Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old Testament: Jericho's Bitter Waters Made Sweet.
Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Old
Testament: Jericho's Bitter Waters Made Sweet.
Occasion: Elisha's First
Miracle.
Location: Jericho.
Bible Text:
II Kings 2:19-22 NLT
19 One day the leaders of the town
of Jericho visited Elisha. “We have a problem, my lord,” they
told him. “This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you
can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.”
20 Elisha said, “Bring me a new
bowl with salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring
that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it. And he
said, “This is what The Lord says: I have purified this water. It
will no longer cause death or infertility.”
22 And the water has remained pure
ever since, just as Elisha said.
The
First eighteen verses of this chapter tell us the story of Elijah's
passing into heaven, and Elisha, requesting of the prophet “Please
let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your
successor” verse 9.
“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah
replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get
your request” Verse 10.
Elisha saw Elijah taken up to heaven, and so The Spirit of Elijah rested upon Elisha.
II
Kings 2:19 NLT
One day the leaders of the town
of Jericho visited Elisha. “We have a problem, my lord,” they
told him. “This town is located in pleasant surroundings, as you
can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.”
The absolute most a
person can survive without water is 7 days. Life cannot exist without
it.
Not only was
Jericho's water bad for human consumption, crops couldn't be grown in
it either.
The people needed a
miracle, and now it was time to see if indeed The Spirit of Elijah
rested upon Elisha!
II Kings 2:20
NLT
Elisha said, “Bring me a new
bowl with salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
Why salt? The mineral salt, like water is absolutely necessary for
life. Salt was used as a seasoning, a preservative, and as a
disinfectant.
What was it Jesus said?
Matthew 5:13 KJV
Ye are the salt
of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it
be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out,
and to be trodden under foot of men.
What does it mean? It means Christians, that we Spirit filled
believers are a spiritual preservative in the world! Should we loose
our saltiness, our spirituality, not only will we be in loss, but all
those around us, who could have been helped and saved, will not be.
II Kings 2:21,22
NLT
21 Then he went out to the spring
that supplied the town with water and threw the salt into it...”
John 17:14-19
KJV (Christians in the world.)
14 I have given
them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of
the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray
not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not
of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify
them through Thy Truth: Thy Word Is Truth.
18 As thou hast
sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for
their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified
through The Truth.
II Kings 2:21,22
“...And he said, “This is
what The Lord says: I have purified this water. It will no longer
cause death or infertility.”
22 And the water has remained
pure ever since, just as Elisha said.
Faith and Salt, had made the difference. Elisha was God's man of
faith, in the power of Elijah, and the people of God, knew it.
These wonderful stories from long ago past, are for our edification today.
They tell us that by faith and The Spirit of God, we may see miracles as well, today.
Lives changed, by the power of God, from lifeless,
to living and radiant.
Men and women with changed lives, loving and serving The Living God,
and their fellow man.
Friends, throw in the salt! By faith, The Spirit Of God, will perform
the spiritual synthesis, transforming death to life, if we but
believe!
I Corinthians
2:5 KJV
"...your
faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of
God."