the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
2 Kings 2:15-25
The "sons" of the prophets were really their disciples, living together, instructed in the Word, and used by the LORD in His service. Those at Jericho, as was the case with Thomas later, cannot believe in the mysterious event which has just taken place.
Elisha at Jericho represents Christ come in grace into this world, a world stamped by death and barrenness. Life is brought into it by the purifying power of grace (the salt), contained and manifested in the new man (the new cruse). Every believer is called to be, in this same world, "a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use" (2 Timothy 2:21).
The horrific scene which follows reminds us of the judgments which are prepared for mockers (Proverbs 19:29). The young men of Bethel insulted the LORD Himself. "Go up, thou bald head": this was to challenge Elisha to be caught up like Elijah. The apostle Peter tells us that in the last days scoffers will come, walking after their own lusts and saying: Where is the promise of His coming? (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Then the bears came! The bear is associated in the Bible with the lion: Satan. How solemn this is! God will permit these children, who despise the Word, to become the prey of the world and of its Prince: a fate worse than death, since the salvation of the soul is concerned.
