Words of Life Bible Study Notes

WORDS OF LIFE SERIES 16 True God – so the attack against Elisha was an attack against God, just as
BIBLE STUDY NOTES STUDIES IN THE LIFE OF when Saul persecuted the early Christians he was really persecuting the Lord
ELISHA Jesus (Acts 9:4). But what is the significance of the mocking words? Elisha
by Francis W. Dixon had just passed through Bethel on his way to Jericho with Elijah, who was then
translated, and now he was returning to Bethel alone. Knowing Elisha to be
God’s newly-appointed prophet, the young men met him with the words, “Go on
Study 2 THE CURSING OF THE YOUNG MEN up you bald head!” In the East, “you bald head” was an expression of abuse – a
(Scripture Portion: 2 Kings 2:11 and 23-25) grave insult. Why did they say, “Go on up…!”? Was it because they knew Elijah
The verses in 2 Kings 2:23-25 are certainly very hard to understand (2 Peter had just gone up, and in effect they were now saying to his successor, “You go
3:16), but it is reasonable to expect difficulties when we read God’s Word. Can up too, where you belong!”? If so, surely they were speaking against Elisha in
the mind of finite man expect fully to understand records which are the product the same way that some ungodly people today speak against the Lord’s
of the Infinite Mind? Would the Bible be a divine revelation if poor finite minds servants.
could fathom it? To admit that there are problems in the Bible in no way lessens 4. NOW CONSIDER ELISHA’S ACTION.
its value, and we must remember that facts are never altered or discounted by Read verse 24. Was he wrong? Did he act hastily? The proof that it was not
failure on our part to understand them. As we study this portion of scripture let wrong is the fact that God endorsed what he did by sending swift and terrible
us see what lessons God has to teach us. judgment upon these enemies of His name. This judgment came at the
1. CONSIDER WHO THESE “YOUTHS” WERE. beginning of Elisha’s ministry – compare Acts 5:1-11, which came at the
Our Authorised Version says that those who mocked Elisha were “little children”, beginning of the apostolic ministry.
which would suggest children of up to 10 years old, whilst the New International 5. SEE HOW GOD’S JUDGMENT FELL UPON THESE MOCKERS.
Version calls them “youths”, which would suggest boys of, say, up to 20 years We are not told, in verse 24, that forty-two were killed, though probably some
old. How old were they? were and many would carry a scar to the end of their days. But was not this
(1) In Genesis 44:20, Benjamin is described as “a young son born to him in his old judgment very severe? – look up 2 Chronicles 36:16.
age” – but Benjamin was at least twenty at that time.
(2) In 1 Samuel 16:11, David is called “the youngest” of Jesse’s “sons”, and the 6. IN CONCLUSION, NOTICE SOME LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM
Hebrew words for “youngest” and “children” are the two words translated THIS INCIDENT.
“youths” in 2 Kings 2:23. How old was David at this time? In 1 Samuel 16:18 (1) We must guard against having a distorted, one-sided view of God – look up Mark
we are told he was “a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine 16:16; Romans 6:23; 11:22.
looking man…”, which suggests he must have been twenty or thirty years of (2) God cannot be defied with impunity, whether by old or young – look up Proverbs
age. 29:1; Galatians 6:7-8.
(3) In 1 Kings 3:7, Solomon says of himself, “I am only a little child” – again the “Instead of apologising for this record as though we were ashamed of it, it is far
same two Hebrew words – but Solomon was twenty years old! better to accept it fully as one of the warnings of scripture that God will not be
It would, therefore, appear that the “youths” who mocked Elisha were between defied with impunity, and that the judgments in this life whereby He indicated
that fact in Old Testament times are a warning to us in our day, when temporal
sixteen and thirty years of age; they were of a responsible age and old enough
judgments are rarer but eternal judgment remains.” (H. E. Guillebaud).
to know what they were doing. This attack on God’s prophet, then, was made (3) It is very dangerous to persecute God’s people – look up Psalm 105:15; Zechariah
by responsible men! 2:8.
2. NOTICE WHERE THESE OFFENDERS LIVED. (4) Parents must suffer if they neglect or poison their children. These “children” had
They lived in Bethel, where there was a golden calf erected by Jeroboam (1 been trained in idolatry; now they and their parents were suffering in consequence.
Kings 12:28-33) – a stronghold of idolatry and a centre of apostasy. They were (5) Difficult as this subject is, let us remember that the Judge of all the earth always
representatives of a wicked movement that blasphemed the name of God, and does that which is right – look up Genesis 18:25.
their attack on Elisha was not, therefore, a sudden whim but the expression of a This is indeed a solemn incident, but before we leave it let us go down on our
determined attitude. knees in God’s presence and read 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10. How fearful will be
the judgment that will fall upon our unbelieving world when the Lord of Glory
3. NOW OBSERVE EXACTLY WHAT THESE OFFENDERS DID. comes again!
They mocked Elisha, saying, “Go on up, you bald head; go on up, you bald Closing Thought: 2 Peter 3: 9-10.
head!” (verse 23). Elisha was God’s prophet, and whereas these young men
WORDS OF LIFE MINISTRIES
were representatives of their false gods, so Elisha was the representative of the
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WORDS OF LIFE SERIES 16 True God – so the attack against Elisha was an attack against God, just as

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