READ: 2 Kin. 6:24–7:20: … my son we boiled and ate … you shall see it with your own eyes, but not eat of it … the sound of a great army … there was no one anymore … according to the word of the LORD … the people trampled him in the gate …
King Ben-Hadad of Syria makes a second attempt to conquer the ten-tribe kingdom and for that purpose besieges the capital, Samaria. God wants to bring King Joram and the people to a decision to submit themselves to Him and to serve Him with a devoted heart. If they repent, deliverance will be their portion.
The LORD continues to work toward this through His prophet. But since there is no reformation and the self-willed religion in Israel continues, He again brings His foretold judgment (Deut. 28:15ff.). The prolonged siege leads to a terrible famine with inhuman consequences. They eat their own children!
When the king hears the horrifying account that a mother has cooked her child, he tears his clothes and mourns. Yet he does not come to repentance; on the contrary, he holds Elisha, and with him the LORD Himself, responsible. He even wants to kill Elisha. Elisha is prepared for this.
He announces the coming of Joram as a murderer’s son. Indeed, Joram is like his father Ahab, who killed so many prophets. All warnings to repent have been rejected by Joram. He shows who he is by nature: a murderer.
But Elisha lets the king know that the LORD will bring a turn: food will again be sold (7:1)! When an officer who stands beside the king expresses his unbelief mockingly,
Elisha pronounces God’s judgment over him: “you shall see it with your eyes, but not eat of it.” The promise of deliverance comes when no hint of it is yet visible. It must be believed because the LORD is trustworthy. The officer does not show such faith but instead mocks the LORD. Thus judgement comes upon him.
For the foretold deliverance comes. Lepers discover that the entire army has fled in haste. But the officer is trampled by the crowd and dies. Thus the Word of God is fulfilled.
Why does the LORD grant deliverance without repentance?
Singing: Ps. 56:4