Then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Then Elisha prayedElisha, the prophet and successor of Elijah, is known for his powerful prayer life. His prayers often resulted in miraculous events, demonstrating his close relationship with God. This phrase highlights the importance of prayer as a means of divine intervention and guidance. Elisha's reliance on prayer is a model for believers, emphasizing the power of intercession. “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.”
Elisha's request for the young man's eyes to be opened is both literal and spiritual. In the biblical context, seeing often symbolizes understanding or perceiving spiritual truths. This prayer reflects the need for spiritual insight to recognize God's presence and protection. It parallels other biblical instances where God opens eyes, such as in Psalm 119:18, where the psalmist asks for understanding of God's law. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man,
This divine action signifies God's response to prayer and His willingness to reveal spiritual realities to those who seek Him. The opening of the young man's eyes is a supernatural event, illustrating God's power to transcend human limitations. It serves as a reminder that spiritual insight is a gift from God, not achieved through human effort alone. and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire
The imagery of horses and chariots of fire is reminiscent of the divine chariot that took Elijah to heaven (2 Kings 2:11). This vision represents God's heavenly army, symbolizing His protection and sovereignty. The presence of these fiery chariots underscores the theme of divine warfare, where God fights on behalf of His people, as seen in other scriptures like Psalm 34:7, which speaks of the angel of the LORD encamping around those who fear Him. all around Elisha.
The protection surrounding Elisha signifies God's favor and the special role of prophets as His messengers. This scene reassures believers of God's omnipresence and His ability to protect His servants. It also foreshadows the New Testament promise of spiritual protection for believers, as seen in passages like Romans 8:31, which declares that if God is for us, who can be against us? Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God, successor to Elijah, known for his miracles and deep faith in God. In this passage, he demonstrates his spiritual insight and reliance on God through prayer. 2. The Young ManElisha's servant, who initially sees only the physical threat of the Aramean army and is fearful until his spiritual eyes are opened. 3. The LORDThe God of Israel, who answers Elisha's prayer by revealing the spiritual reality surrounding them. 4. Horses and Chariots of FireA divine army sent by God, symbolizing His protection and power, unseen by the physical eye but revealed through spiritual insight. 5. DothanThe location where this event takes place, a city in Israel that becomes the backdrop for this miraculous revelation of God's protection. Teaching Points Spiritual VisionWe often focus on the physical challenges before us, but God calls us to see with spiritual eyes. Like Elisha's servant, we need our eyes opened to the spiritual realities and divine resources available to us. The Power of PrayerElisha's immediate response to fear was prayer. This teaches us the importance of turning to God in prayer, trusting Him to reveal His presence and power in our lives. God's ProtectionThe presence of the heavenly army reminds us that God is always with us, even when we cannot see Him. We can trust in His protection and provision in every circumstance. Faith Over FearThe young man's fear was transformed into faith when he saw God's army. We are encouraged to replace our fears with faith, knowing that God is greater than any challenge we face. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the account of Elisha and his servant challenge your understanding of spiritual realities in your daily life? 2. In what ways can you cultivate a habit of prayer similar to Elisha's when faced with fear or uncertainty? 3. Reflect on a time when you felt surrounded by challenges. How might the knowledge of God's unseen protection have changed your perspective? 4. How can you apply the concept of "faith over fear" in a current situation you are facing? 5. What other biblical accounts or teachings remind you of God's protection and presence, and how can they encourage you today? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 34:7This verse speaks of the angel of the LORD encamping around those who fear Him, providing a parallel to the divine protection seen in 2 Kings 6:17. Ephesians 1:18Paul prays for the eyes of believers' hearts to be enlightened, similar to Elisha's prayer for his servant's eyes to be opened to spiritual realities. Hebrews 1:14Discusses angels as ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation, connecting to the idea of divine assistance and protection. People Aram, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Elisha, Shaphat, SyriansPlaces Dothan, Jordan River, Samaria, SyriaTopics Behold, Carriages, Chariots, Elisha, Eli'sha, Fire, Full, Hill, Hills, Horses, Man's, Mountain, O, Open, Opened, Openeth, Please, Prayed, Prayer, Prayeth, Round, Saying, Servant'sDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 6:17 1466 vision
4657 horse
5135 blindness, spiritual
5149 eyes
5208 armies
5252 chariots
5480 protection
5698 guardian 2 Kings 6:14-17 8787 opposition, to God 2 Kings 6:15-17 1449 signs, purposes
8027 faith, testing of 2 Kings 6:16-17 5292 defence, divine 2 Kings 6:17-18 5134 blindness, natural Library Young Man! a Prayer for You
THIS YOUNG MAN waited upon a prophet: he could not have had a more instructive occupation; yet his eyes needed to be opened. He was well disposed towards good things, for the tone of his language to his master shows that he was heartily at one with him; but his eyes were not yet half opened. Being in great alarm for his master's safety, he ran to him to warn him: good servants should be their master's best friends. In return, his believing master prays for him. If we desire the good of our servants, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891Of the Practice of Piety in Fasting.
There are divers kinds of fasting--First, A constrained fast, as when men either have not food to eat, as in the famine of Samaria (2 Kings vi. 25;) or, having food, cannot eat it for heaviness or sickness, as it befel them who were in the ship with St. Paul (Acts xxvii. 33.) This is rather famine than fasting. Secondly, A natural fast, which we undertake physically, for the health of our body. Thirdly, A civil fast, which the magistrate enjoins for the better maintenance of the commonwealth. Fourthly, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Whether a Mann is Bound to Correct his Prelate?
Objection 1: It would seem that no man is bound to correct his prelate. For it is written (Ex. 19:12): "The beast that shall touch the mount shall be stoned," [*Vulg.: 'Everyone that shall touch the mount, dying he shall die.'] and (2 Kings 6:7) it is related that the Lord struck Oza for touching the ark. Now the mount and the ark signify our prelates. Therefore prelates should not be corrected by their subjects. Objection 2: Further, a gloss on Gal. 2:11, "I withstood him to the face," adds: "as …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The Absolute Godhood of God is Seen in Administration
God not only created everything, but everything which He created is subject to His immediate control. God rules over the works of His hands. God governs the creatures He has made. God reigns with universal dominion. When He pleased, the sun and moon stood still (Josh. 10:12, 13); and at a word from Him the sun went backward ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz (Is. 38:8). At His command the Red Sea ceased to flow, and at His command it resumed its normal course (Ex. 14). In response to the prayer of Elisha, …
Arthur W. Pink—The Godhood of God The Christian Convert Warned Of, and Animated against those Discouragements which He must Expect to Meet when Entering on a Religious Course.
1. Christ has instructed his disciples to expect opposition and difficulties in the way to heaven.--2. Therefore a more particular view of them is taken, as arising from the remainder of indwelling sin.--3. From the world, and especially from former sinful companions.--4. From the temptations and suggest ions of Satan.--5, 6. The Christian is animated and encouraged, by various considerations, to oppose them; particularly by the presence of God; the aids of Christ; the example of others, who, though …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul In the Creation of the World, and all Things in It, the True God Distinguished by Certain Marks from Fictitious Gods.
1. The mere fact of creation should lead us to acknowledge God, but to prevent our falling away to Gentile fictions, God has been pleased to furnish a history of the creation. An impious objection, Why the world was not created sooner? Answer to it. Shrewd saying of an old man. 2. For the same reason, the world was created, not in an instant, but in six days. The order of creation described, showing that Adam was not created until God had, with infinite goodness made ample provision for him. 3. The …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Helpless State of the Sinner under Condemnation.
1, 2. The sinner urged to consider how he can be saved from this impending ruin.--3. Not by any thing he can offer.--4. Nor by any thing he can endure.--5. Nor by any thing hr can do in the course of future duty.--6-8. Nor by any alliance with fellow-sinners on earth or in hell.--9. Nor by any interposition or intercession of angels or saints in his favor. Hint of the only method to be afterwards more largely explained. The lamentation of a sinner in this miserable condition. 1. SINNER, thou hast …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul Prayer
But I give myself unto prayer.' Psa 109: 4. I shall not here expatiate upon prayer, as it will be considered more fully in the Lord's prayer. It is one thing to pray, and another thing to be given to prayer: he who prays frequently, is said to be given to prayer; as he who often distributes alms, is said to be given to charity. Prayer is a glorious ordinance, it is the soul's trading with heaven. God comes down to us by his Spirit, and we go up to him by prayer. What is prayer? It is an offering …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments May one Lose the Blessing?
The question trembles from many a lip--If I get the blessing, may I lose it? Most certainly. But, glory be to God! He has made ample provision for failure. There is no reason why we should fail; God has made ample provision against failure; we must not expect to fail; but in case we do fail, provision has been made. The most prolific cause of loss is disobedience--disobedience either to one of God's written commands, or to the inward promptings of His Holy Spirit. "The Holy Ghost whom God hath …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life Meditations for the Morning.
1. Almighty God can, in the resurrection, as easily raise up thy body out of the grave, from the sleep of death, as he hath this morning wakened thee in thy bed, out of the sleep of nature. At the dawning of which resurrection day, Christ shall come to be glorified in his saints; and every one of the bodies of the thousands of his saints, being fashioned like unto his glorious body, shall shine as bright as the sun (2 Thess. i. 10; Jude, ver. 14; Phil. iii. 21; Luke ix. 31;) all the angels shining …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux The Roman Pilgrimage: the Miracles which were Wrought in It.
[Sidenote: 1139] 33. (20). It seemed to him, however, that one could not go on doing these things with sufficient security without the authority of the Apostolic See; and for that reason he determined to set out for Rome, and most of all because the metropolitan see still lacked, and from the beginning had lacked, the use of the pall, which is the fullness of honour.[507] And it seemed good in his eyes[508] that the church for which he had laboured so much[509] should acquire, by his zeal and labour, …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 6:17 NIV2 Kings 6:17 NLT2 Kings 6:17 ESV2 Kings 6:17 NASB2 Kings 6:17 KJV
2 Kings 6:17 Commentaries
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