100:00:00,080 –> 00:00:03,640♪200:00:03,640 –> 00:00:09,420The story itself really revolves around three characters.300:00:10,380 –> 00:00:14,600There are lepers who are blessed beyond measure400:00:14,600 –> 00:00:17,059and then think only of themselves.500:00:17,459 –> 00:00:23,400There’s the king who hears the Good News and then doubts it600:00:23,400 –> 00:00:29,360and then there’s this captain who resolutely refused to believe.700:00:29,840 –> 00:00:32,400Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith,800:00:32,400 –> 00:00:33,279I’m David Pick.900:00:33,279 –> 00:00:35,360Glad you could join us today,1000:00:35,360 –> 00:00:39,360and you may have heard us say that sometimes that the gospel is good news1100:00:39,360 –> 00:00:42,520and today we’re going to look at a story which has some good news in it1200:00:42,520 –> 00:00:44,459but how we respond to good news?1300:00:44,459 –> 00:00:46,980Well people respond in different ways.1400:00:46,980 –> 00:00:49,639So for the person who maybe heard the gospel1500:00:49,639 –> 00:00:51,939and they’re not really sure how to respond1600:00:51,939 –> 00:00:54,200how might today’s programme be helpful?1700:00:54,200 –> 00:00:55,959Well we said at the top of the programme1800:00:55,959 –> 00:00:58,799that there really are three characters in the story1900:00:58,799 –> 00:01:00,759that we’re looking at today2000:01:00,759 –> 00:01:02,759and I think the challenge is2100:01:02,759 –> 00:01:05,959which one do you identify with?2200:01:05,959 –> 00:01:07,599They’re very very different.2300:01:07,599 –> 00:01:10,680I mean there is a captain in this story2400:01:10,680 –> 00:01:13,680who refuses to believe.2500:01:13,680 –> 00:01:15,239Now there will be some people2600:01:15,239 –> 00:01:17,099who are listening to the programme today2700:01:17,099 –> 00:01:18,239who have heard the gospel2800:01:18,239 –> 00:01:20,800and you know that this is your reality.2900:01:20,800 –> 00:01:22,940You simply refuse to believe it.3000:01:22,940 –> 00:01:25,800You have many friends who are Christians3100:01:25,879 –> 00:01:27,680but you’ve taken your stand that3200:01:27,680 –> 00:01:30,959this I do not believe.3300:01:30,959 –> 00:01:33,260Well I really hope and pray3400:01:33,260 –> 00:01:35,239that as you listen to the word of God3500:01:35,239 –> 00:01:36,360on the programme today3600:01:36,360 –> 00:01:38,779that you’re gonna move from that.3700:01:38,779 –> 00:01:39,620That you’re going to see3800:01:39,620 –> 00:01:40,919that that is a position3900:01:40,919 –> 00:01:44,860that nobody ultimately wants to remain in4000:01:44,860 –> 00:01:46,000and that you will come4100:01:46,000 –> 00:01:48,519to open your mind and your heart.4200:01:48,519 –> 00:01:50,559Then there’s another character in this story4300:01:50,559 –> 00:01:51,800who hears good news4400:01:51,800 –> 00:01:53,720and then just doubts it4500:01:53,720 –> 00:01:56,279and so does not get the benefit4600:01:56,279 –> 00:01:58,480that could be his.4700:01:58,480 –> 00:02:00,160Oh there’s so much4800:02:00,160 –> 00:02:02,320that you’re missing out on4900:02:02,320 –> 00:02:04,120if that’s you.5000:02:04,120 –> 00:02:05,720What I want you to see today5100:02:05,720 –> 00:02:07,480is that those who believed5200:02:07,480 –> 00:02:09,479and received the good news5300:02:09,479 –> 00:02:11,960entered into the most marvellous blessing5400:02:11,960 –> 00:02:14,000and then were able to share it with others.5500:02:14,000 –> 00:02:16,160And I hope that this story5600:02:16,160 –> 00:02:17,199about three people5700:02:17,199 –> 00:02:19,279in very different positions5800:02:19,279 –> 00:02:20,559will bring us to the place5900:02:20,559 –> 00:02:23,240where we make a believing response6000:02:23,639 –> 00:02:25,160to the gospel the good news6100:02:25,160 –> 00:02:26,919of the Lord Jesus Christ.6200:02:26,919 –> 00:02:28,080So join us today,6300:02:28,080 –> 00:02:31,000if you can in Two Kings Chapter 76400:02:31,000 –> 00:02:32,559as we begin a message.6500:02:32,559 –> 00:02:34,039God will bless us.6600:02:34,039 –> 00:02:35,639Here is Pastor Colin.6700:02:35,639 –> 00:02:37,720This is the last message6800:02:37,720 –> 00:02:41,279in our series on the life of Elijah.6900:02:41,279 –> 00:02:44,279And we have a marvellous story today7000:02:44,279 –> 00:02:47,399to end this series.7100:02:47,399 –> 00:02:48,720Now the background to the story7200:02:48,720 –> 00:02:49,720we’re looking at today7300:02:49,720 –> 00:02:52,559begins in Second Kings Chapter 67400:02:52,559 –> 00:02:54,600and Verse 24,7500:02:54,600 –> 00:02:55,440where we read that7600:02:55,440 –> 00:02:58,639Afterward Ben Hadad King of Syria7700:02:58,639 –> 00:03:01,600Mustered his entire army7800:03:01,600 –> 00:03:05,360and went up and besieged Samaria.7900:03:05,360 –> 00:03:07,080Afterward.8000:03:07,080 –> 00:03:09,320Well after what?8100:03:09,320 –> 00:03:12,240The answer is after God had blessed8200:03:12,240 –> 00:03:14,479the King of Syria.8300:03:14,479 –> 00:03:15,199You remember8400:03:15,199 –> 00:03:17,279that the king of Syria’s commander8500:03:17,279 –> 00:03:19,119a man by the name of Nehamun8600:03:19,240 –> 00:03:21,320was wonderfully miraculously healed8700:03:21,320 –> 00:03:23,880of leprosy by the Lord.8800:03:23,880 –> 00:03:26,559Remember that the King of Syria’s troops8900:03:26,559 –> 00:03:28,039were lead into Samaria9000:03:28,039 –> 00:03:29,100where they were delivered9100:03:29,100 –> 00:03:31,320into the hands of the king of Israel9200:03:31,320 –> 00:03:34,199and he gave them a feast9300:03:34,199 –> 00:03:35,600and then sent them home9400:03:35,600 –> 00:03:37,679without any harm coming to them at all.9500:03:37,679 –> 00:03:39,559So the king of Syria9600:03:39,559 –> 00:03:41,160had been greatly blessed.9700:03:41,160 –> 00:03:43,080We’ve seen that in this series9800:03:43,080 –> 00:03:44,080but his response9900:03:44,080 –> 00:03:45,880to the kindness he received10000:03:46,039 –> 00:03:49,240was to muster an entire army10100:03:49,240 –> 00:03:52,020to besiege Samaria.10200:03:52,020 –> 00:03:53,979Now this was something new.10300:03:53,979 –> 00:03:55,779We’ve seen in the series10400:03:55,779 –> 00:03:59,360the previously the King of Syria’s tactics10500:03:59,360 –> 00:04:02,419had been to send raiding parties10600:04:02,419 –> 00:04:05,839bands of raiders over the border.10700:04:05,839 –> 00:04:07,559And last week we saw that10800:04:07,559 –> 00:04:09,660after the failed attempt10900:04:09,660 –> 00:04:11,940to arrest Elisha11000:04:11,940 –> 00:04:15,380that these raiding parties ceased.11100:04:15,419 –> 00:04:18,339But then afterward we’re now being told11200:04:18,339 –> 00:04:22,239the King of Syria embarked on a new plan,11300:04:22,239 –> 00:04:25,880and his new plan was total war.11400:04:26,700 –> 00:04:28,339Everything he had11500:04:28,339 –> 00:04:31,660was thrown into a single campaign.11600:04:31,660 –> 00:04:34,420He mustered his entire army11700:04:35,299 –> 00:04:38,619and went up and besieged Samaria.11800:04:40,220 –> 00:04:42,660Now the tactic in a siege of course11900:04:42,700 –> 00:04:47,700was to form a camp around the walls of an entire city.12000:04:49,040 –> 00:04:51,760So no one could get into the city12100:04:51,760 –> 00:04:55,700and no one could come out from the city.12200:04:55,700 –> 00:04:57,720And when there was a siege of course12300:04:57,720 –> 00:05:02,140it wasn’t long before food was in short supply12400:05:02,140 –> 00:05:05,739and you don’t need a degree in economics to know12500:05:05,739 –> 00:05:09,739that when supplies are low, prices go up.12600:05:10,660 –> 00:05:13,739And so we’re told in chapter 6, in verse 2512700:05:13,739 –> 00:05:15,899that there was a great famine in Samaria12800:05:15,899 –> 00:05:20,899as they besieged it, until a donkey’s head12900:05:22,100 –> 00:05:26,019was sold for 80 shekels of silver.13000:05:26,920 –> 00:05:30,260Now there’s not a whole lot of meat on a donkey’s head.13100:05:30,260 –> 00:05:32,519And if you had one you wouldn’t particularly13200:05:32,519 –> 00:05:37,519want to eat it but these people were absolutely desperate.13300:05:37,959 –> 00:05:41,920And the currency had collapsed completely.13400:05:43,040 –> 00:05:48,040Well in any disaster, people look for someone to blame.13500:05:48,519 –> 00:05:53,519And the king of Israel put the blame on the prophet Elijah.13600:05:53,559 –> 00:05:56,179Notice chapter 6 in verse 31.13700:05:56,179 –> 00:05:59,880The king said May God do so to me and more also13800:05:59,880 –> 00:06:04,239if the head of Alisha, the son of Shaphat13900:06:04,239 –> 00:06:08,920remains on his shoulders today.14000:06:08,920 –> 00:06:12,320So remember that we saw Elisha had saved14100:06:12,320 –> 00:06:15,480the king’s life many times,14200:06:15,480 –> 00:06:20,480but now the king is vowing to take the life of Elisha14300:06:20,640 –> 00:06:25,640and he sends an executioner to carry out his command.14400:06:27,040 –> 00:06:29,519So you really have to feel for Elisha don’t you?14500:06:29,519 –> 00:06:32,600Last week there was an enemy king14600:06:32,600 –> 00:06:36,179sending a whole army to arrest him,14700:06:36,179 –> 00:06:38,119and now this week in the story we’re seeing14800:06:38,119 –> 00:06:42,200that his own king is sending an executioner to kill him.14900:06:43,119 –> 00:06:48,119The sinful heart is hostile toward God.15000:06:48,920 –> 00:06:51,679And that hostility of the sinful heart15100:06:51,679 –> 00:06:56,679may sometimes be covered over by a certain civility,15200:06:57,160 –> 00:07:00,399but we should never be surprised if the hostility15300:07:00,399 –> 00:07:03,440of the sinful human heart spills over15400:07:03,440 –> 00:07:05,359onto the people of God.15500:07:05,359 –> 00:07:08,679Jesus said, if the world hates you,15600:07:08,679 –> 00:07:11,440remember that it hated me first.15700:07:12,899 –> 00:07:17,040Well, God revealed to Elisha the prophet15800:07:17,040 –> 00:07:19,480that the executioner was coming.15900:07:20,440 –> 00:07:25,440He was sitting in his house with the elders all around him,16000:07:26,480 –> 00:07:29,019and he said to them, chapter six and verse 32,16100:07:29,040 –> 00:07:31,500do you see how this murderer,16200:07:31,500 –> 00:07:32,940he’s referring to the king,16300:07:32,940 –> 00:07:37,540has sent to take off my head.16400:07:37,540 –> 00:07:40,299Look, when the messenger comes,16500:07:40,299 –> 00:07:42,140shut the door16600:07:42,140 –> 00:07:45,619and hold the door fast against him.16700:07:45,619 –> 00:07:49,859Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him.16800:07:51,179 –> 00:07:54,779Now of course the executioner’s master16900:07:54,779 –> 00:07:57,540was the king himself,17000:07:57,540 –> 00:08:01,100and Elisha says now when the executioner comes,17100:08:01,100 –> 00:08:02,820you hold the door against him.17200:08:02,820 –> 00:08:03,859Don’t let him in.17300:08:04,820 –> 00:08:08,140Hold the door fast because the king himself17400:08:08,140 –> 00:08:11,820is coming immediately behind the executioner.17500:08:13,100 –> 00:08:15,899Now, why was the king coming after the executioner17600:08:15,899 –> 00:08:17,059he had sent.17700:08:17,059 –> 00:08:20,059Was he following him because he had changed his mind17800:08:20,059 –> 00:08:22,260in regards to this murderous command?17900:08:22,260 –> 00:08:24,540Or was he following him in order to make sure18000:08:24,540 –> 00:08:26,700that his command was actually carried out.18100:08:26,739 –> 00:08:27,579We’re not told.18200:08:28,820 –> 00:08:31,500But what we know is that the king caught up18300:08:31,500 –> 00:08:36,500with the executioner and so now there is a confrontation,18400:08:37,380 –> 00:08:41,700a standoff if you like, at the door of Elisha’s house.18500:08:41,700 –> 00:08:42,979Try and picture this.18600:08:42,979 –> 00:08:46,619On one side, standing in the doorway of Elisha’s house.18700:08:46,619 –> 00:08:51,020You have Elisha and around him, you have the elders.18800:08:51,020 –> 00:08:52,979And then outside, you have the king,18900:08:53,979 –> 00:08:56,299you have the executioner who he has sent19000:08:57,599 –> 00:09:01,599and then you have another man, very important in the story,19100:09:01,599 –> 00:09:06,299a man who is described here as the captain.19200:09:06,299 –> 00:09:08,619Verse two of chapter seven,19300:09:08,619 –> 00:09:13,619the captain on whose hand the king leaned.19400:09:13,900 –> 00:09:17,299The captain, in other words, was the king’s chief advisor.19500:09:17,299 –> 00:09:20,080He was the person that the king looked to,19600:09:20,080 –> 00:09:23,679to guide him in all of his decisions.19700:09:23,679 –> 00:09:26,260And so here you have this confrontation19800:09:26,320 –> 00:09:28,640and in this dramatic moment,19900:09:28,640 –> 00:09:32,760Elisha makes the most amazing prophecy.20000:09:32,760 –> 00:09:34,960Chapter seven in verse one.20100:09:34,960 –> 00:09:39,960Hear the word of the Lord, thus says the Lord.20200:09:40,840 –> 00:09:43,760Tomorrow about this time a seer of fine flour20300:09:43,760 –> 00:09:45,559shall be sold for a shekel20400:09:45,559 –> 00:09:47,799and two seers of barley for a shekel20500:09:47,799 –> 00:09:49,840at the gate of Samaria.20600:09:49,840 –> 00:09:51,200Simply translated,20700:09:51,200 –> 00:09:55,900God says there will be plenty of food tomorrow.20800:09:56,260 –> 00:10:01,260And notice Elisha emphasizes this is the word of God.20900:10:02,320 –> 00:10:05,679Twice he says, hear the word of the Lord,21000:10:05,679 –> 00:10:08,520thus says the Lord.21100:10:09,859 –> 00:10:14,619Now, when the king hears this astonishing prophecy,21200:10:14,619 –> 00:10:17,520he postpones the execution.21300:10:17,520 –> 00:10:22,440An abundance of food at the city gates tomorrow?21400:10:22,440 –> 00:10:25,280Well, let’s at least wait and see.21500:10:26,080 –> 00:10:31,000But the captain, the man on whose hand the king relied21600:10:31,000 –> 00:10:33,299was not at all impressed.21700:10:33,299 –> 00:10:35,400I expect that he thought that Elisha21800:10:35,400 –> 00:10:38,679was simply making this up, to try and buy some time21900:10:38,679 –> 00:10:41,119and postpone his own execution.22000:10:41,119 –> 00:10:43,719And so we read, chapter seven and verse two,22100:10:43,719 –> 00:10:48,039that the captain said to the man of God,22200:10:48,039 –> 00:10:52,780if the Lord himself should make windows in heaven22300:10:52,979 –> 00:10:55,299could this thing be?22400:10:56,700 –> 00:10:58,280There’s real cynicism there.22500:10:59,979 –> 00:11:01,380And you see what he’s saying?22600:11:02,460 –> 00:11:05,200Elisha, you’re telling us22700:11:05,200 –> 00:11:08,940that there’s going to be an abundance of food22800:11:08,940 –> 00:11:12,659in this famine struck city tomorrow?22900:11:12,659 –> 00:11:15,299How could any rational person23000:11:15,299 –> 00:11:17,460believe what you are saying,23100:11:17,460 –> 00:11:19,020what you are saying is something23200:11:19,020 –> 00:11:21,299that even God himself couldn’t do.23300:11:23,020 –> 00:11:27,979And he defies and blasphemes the name of Almighty God.23400:11:29,539 –> 00:11:31,640And he refuses to believe.23500:11:33,119 –> 00:11:34,640And Elisha said to him,23600:11:34,640 –> 00:11:38,119you shall see it with your own eyes,23700:11:38,119 –> 00:11:42,159but you shall not eat off it.23800:11:43,599 –> 00:11:46,140Now, that’s the background to the story,23900:11:47,020 –> 00:11:49,440and the story itself,24000:11:49,479 –> 00:11:52,900really revolves around three characters.24100:11:53,719 –> 00:11:55,080You’re listening to Open The Bible24200:11:55,080 –> 00:11:56,340with Pastor Colin Smith24300:11:56,340 –> 00:11:59,500and a message called God Will Bless Us.24400:11:59,500 –> 00:12:01,400We’ve got to pause the message briefly here,24500:12:01,400 –> 00:12:02,760but we’ll be back very shortly,24600:12:02,760 –> 00:12:04,500so do stay with us.24700:12:04,500 –> 00:12:05,960The message is part of a series24800:12:05,960 –> 00:12:07,760called In God We Trust,24900:12:07,760 –> 00:12:09,219all about the life of Elisha25000:12:09,219 –> 00:12:11,380and taken from two kings.25100:12:11,380 –> 00:12:13,000If you’ve missed any of the messages25200:12:13,000 –> 00:12:14,719so far in these series25300:12:14,719 –> 00:12:16,080you can catch up or go back25400:12:16,080 –> 00:12:18,000and listen again by coming to our website25500:12:18,440 –> 00:12:20,400that’s at openthebible.org.uk.25600:12:21,599 –> 00:12:23,440You can also find Pastor Colin25700:12:23,440 –> 00:12:26,260as a podcast on all the main podcasts sites25800:12:26,260 –> 00:12:29,440search there for open the Bible UK.25900:12:29,440 –> 00:12:30,760Back to the message now,26000:12:30,760 –> 00:12:33,159here again is Pastor Colin.26100:12:33,159 –> 00:12:36,520The story itself really revolves26200:12:36,520 –> 00:12:39,239around three characters.26300:12:39,239 –> 00:12:43,919There are lepers who are blessed beyond measure26400:12:43,919 –> 00:12:46,119and then think only of themselves.26500:12:46,979 –> 00:12:50,919There’s the King who hears the good news26600:12:50,919 –> 00:12:52,679and then doubts it.26700:12:52,679 –> 00:12:54,840And then there’s this captain26800:12:54,840 –> 00:12:59,119who resolutely refused to believe.26900:12:59,119 –> 00:13:02,580And I think that all of us in the service here today27000:13:02,580 –> 00:13:07,200will be able to identify with one of these characters.27100:13:07,200 –> 00:13:10,140And I want us to learn from them this morning27200:13:10,140 –> 00:13:13,340how we should respond to the good news27300:13:13,340 –> 00:13:18,340of the mercy of God in and through our Lord Jesus Christ.27400:13:20,140 –> 00:13:22,539So first in this story then we have lepers27500:13:22,539 –> 00:13:25,760who thought only of themselves.27600:13:25,760 –> 00:13:28,619Chapter seven and verse three.27700:13:28,619 –> 00:13:30,739Now there were four men27800:13:30,739 –> 00:13:33,900who were lepers at the entrance to the gate.27900:13:33,900 –> 00:13:35,659And they said to one another,28000:13:35,659 –> 00:13:39,260”Why are we sitting here until we die?”28100:13:39,260 –> 00:13:40,159So you have the picture.28200:13:40,179 –> 00:13:45,039You have a walled city that is under siege.28300:13:45,039 –> 00:13:49,780There’s some no man’s land around the walls of the city.28400:13:49,780 –> 00:13:50,719And then further out,28500:13:50,719 –> 00:13:54,919you have this vast army forming a great circle28600:13:54,919 –> 00:13:57,400around the entire city.28700:13:57,400 –> 00:13:59,479And just outside the gates,28800:13:59,479 –> 00:14:01,840you have here four lepers.28900:14:01,840 –> 00:14:05,159Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.29000:14:05,159 –> 00:14:08,760Behind them is the city where people are starving.29100:14:08,760 –> 00:14:12,340And in front of them a vast enemy army.29200:14:13,260 –> 00:14:15,919And they begin to evaluate their options.29300:14:15,919 –> 00:14:16,739What can we do?29400:14:16,739 –> 00:14:17,919They say to each other,29500:14:17,919 –> 00:14:21,580why are we sitting here until we die?29600:14:21,580 –> 00:14:25,400We just sit here, we’re going to die quite soon.29700:14:25,400 –> 00:14:28,440Let’s go over to the enemy camp,29800:14:28,440 –> 00:14:30,659and let’s surrender to them.29900:14:30,659 –> 00:14:32,280When we surrender, they might kill us.30000:14:32,280 –> 00:14:33,460But we’re no worse off then.30100:14:33,460 –> 00:14:35,659If they kill us, then we die.30200:14:35,719 –> 00:14:40,099But there is just a chance that they might spare us,30300:14:40,099 –> 00:14:41,739and then that we might live.30400:14:42,580 –> 00:14:45,020And so they decide to go.30500:14:45,020 –> 00:14:48,080And you to try and picture this,30600:14:48,080 –> 00:14:52,700four lepers in no doubt ragget clothing,30700:14:53,780 –> 00:14:56,419and we’re told it’s twilight.30800:14:56,419 –> 00:14:58,359And they’re walking in the twilight30900:14:58,359 –> 00:15:02,500over the no man’s land towards the enemy camp.31000:15:03,340 –> 00:15:06,460And what they didn’t know,31100:15:06,460 –> 00:15:09,500was that God had already stepped in.31200:15:09,500 –> 00:15:10,859Chapter seven and verse six.31300:15:10,859 –> 00:15:14,140For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians31400:15:14,140 –> 00:15:17,059hear the sound of chariots and of horses,31500:15:17,059 –> 00:15:18,859the sound of a great army.31600:15:18,859 –> 00:15:20,299So that they said to one another,31700:15:20,299 –> 00:15:24,260behold the King of Israel has hired against us31800:15:24,260 –> 00:15:27,380the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt31900:15:27,380 –> 00:15:28,820to come against us.32000:15:29,820 –> 00:15:34,820God caused them to hear a terrifying noise.32100:15:36,299 –> 00:15:38,520And as they hear this terrifying noise,32200:15:38,520 –> 00:15:41,539they simply assume that another army32300:15:41,539 –> 00:15:44,080is coming from behind to attack them.32400:15:44,080 –> 00:15:45,380Maybe it’s the Hittites.32500:15:45,380 –> 00:15:46,700Maybe it’s the Egyptians.32600:15:46,700 –> 00:15:48,619Maybe it’s both.32700:15:48,619 –> 00:15:52,299However it is, the sheer noise that we are hearing32800:15:52,299 –> 00:15:54,799indicates that it’s such a vast army,32900:15:54,799 –> 00:15:57,299overwhelmingly greater than our numbers33000:15:57,340 –> 00:15:59,500and therefore we are not waiting to find out33100:15:59,500 –> 00:16:01,260we are out of here.33200:16:01,260 –> 00:16:02,880And they flee and they33300:16:02,880 –> 00:16:07,159abandon the camp in their haste to retreat.33400:16:09,260 –> 00:16:10,940And now here are the four lepers33500:16:10,940 –> 00:16:13,260and they’re walking towards the camp.33600:16:14,840 –> 00:16:17,640And the nearer they get to the tents,33700:16:17,640 –> 00:16:18,900the more curious they become33800:16:18,900 –> 00:16:20,419because it’s all so quiet.33900:16:21,979 –> 00:16:25,080How can so many people be making so little noise?34000:16:25,780 –> 00:16:30,080They get to the first tent and they look inside.34100:16:30,080 –> 00:16:31,280There’s nobody there34200:16:32,619 –> 00:16:34,960but there’s a whole stash of food and drink34300:16:34,960 –> 00:16:37,820and these lepers are starving, they’re hungry34400:16:37,820 –> 00:16:41,020and this might be the last meal before their execution.34500:16:41,020 –> 00:16:42,559And so they grab the food34600:16:42,559 –> 00:16:44,440and they absolutely tear into it.34700:16:46,280 –> 00:16:50,260Of course they fear being discovered at any moment34800:16:50,260 –> 00:16:51,539but nobody comes.34900:16:52,539 –> 00:16:54,640And eventually they decide to take a look35000:16:54,719 –> 00:16:57,020at the next tent, there’s nobody there either.35100:16:58,479 –> 00:17:02,080And slowly they realize35200:17:02,080 –> 00:17:05,959that the enemy has entirely abandoned the camp.35300:17:07,040 –> 00:17:10,979And so here they are, just four lepers35400:17:10,979 –> 00:17:14,560with the supplies of an entire army.35500:17:14,560 –> 00:17:17,400I mean I picture them high fiving each other.35600:17:17,400 –> 00:17:19,079Can you imagine this?35700:17:19,079 –> 00:17:20,859They can’t get over it,35800:17:20,859 –> 00:17:24,520eating and drinking and dancing and laughing.35900:17:25,939 –> 00:17:29,219And this must have gone on well into the night36000:17:30,420 –> 00:17:32,780because we’re told verse eight36100:17:32,780 –> 00:17:36,140that they carried off silver and gold and clothing36200:17:36,140 –> 00:17:38,040and went and hid them36300:17:38,040 –> 00:17:40,920and then they came back and entered another tent36400:17:40,920 –> 00:17:44,699and carried off things from it and went and hid them.36500:17:44,699 –> 00:17:45,699You get the picture.36600:17:45,699 –> 00:17:49,900What they found in these tents you see was not only food,36700:17:49,900 –> 00:17:53,420they found silver, they found gold, of course they did36800:17:53,420 –> 00:17:55,579because all of the army had to be paid.36900:17:55,579 –> 00:18:00,099They’ve been paid every week as they continued this siege37000:18:00,099 –> 00:18:01,219and there’s nothing very much37100:18:01,219 –> 00:18:02,819for them to spend their money on37200:18:02,819 –> 00:18:03,699so what are they doing?37300:18:03,699 –> 00:18:05,459They’re simply saving it up in the tents37400:18:05,459 –> 00:18:08,140in order to take it home for their wives and their children37500:18:08,140 –> 00:18:10,599when they return at the end of the campaign.37600:18:12,780 –> 00:18:15,660Well, here are these men.37700:18:16,479 –> 00:18:20,839They’ve found not only an abundant supply of food37800:18:20,839 –> 00:18:23,239but they’ve stumbled on a fortune37900:18:24,859 –> 00:18:27,880and so they’re taking the silver and the gold,38000:18:27,880 –> 00:18:29,140they’re going out into the trees,38100:18:29,140 –> 00:18:30,500they’re each digging a hole38200:18:30,500 –> 00:18:33,140in order to build a stash of treasure38300:18:33,140 –> 00:18:35,540that they will be able to come back to.38400:18:35,540 –> 00:18:37,839This is the opportunity of a lifetime38500:18:40,260 –> 00:18:42,739and at some point late into the night,38600:18:43,599 –> 00:18:48,319they collapse in a heap, falling down exhausted, what a day.38700:18:49,760 –> 00:18:52,260But although they’re exhausted, they can’t sleep.38800:18:53,719 –> 00:18:55,699Verse nine they said to one another,38900:18:56,979 –> 00:18:58,479we are not doing right.39000:19:00,199 –> 00:19:02,199This day is a day of good news39100:19:03,400 –> 00:19:06,439and if we are silent and wait until the morning light,39200:19:06,439 –> 00:19:08,520punishment will overtake us,39300:19:08,599 –> 00:19:13,599now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.39400:19:14,800 –> 00:19:16,140Do you see what they’re saying?39500:19:16,140 –> 00:19:21,140This is a day of the most glorious good news for us.39600:19:23,219 –> 00:19:25,319Now what will the king say39700:19:26,180 –> 00:19:29,000if we keep this good news to ourselves?39800:19:31,140 –> 00:19:33,640So now by the light of the moon,39900:19:33,640 –> 00:19:34,880deep into the night,40000:19:35,880 –> 00:19:40,420the lepers walk back across the no man’s land40100:19:40,420 –> 00:19:44,420and they tell the good news to the gatekeepers.40200:19:44,420 –> 00:19:48,300And the gatekeepers tell the good news to the king’s servants40300:19:48,300 –> 00:19:50,459and the king’s servants waken up the king40400:19:51,380 –> 00:19:53,760and they tell the good news to him.40500:19:55,020 –> 00:19:59,180And that leads us to the king’s response40600:19:59,180 –> 00:20:01,140because when the king heard the good news,40700:20:01,140 –> 00:20:03,520he doubted the Word of God.40800:20:03,560 –> 00:20:06,699Verse 12, and the king rose in the night40900:20:06,699 –> 00:20:08,500and said to his servants,41000:20:08,500 –> 00:20:12,560I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us.41100:20:12,560 –> 00:20:14,979They know that we are hungry.41200:20:14,979 –> 00:20:17,400Therefore they have gone out of the camp41300:20:17,400 –> 00:20:19,339to hide themselves in the open country41400:20:19,339 –> 00:20:22,099thinking when they come out of the city,41500:20:22,099 –> 00:20:26,319we shall take them alive and get into the city.41600:20:27,339 –> 00:20:31,319Now, remember that the king had heard the Word of God,41700:20:31,319 –> 00:20:33,180the promise of God’s provision41800:20:33,180 –> 00:20:36,000directly from the mouth of Elisha the prophet.41900:20:36,000 –> 00:20:39,380Tomorrow at this time, an abundance of food.42000:20:41,459 –> 00:20:46,420And the Son had not yet risen on this glorious new day,42100:20:46,420 –> 00:20:51,420but already the promise provision had been made.42200:20:51,699 –> 00:20:53,880An abundant supply of food,42300:20:53,880 –> 00:20:56,560sufficient for all the people42400:20:56,560 –> 00:21:00,500was freely available just outside the city walls,42500:21:00,500 –> 00:21:03,359all the people had to do was to go and get it.42600:21:05,119 –> 00:21:10,119But the king does not believe the good news.42700:21:11,739 –> 00:21:13,719He thinks this is a trick.42800:21:14,880 –> 00:21:18,300I know what these Syrians are up to.42900:21:19,979 –> 00:21:22,839They’re hiding in the bushes.43000:21:22,839 –> 00:21:26,900They want to lure us out of the city43100:21:26,900 –> 00:21:28,859and then they will destroy us.43200:21:28,859 –> 00:21:32,459I’m not falling for that, I’m no fool43300:21:34,900 –> 00:21:37,280and the king is supremely confident43400:21:37,280 –> 00:21:39,000about his own judgment here.43500:21:39,000 –> 00:21:44,000I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us.43600:21:47,260 –> 00:21:49,619Now friends, what we have here43700:21:49,619 –> 00:21:52,339is the remarkable story,43800:21:52,339 –> 00:21:56,540not only of how God wonderfully supplied food43900:21:56,540 –> 00:22:00,119and thereby delivered on what he had promised,44000:22:00,119 –> 00:22:03,540but also the equally wonderful story44100:22:03,540 –> 00:22:07,420of how God overcame all the barriers44200:22:07,420 –> 00:22:10,219that stood in the way of the people44300:22:10,219 –> 00:22:14,060actually receiving this provision that God had made.44400:22:15,099 –> 00:22:17,260The first barrier, of course,44500:22:17,260 –> 00:22:19,699was the selfishness of the lepers.44600:22:20,660 –> 00:22:23,579And now we have the second barrier,44700:22:23,579 –> 00:22:25,839which is the unbelief of the king.44800:22:27,300 –> 00:22:30,119You’re listening to Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible44900:22:30,119 –> 00:22:32,579and a message called God Will Bless Us,45000:22:32,579 –> 00:22:35,619part of the series In God We Trust,45100:22:35,619 –> 00:22:37,040based on the Book of Two Kings45200:22:37,040 –> 00:22:39,380and all about the life of Elisha.45300:22:39,380 –> 00:22:41,839If you’ve missed any of the messages in the series,45400:22:41,839 –> 00:22:43,500don’t forget you can easily catch up45500:22:43,500 –> 00:22:46,420or go back and listen again by coming to our website.45600:22:46,420 –> 00:22:50,219That’s at openthebible.org.uk.45700:22:50,219 –> 00:22:53,099And Pastor Colin’s messages are also available now45800:22:53,099 –> 00:22:56,020as a podcast on all the main podcasts sites.45900:22:56,099 –> 00:23:00,060You can find them by searching for Open the Bible U.K.46000:23:00,060 –> 00:23:03,339Open the Bible is supported by our many listeners46100:23:03,339 –> 00:23:06,560and if you’re one of them, thank you so much.46200:23:06,560 –> 00:23:08,979It’s not just the radio program,46300:23:08,979 –> 00:23:11,900the website and podcasts that you’re supporting,46400:23:11,900 –> 00:23:15,339here’s Open the Bible’s Executive Director, John Martin.46500:23:15,339 –> 00:23:17,219Well, David, it’s great to be with you46600:23:17,219 –> 00:23:21,739and share more about Open the Bible’s impact across the U.K.46700:23:21,739 –> 00:23:23,939The ministry across the U.K. continues to grow46800:23:23,939 –> 00:23:28,260since the beginning of 2026 our online reach has doubled.46900:23:28,260 –> 00:23:30,420We’ve also enjoyed Pastor Colin speaking47000:23:30,420 –> 00:23:33,599at significant events, and we’ve expanded our ministry47100:23:33,599 –> 00:23:36,020with prisons and other marginalized groups.47200:23:36,020 –> 00:23:37,359It’s very exciting.47300:23:38,939 –> 00:23:41,959Let me tell you a story from England.47400:23:41,959 –> 00:23:44,760We have this one hour film of the story of the thief47500:23:44,760 –> 00:23:48,119on the cross based on Colin’s book, Heaven How I Got Here.47600:23:48,119 –> 00:23:51,060We promoted the film to churches across the U.K.47700:23:51,060 –> 00:23:53,359earlier this year encouraging them to show it47800:23:54,160 –> 00:23:55,599as an Easter outreach event.47900:23:55,599 –> 00:23:57,920Hundreds of churches accessed the film48000:23:57,920 –> 00:23:59,959and our free promotional resources,48100:23:59,959 –> 00:24:03,140and one church had the courage to book a cinema48200:24:03,140 –> 00:24:05,680and invite guests to the showing.48300:24:05,680 –> 00:24:09,800Brian Craven of Life Church St. Helens said,48400:24:09,800 –> 00:24:13,060”It is a truly excellent reproduction on the big screen.48500:24:13,060 –> 00:24:16,079”Ours is a tale of just how much can be achieved48600:24:16,079 –> 00:24:18,920”by simply stepping out, doing what we can,48700:24:18,920 –> 00:24:20,520”then watching as Father God48800:24:20,520 –> 00:24:23,099”brings everything else into line.’48900:24:23,099 –> 00:24:25,459”We really are so grateful for the connection49000:24:25,459 –> 00:24:27,060”we have made with Open The Bible49100:24:27,060 –> 00:24:30,339”and for all the efforts made to support and encourage us.49200:24:30,339 –> 00:24:32,859”My hope and prayer is that Open The Bible49300:24:32,859 –> 00:24:35,760”will now be able to promote many more cinema screenings49400:24:35,760 –> 00:24:38,000”in the years to come.”49500:24:38,000 –> 00:24:39,800So David, if there are listeners that are interested49600:24:39,800 –> 00:24:42,660in showing that film, at Easter or at any other time,49700:24:42,660 –> 00:24:44,420either in their churches or even being49800:24:44,420 –> 00:24:47,479like Life Church St. Helens and booking a cinema screening,49900:24:47,479 –> 00:24:49,400then they should get in touch with Open The Bible50000:24:49,400 –> 00:24:51,560and we’ll do all we can to help them.50100:24:51,560 –> 00:24:52,800The film is free.50200:24:52,839 –> 00:24:55,920You can get involved in supporting Open The Bible’s work50300:24:55,920 –> 00:25:00,239by coming to our website, openthebible.org.uk.50400:25:00,239 –> 00:25:02,219You’ll find lots more information,50500:25:02,219 –> 00:25:05,020terms and conditions, and you can give online.50600:25:05,880 –> 00:25:08,439For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,50700:25:08,439 –> 00:25:09,540I’m David Pick.50800:25:09,540 –> 00:25:12,800Join us again next time on Open The Bible.50900:25:12,800 –> 00:25:15,319�� 음악51000:25:15,339 –> 00:25:17,280�51100:25:22,439 –> 00:25:25,280Our story revolves around three characters.51200:25:25,280 –> 00:25:27,380Find out what you can learn from them51300:25:27,380 –> 00:25:29,680next time on Open The Bible.