WINNERS AND LOSERS (THE BOOK OF 2 KINGS PART1)

By Frank Eiklor and Cecilia Contreras

LESSON 50 Part 1

INTRODUCTION

Remember the saying that those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to repeat it. That warning applies to biblical history as well as to the secular.

Paul urged the Corinthian Christians to apply to their lives the lessons of the Old Testament. “Now all these things happened to them for examples: and they are written for our admonition…” (see 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11). Paul warns that those who are too proud, lazy or foolish to learn from those who pleased God and won, and those who disobeyed the Lord and lost, will be in danger of a terrible fall (see 1 Corinthians 10:12,13).

Let’s continue our study of winners and losers—this time beginning in 2 Kings. We will eventually travel all the way through the Old Testament.

WHEN CHILDREN MUST CHOOSE

2 KINGS

1:1-14   A son of an evil king chooses to walk in the steps of his father rather than turn around, and pays the same price for sin (note: vv 7, 8 Ahaziah knew Elijah’s reputation and life, but ignored him). 

2:1-14   Elisha an example of a faithful disciple who determined to be like his master.

2:23, 24   Tragic example of little children whose mocking of God’s servant cost them their lives (42 kids dead—was their mockery calling against Elisha a reflection of their parent’s examples?!)         

3:1-3, 13, 14   Example of a man who rejected the “cold” (Rev. 1:16) of his evil parents but still chose to be “lukewarm” and felt God’s strong  rebuke through Elisha.

3:7, 10, 11  Jehoshaphat—Example of a man loved by God but with a dangerous habit of committing himself to paths of action before seeking God’s will, rather than the other way around (he did the same with Ahab).

4:1-10, 13, 16, 30, 36  Two special women are examples of faith and love.

5:1-3   A little maid—nameless—an example of God using the “foolish” and “weak” to effect world evangelism.

CRUSHED PRIDE

5:5-18   Naaman—an example of how pride must be crushed before God’s grace and power can be experienced.

5:15, 16, 20, 25-27  Elisha and Gehazi—Examples of two hearts—one emptied of greed; the other filled with it.

6:15-17, 22, 23  Elisha and Gehazi—Examples of living in the world of the                                                              spiritual versus walking in the flesh. (Note also how kindness                                                           worked better than killing.)

7:1, 2, 16, 17  Example—One of the world’s “wise men” challenges the word of God—and fulfills it with his death.

FOUR LEPERS LEAVE A LESSON

7:3-9  Example—Four lepers teach us not to withhold God’s good news.

8:16-18, 26, 27  Example—Take a stand against evil behavior of in-laws or else surrender to it and become identified with them.

9:30-37   Jezebel—God’s example of how His wheels of justice sometime grind slowly, but leave nothing except dust. (See also 10:6, 7, 16- 28).

10:16, 28-31  Example of how a man’s zeal for God can turn to arrogance.

11:1-3, 12-18, 20   Example of a power-mad, conspiring woman “out-conspired” by the Lord (vv 4, 17 Jehoiada—how God plus one equals a majority).

(TO BE CONTINUED)