book was to record how God dealt with Israel before the coming of Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that God is sovereign ruler of all nations, blessing the obedient, punishing the disobedient, and is merciful to those who love Him, [2 Kings 17:36 But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.]
After Ahab died Baal worship was pretty much removed from the kingdom, but they still refused to worship God, yet with each and every new king, God, still encouraged them to return to Him. 2 Kings, begins after Ahab’s death and no sooner than his son Ahaziah begins to reign he fell and was severely ill.
[2 Kings 1:1-4 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. 3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? 4 Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.]
This fool could not even pray himself, yet fully knowing what happened to his father seeks advice from the son of Satan himself of all spiritual beings. In a sense, it is better to be an atheist than agnostic because at least an atheist does not put their hope in whatever spiritual being they believe in. I believe I stand with Joshua when he basically said, you can choose any god that you want, but as for me and my house, I choose the LORD, [Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.]
When you stop to think about the angel of the LORD being Jesus and Him asking that question to Ahaziah you can imagine the tone in His voice as well as His disposition, it was probably one of sorrow. It reminds me of what He said when Roman soldier who asked Him for help and He said that He had not seen that kind of faith in the children of Israel, [Matthew 8:8,10 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.]
Here was the thing, Ahaziah knew who Elijah was so he was fully aware of the fact that God’s presence was in Samaria. When the messengers returned to tell him what Elijah said he knew exactly who he was and sent soldiers to capture him, which was not a very good idea.
[2 Kings 1:7-10 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words? 8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite. 9 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. 10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.]
These men did not believe that what Elijah said was true so in other words, Elijah was saying, “If I truly am a man of God then He will let fire will come down from heaven and prove to these fools that I am.” It took another group of men to die the same way before a third group, these men were so scared that the captain got down on his knees and begged for their lives.
[2 Kings 1:13-15 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. 14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. 15 And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.]
Do you see who was with Elijah the whole time? The angel of the LORD. We may not see Him physically, but Jesus is always with us, and not only does He have His angels protecting us, He also has given us the Holy Spirit so that we never need to be afraid. However, there is one thing to learn about sudden fear, it reminds us that God is always with us, [Proverbs 3:25-26 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.]
Elijah, met with the king with the same message, and since he did not repent, he died just as God said he would, [2 Kings 1:16-17 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. 17 So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.]
Jehoroam, was Ahaziah’s brother who succeeded him after he died because he had no son. This is proof that God gives all the opportunity to repent all the way to their deathbed, but the key to their salvation will always and forever be repentance, [Hebrews 4:2-3 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.]
Remember, when Elijah went to Obadiah to tell Ahab to meet with him? He said this to him, [1 Kings 18:12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.]
God, also told him that He would send a prophet to succeed him when he is gone, [1 Kings 19:15-17 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.]
It is rare that we learn of those who would come in the place of another, but God does raise up servants to take their place and it will stay that way until Jesus returns. Now, the time that God would take up Elijah in a tornado of all things was coming to pass, God, leads him to the place where He would take him up. However, someone was following him and it was Elisha.
[2 Kings 2:1-3 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. 3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.]
Elisha, did not care what they said, he was going to follow Elijah until the end, but not for proof like many would suggest, he had a specific reason. This went on several times and Elisha had the same response.
[2 Kings 2:5-7 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.]
The sons of the prophets were living in a seminary, learning the Word of God and how to minister to the people, while they all knew that Elijah would be carried up into the heavens they did not really believe it. The reason we learn this is their reaction after Elijah was taken up, but before he was taken up he asks Elisha what it was that he wanted.
[2 Kings 2:8-10 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me. 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.]
Elisha, knew that he would be the one to succeed Elijah as the prophet of God in the Northern Kingdom, and knowing that it was going to be a huge task asks not only for the power of the Holy Spirit upon his life, he wants a double portion of it. We should all be so inclined to seek not only the bare minimum of what we are given through our faith in Christ, but to ask for the Holy Spirit to move through us in a way that others will see Christ through us, [1 Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.]
Now, the sons of the prophets stood and watched Elijah and Elisha as they approached the Jordan, then something incredible happened, [2 Kings 2:11-13 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;]
We must understand that Elijah was not sinless, there are two great revelations here; One; We cannot take anything with us when God calls us home. And two; this is the same reception that all Christ’s saints get when He comes for them. No, we are not going to be taken up to the heavens by a tornado, but those who are here will ascend just like Jesus did when He went back up, but what will be more incredible is the fact that the ones who are in the graves will be the first to leave, [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.]
The second we dedicate our lives to Christ we ought to be on fire for serving Him, but we also need to be mindful of those who are unlearned and not so believing as we are. Elisha, picked up Elijah’s mantle and did not waste any time getting started, however, the sons of the prophets who were watching what was going on, all they saw was a tornado, instead of believing what they were taught they believed that he was thrown somewhere by the tornado.
[2 Kings 2:15-17 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The Spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. 17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.]
Sadly, these men were no different than the men who were consumed by the fire that came down from heaven. They insisted he was lying in a ditch somewhere and even talked Elisha into letting them go search for him, which is exactly why they did not see Elijah taken up. God, responds to faith, anyone can say they believe in Him, but He only reveals Himself to true believers, [Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.]
When Elisha asked for a double portion of the Spirit of God upon his ministry God did not waste any time. After Ahaziah died his brother Jehoram reigned because Ahaziah had no sons. Moab, comes against them so, Jehoram, enlists the help of king Jehoshaphat in Judah and the king of Edom, of all people.
[2 Kings 3:1-3,7 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 2 And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. 3 Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. 7 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.]
Did Jehoshaphat not learn his lesson from what happened with Ahab? This was Jehoshaphat’s biggest downfall and one that I possess, it is that he tried to see the good in everyone and had hope that if he could steer them in the right direction toward God, then they would follow Him too. This has caused me more problems than I care to admit, nevertheless, God, has taught me a thing or two about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer at times, [Luke 16:9-11 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?]
Jehoram, immediately thought that their having no water was an act of God. Of course, he did not want to follow Him, but He did want His protections and just knew that God was sending judgment on them, [2 Kings 3:9-11 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. 10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab! 11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.]
This time, Jehoshaphat, being the godly man that he is, decided they needed answers from God and was not going to do anything unless it came from Him and that is when they met up with Elisha. In fact, if it were not for Jehoshaphat being there with them Elisha would not have given them the time of day, but before he gave them an answer he had a strange request, he asked them to bring his guitar first.
[2 Kings 3:13-16 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. 14 And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. 15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.]
With all the resources they had they were to take some shovels and dig ditches. No doubt these men were thinking, “We are digging our own graves!” Nevertheless, they did what Elisha said and the next morning they were filled with water to sustain them and their cattle. Interestingly enough, when Moab looked down into the valley that water looked like blood, they thought that the kings killed each other, and when they went down to take the army, Israel defeated them.
[2 Kings 3:20-22,24 And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. 21 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. 22 And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood: 24 And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.]
Do you know what God sees when He looks at His people? He sees the blood of His Son upon their souls. How awesome is it that we have the all powerful, all mighty God to defend and protect us? How incredible is it that we get to speak to Him and talk with Him, and He listens to us? I think we ought to feel pretty blessed right now. One day, we will never have to suffer, we need to count each day as a blessing, being reminded that whatever we are going through someone else has it much worse, and in the end, it will all be worth it when we see Jesus, [1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for loving me so much that You were willing to come here Yourself in the flesh of man to become the sinless sacrifice I needed to be able to reach You. Not by our righteousness do we know You, but by our faith and acceptance in what Your Son did. My name is settled in heaven solely upon my faith in Christ, and for that I know that I have Your Spirit upon me. Lord, lead me and guide me, help me to be a witness and a testimony to those who do not know You, open my ears to hear when You tell me to speak to someone about Jesus, and give me the boldness to speak the truth and not be offended or intimated by those who refuse to listen. Let me live every day of my life seeking Your will so that Your Light shines through me, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit power to endure the suffering. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2025 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.