We need God's help.

2 Kings 6:14~19

We need God’s help.

 

Magangdang hapon po!

 

■ We need God’s help.

 

We need God’s help. We need God’s protection throughout our lives. A nation also requires God’s help and protection. Today’s text shows that God’s help is absolutely necessary in our lives. This story introduces the time of Aram’s army surrounding Dothan city, where Elisha was staying.

 

Let’s read verse 8. [Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”](8)

 

Aram frequently invaded Israel. But every time king of Aram carried out a military operation, the king of Israel noticed it. Even if king of Aram secretly planned the operation, Elisha knew and let the king of Israel known. What’s more, it is more than once and twice.

 

Let's read the verses 9 and 10 together. [The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” / So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.](9~10)

 

It was not once and twice that Israel noticed the secret operation of Aram’s military action. Of course, king of Aram was angry. So he commanded, “Is not there a spy among us? So capture the spy.” And a servant said.

 

Let’s read together verses 11 and 12. [This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” / “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”](11~12)

 

This was not done by a spy. In Israel, there was a prophet named Elisha. He even told his king everything the king of Aram talked about in his bedroom. So king of Aram ordered his men to capture Elisha.

 

So the Arameans came to arrest Elisha and surrounded the city Dothan. There’s been a serious situation. Let’s read the verse 14: [Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.](14)

 

It was a serious situation that Aram’s army surrounded Dothan city. The next morning Elisha’s servant found out about this. So the servant ran to Elisha and said, [“Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?”](15). No wonder he shouted. Aram’s large army is surrounded. The servant response is natural.

 

OK, Let’s read verse 16 together. [“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”]

 

God has heavenly armies and angels. God helps his people in times of crisis by sending his armies and angels.

 

Only God’s help is our way. Only God’s protection is our safe. No matter how hard our situation is, no matter how dangerous our reality is, if God is with us, we can win. Do not seek help from human, do not seek power from human. But only seek and depend on our mighty God.

 

■ Visible power is not everything.

 

But most people are not interested in God’s help. Let’s read verse 15 together. [When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”](15)

 

This was a natural response. Elisha’s servant had no knowledge of God’s grace. So his response of astonishment was natural. If we also do not see the invisible heavenly armies, we would respond like that. No wonder he was surprised that a large army with horses and chariots came and surrounded the city.

 

Visible power is not everything. Elisha prayed for his servant, [“O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” and he saw that “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”](17) God has heavenly armies and heavenly angels. If we need a help, God can send them and fight for us.

 

The same goes for us. We should also pray. Pray like this, “Open our eyes and see the heavenly armies.” The armies of the visible world are not everything. We must pray. “Help us and let us see the invisible heavenly armies.”

 

In general, we find the power of one country in its national defense power, national economic power and educational capabilities. But true power is God’s help. God’s help is great power to us. Pray for the help from God.

 

When God judges, when God fights, when God acts, even great power in the world like Babylon is destroyed just in one blow. In the book of Revelation chapter 14 and verse 8 says [Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great.](Rev. 14:8) Do not rely on human beings, do not rely one army power. But only rely on God’s help.

 

The book of Psalm 146:3~5, I read for you: [Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. / When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. / Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.](Psalm 146:3~5)

 

■ We must make an alliance with God.

 

OK, then what is the matter? The most important thing is “Who is on God’s side?” When we stand on God’s side, God makes us victory. But when we stand on Satan’s side, God gives us defeat.

 

We should remember that God does not help anyone. Only when we are with God, God is with us. If we get the help from God, first we must stand on God’s side, we must act with God, we must make an alliance with God.

 

Let’s read verse 16 together: [Elisha said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”](16)

 

If we receive the help from God, it is important to be with God first. In the verse 16, [for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.] In here, “with” is a important word. We should focus on it. In Genesis chapter 5 and verse 24, [Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.](Gen. 5:24)

 

Prophet Isaiah says, [those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.](Isa. 40:31) This is a good word for shaping the principle of faith. The word ‘hope’(qavah) has three meanings here. first is ‘wait for or hope for’, second is ‘unite with’, and third is ‘be strong.’

 

Anyone who wait for the Lord, first of all, unite with God personally. And in that way, anyone who unite with God gain strength. Do not skip this step. First, hope for, next, unite with, and then, can be strong.

 

If we must unite with God, we get the power of God. If we make an alliance with God, we receive the help of God. So, can we ask for help without making an alliance with God? No...

 

In case two nations can share the national army power, they form an alliance first. To form an alliance with two nations, they must have the same view of nation and policy. They can not be alliance if they have different view.

 

Likewise, if we are to ally with God, we must fully match God’s will. It doesn’t make sense to ask God for this thing and that thing, if we don’t have an alliance with God. Isn’t it?

 

We should remember that one of the famous verse, Matthew chapter 6 and verse 33, [seek first kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.](Mat. 6:33) If we live in according to the values of the kingdom of God, God fills us without asking our need. To receive help from God, we must ally with God and maintain it.

 

■ God’s help makes miracles.

 

Only help from God is true our power. And when God helps, a miracle happens.

 

Let’s read verse 18 and 19. [As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. / Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.](18~19)

 

As Elisha prayed, God made the enemy blind. And Elisha led his enemy to Samaria. And when their eyes were seen again, they were already taken prisoner in Samaria(20).

 

God made Israel win without fighting with the Arameans. When God helps, Miracles happen. When God is with us, amazing things happen.

 

In the book of Judges, the 300 warriors led by Judge Gideon, defeated 135,000 Midianite. A loaf of barley bread struck and overthrow the big tent(Judg. 7:13). That war was like that. A miracle happened because God was with Gideon who was on God’s side.

 

The book of Judges 7:13~14. I read for you: [Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” / His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”](Judg. 7:13~14)

 

The help of God is our true strength. That God is with us is our true might. Where is the way to win? Where is the way to save our lives?

 

One way! First to unite with God and seek the help from God. That is the only way of winning life.