the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
2 Kings 1:11-18
In his obstinacy, Ahaziah sent a second captain of fifty to bring Elijah. His summons is still more insolent. "Come down quickly!" It meets with the same terrible response.
At Carmel, the fire did not fall from heaven on those present at the scene but on the sacrifice. This is a picture of divine judgment falling on Christ in order to bring the hearts of His people back to God. But in our chapter, on this other mountain, the fire must descend in judgment on the rebellious men.
Jesus, the holy Victim, was alone in experiencing the heat of divine wrath. But, later on, those who have not believed will have to submit themselves to this inflexible wrath for all eternity (Romans 1:18).
This day of judgment has not yet come. That is why, when the disciples James and John, having this incident in mind, propose that the Lord should cause fire to descend from heaven on a village of the Samaritans, He has to reprove them severely (Luke 9:52-56).
The captain of the third fifty is perhaps one of the 7000 of whom the LORD had spoken to the prophet. He speaks with respect, humility, and affection for his soldiers. Elijah will go with him to the king, but only to repeat word for word his original message, soon to be fulfilled by the death of Ahaziah.
