I have read through my designated section a number of times and did not find that a profound statement was going to come out of me regarding this reading.

It’s good to be the king-sometimes the saying goes. Not always the case. In the reading for this week, it goes through a succession of kings (Ben-Hadad, Aram; Hazael, Aram; Jehoram, Judah; Joram, Israel; Ahazian, Judah; Jehu, Israel; Joash, Judah)

All of them seemed to start out well, but did not really deliver in the end. They did not destroy the gold calves at Bethel and Dan, did not destroy pagan shrines, collected money to repair the temple but failed to follow through for 23 years. They all seemed to meet an untimely end, in battle or by assassination. King could prove to be a fairly untenable position.

Elisha, on the other hand, pretty much weathers the storms and seasons of the various kings. Elisha did some amazing things because he put his faith in God and God supported him in all that he did (relayed Aram King’s plans to the Israelites, blinded the king’s army when they came to capture him, ended the famine in the city under siege, foretold that Hazael would become king, informed Jehu that he would be king).

The kings, outwardly the most powerful people during their reign, were really small potatoes compared to the influence that Elisha wielded. Kings come and go, but I guess in reality it was good to be a prophet and reap the rewards and consequences of a life of faithfulness to the Lord. Still holds true today, there are a lot of people who have the outward appearance of success and riches but have no happiness in their heart. Need to do a reality check of what inspires them and what they value.