The Cursed Judgment of Forty-two Young Men
10/21 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 2; 2 Thessalonians 2; Daniel 6; Psalms 112-113
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
10/21 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 2; 2 Thessalonians 2; Daniel 6; Psalms 112-113
2 Kings 2:24
And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.
BEWARE
Sometimes we look at passages where judgment is executed on unbelief as severe. The corruptions of our flesh hate the gospel and will attempt to skew our view and pervert our perspectives. For this, we must beware. The boys, or young men, taunted Elisha, the prophet of God. By calling him a baldhead (2 Ki 2:23), they were, in effect, calling the servant of Yehovah an idolater. At its heart, these young men were not insulting the prophet, but blaspheming the God Elisha served. How often have we shrugged off the false beliefs and practices in Christ’s church as status quo, or worse, acceptable. Like the groves and high places set up in the hills and forests of Israel and Judah, even under Judean kings who worshiped the LORD, they let the idolatrous worship of false gods continue. Those kings had belief in the LORD but not fear of the LORD. “Christianity” in America is rife with entertainment, one-up-ism, practices that oppose Scripture, and worse, doctrines that minimize, diminish, or set aside altogether the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ’s sufferings and atoning death are just too bloody for them. They want salvation, but they don’t want God’s one and only Sacrifice. They want blessings from God, but they don’t want the Beloved of God. They want prosperity on earth, but they don’t care for the Prince of peace. The eternal judgment awaiting the cavilers, the objectors, and the opposition to Christ’s gospel will make the tearing of forty-two boys by two she-bears look like an inconvenient scuffle. The idolatry of America today makes the northern kingdom of Israel in Elijah’s and Elisha’s day look downright holy. Lord Jesus, bring us revival, or come quickly! Amen.
Their mischief brought a curse to them,
And they were tore by bears;
Yet we are not much less to blame,
For this, we must beware.