2 Kings 6:8-33
Today's Passage: 2 Kings 6:8-33
In our passage today, I want to focus on something that I don’t necessarily think about much, and I would be surprised if you do either.
Both in my personal walk with God and time in Scripture, as well as teaching the Bible to others, I rarely think much about the angelic realm, and the role angels play in our daily lives.
Maybe the closest we come to thinking about angels is right now, during the Christmas season, where we see the angels and their role in the coming of Christ into the world.
But what we see in this passage gives us a glimpse into something we don’t see and aren’t always aware of: how God uses angels to accomplish his purposes.
Elisha knows that the Lord has sent an army of angels to protect him, and apparently he can see them but the servant cannot. The angelic armies have been there all along, but they are invisible to Elisha’s servant until the Lord enables him to see them (cf. 2:11; also Num. 22:31; Luke 2:13; Col. 1:16). the mountain was full. Syrian troops may surround (Hb. sabab) the city (2 Kings 6:15), but Elisha himself is supported all around (Hb. sabib) by the army of the Lord. (ESV Study Bible)
It is natural to then ask, “What does this mean for me today? What roles do angels play in your everyday life?”
My honest answer is I’m not totally sure. But one thing I think we can safely say is that there is likely much more happening in the angelic realm than we realize. Paul helps us see that from a different perspective, when he talks about the ways the demonic angels affect us on a daily basis in Ephesians 6:
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Written By: Graham Withers
In our passage today, I want to focus on something that I don’t necessarily think about much, and I would be surprised if you do either.
Both in my personal walk with God and time in Scripture, as well as teaching the Bible to others, I rarely think much about the angelic realm, and the role angels play in our daily lives.
Maybe the closest we come to thinking about angels is right now, during the Christmas season, where we see the angels and their role in the coming of Christ into the world.
But what we see in this passage gives us a glimpse into something we don’t see and aren’t always aware of: how God uses angels to accomplish his purposes.
16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Elisha knows that the Lord has sent an army of angels to protect him, and apparently he can see them but the servant cannot. The angelic armies have been there all along, but they are invisible to Elisha’s servant until the Lord enables him to see them (cf. 2:11; also Num. 22:31; Luke 2:13; Col. 1:16). the mountain was full. Syrian troops may surround (Hb. sabab) the city (2 Kings 6:15), but Elisha himself is supported all around (Hb. sabib) by the army of the Lord. (ESV Study Bible)
It is natural to then ask, “What does this mean for me today? What roles do angels play in your everyday life?”
My honest answer is I’m not totally sure. But one thing I think we can safely say is that there is likely much more happening in the angelic realm than we realize. Paul helps us see that from a different perspective, when he talks about the ways the demonic angels affect us on a daily basis in Ephesians 6:
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Written By: Graham Withers
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