書念的婦人回原住地
1 以利沙曾對所救活之子的那婦人說：「你和你的全家要起身往你可住的地方去住，因為耶和華命饑荒降在這地七年。」 2婦人就起身，照神人的話帶着全家往非利士地去，住了七年。 3七年完了，那婦人從非利士地回來，就出去為自己的房屋田地哀告王。 4那時王正與神人的僕人基哈西說：「請你將以利沙所行的一切大事告訴我。」 5基哈西告訴王以利沙如何使死人復活，恰巧以利沙所救活、她兒子的那婦人為自己的房屋田地來哀告王。基哈西說：「我主我王，這就是那婦人，這是她的兒子，就是以利沙所救活的。」 6王問那婦人，她就把那事告訴王。於是王為她派一個太監，說：「凡屬這婦人的都還給她，自從她離開本地直到今日，她田地的出產也都還給她。」
以利沙和便‧哈達王
7 以利沙來到大馬士革，亞蘭王便‧哈達正患病。有人告訴王說：「神人來到這裏了。」 8王就吩咐哈薛說：「你帶着禮物去見神人，託他求問耶和華，我這病能好不能好？」 9於是哈薛用四十個駱駝，馱着大馬士革的各樣美物為禮物，去見以利沙。到了他那裏，站在他面前，說：「你兒子亞蘭王便‧哈達打發我來見你，他問說：『我這病能好不能好？』」 10以利沙對哈薛說：「你回去告訴他說，這病必能好；但耶和華指示我，他必要死。」 11神人定睛看着哈薛，甚至他慚愧。神人就哭了； 12哈薛說：「我主為甚麼哭？」回答說：「因為我知道你必苦害以色列人，用火焚燒他們的保障，用刀殺死他們的壯丁，摔死他們的嬰孩，剖開他們的孕婦。」 13哈薛說：「你僕人算甚麼，不過是一條狗，焉能行這大事呢？」以利沙回答說：「耶和華指示我，你必作亞蘭王。」 14哈薛離開以利沙，回去見他的主人。主人問他說：「以利沙對你說甚麼？」回答說：「他告訴我你必能好。」 15次日，哈薛拿被窩浸在水中，蒙住王的臉，王就死了。於是哈薛篡了他的位。
各位弟兄姊妹平安！今天我們讀到了列王紀下第八章中的經文，這段經文記載了那位書念婦人的故事。她曾經為了神的僕人以利沙建了一個房間，並且熱心款待每次到來的以利沙，為他準備食物和其他需要的物品。後來，這位婦人的兒子在以利沙的禱告下復活，這是一個上帝奇妙作為的見證。
當時，這位婦人得到以利沙給她的啟示，告訴她將會有七年的饑荒，因此她離開了以色列，前往非利士地區暫住。七年後，饑荒結束，她回到家鄉，然而，她所擁有的一切已被他人占據。然而，神奇妙地安排，使她重新獲得她失去的一切財產，甚至超過她所能想像的。
這段經文展示了神的信實和保護。我們看到這位婦人曾經在沒有任何回報期待的情況下忠心地服侍以利沙，然而她的生命最終得到了上帝的奇妙保守和供應。當我們全心依靠神時，祂會以祂獨特的方式保護我們，讓我們免於災害，甚至能夠恢復我們所失去的一切。
讓我們在信仰生活中也效法這位書念婦人的忠心，無論我們所面對的困難和挑戰如何，都要相信上帝在掌權，祂必以奇妙的方式保守和賜福我們。
接下來的故事是一連串錯綜複雜的宮廷劇，充滿了謀殺和政治鬥爭。列王紀下第八章後半段記載了以色列、亞蘭和猶大三個國家的王室事件。
首先登場的是亞蘭王便。哈達，他曾經多次攻打以色列，給以色列帶來了不少災難。而這個便。哈達王有一位手下叫做哈薛，他在接下來的故事中扮演了重要的角色。當變哈達病倒時，他派哈薛去見以利沙，請求他向神求問，看看自己是否會康復。
在這段經文中，我們看到以利沙先知面對一個非常沉重的預言。他知道哈薛即將背叛並殺害便。哈達王，並且這件事會給以色列帶來極大的痛苦。當哈薛前來詢問變哈達的病情時，以利沙忠實地傳遞了上帝的話語，指出便。哈達不會因病而死，而是因為被謀殺而喪命。他同時間也預言了，哈薛會成為新的亞蘭王。以利沙的反應充滿了矛盾和悲傷。他非常清楚哈薛心中的野心和邪惡，甚至在告知他未來時，痛哭流淚，因為他知道哈薛上台後，會給以色列帶來極大的災難。
哈薛的野心早已超過了他該守的本分，他並不是忠實的臣子，而是早有篡位的計畫。在這次便哈達病重時，哈薛覺得機會來臨，他不再掩飾自己的野心，在聽到以利沙的話語之後，他更是不再等待，次日便實行了他的計謀，完成了這場背叛。他隨後自立為亞蘭王，開啟了一段血腥的統治時期。
這段故事提醒我們，當人心中的野心超越了他應該遵守的道德界限時，往往會走上背叛和罪惡的道路。即使以利沙充滿了悲憫，也無法阻止哈薛的行動，因為這一切都在神的掌權之中。這也再次顯示出，即使面對最殘酷的現實，神的話語仍然是忠實的，祂的計劃無法被人類的野心和罪惡阻擋。
今天的分享讓我們看到列王紀下的這段歷史是一個充滿了宮廷鬥爭和紛亂的時代。以色列、猶大、亞蘭，甚至以東之間的王國不斷地互相攻擊，彼此背叛，宛如進入了擂台般的戰國時期。在這些國家中，以色列的王背離了上帝，轉向拜偶像，完全忽視了上帝的律法和旨意。而猶大的情況雖然稍好，偶爾會有一些短暫的回歸和敬拜上帝的王出現，但最終他們也沒有持守住，逐漸走上與以色列同樣的墮落之路。
這段歷史雖然令人感到沉痛，但同時也讓我們反思，我們是否在生活中也像那些王一樣，時而偏離了上帝的道路，追求自己心中的偶像？在這混亂和背叛的時代中，神的恩典從未離開，我們需要常常回到祂面前，依靠祂的引導。
感謝大家的聆聽，明天我們將繼續探討列王紀下第八章的後半段，願我們在閱讀經文的過程中，更多地體會神的心意，學習祂的智慧與恩典。
Elisha Again Helps the Shunammite Woman
Elisha advised the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “You and your family should go and live somewhere else for a while, for the Lord has decreed that a famine will overtake the land for seven years.” So the woman did as the prophet said. She and her family went and lived in the land of the Philistines for seven years. After seven years, the woman returned from the land of the Philistines and went to ask the king to give her back her house and field.
Now the king was talking to Gehazi, the prophet’s servant, and said, “Tell me all the great things which Elisha has done.” While Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought the dead back to life, the woman whose son he had brought back to life came to ask the king for her house and field. Gehazi said, “My master, O king, this is the very woman and this is her son whom Elisha brought back to life!” The king asked the woman about it, and she gave him the details. The king assigned a eunuch to take care of her request and ordered him, “Give her back everything she owns, as well as the amount of crops her field produced from the day she left the land until now.”
Elisha Meets with Hazael
Elisha traveled to Damascus while King Ben Hadad of Syria was sick. The king was told, “The prophet has come here.” So the king told Hazael, “Take a gift and go visit the prophet. Request from him an oracle from the Lord. Ask him, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’” So Hazael went to visit Elisha. He took along a gift, as well as forty camel loads of all the fine things of Damascus. When he arrived, he stood before him and said, “Your son, King Ben Hadad of Syria, has sent me to you with this question, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”
Elisha said to him, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover,’ but the Lord has revealed to me that he will surely die.” Elisha just stared at him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the prophet started crying.
Hazael asked, “Why are you crying, my master?” He replied, “Because I know the trouble you will cause the Israelites. You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, smash their children to bits, and rip open their pregnant women.”
Hazael said, “How could your servant, who is as insignificant as a dog, accomplish this great military victory?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has revealed to me that you will be the king of Syria.”
He left Elisha and went to his master. Ben Hadad asked him, “What did Elisha tell you?” Hazael replied, “He told me you would surely recover.” The next day Hazael took a piece of cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over Ben Hadad’s face until he died. Then Hazael replaced him as king.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you! Today, we are reading from 2 Kings 8, which tells the story of the Shunammite woman. She once built a room for Elisha, the servant of God, and faithfully provided food and other necessities for him whenever he visited. Later, her son was brought back to life through Elisha’s prayer, a miraculous act that testified to God's power.
At that time, this woman received a revelation from Elisha, informing her that a seven-year famine was coming. As a result, she left Israel and temporarily stayed in the land of the Philistines. Seven years later, after the famine had ended, she returned to her homeland, only to find that all her property had been taken over by others. However, God miraculously restored all that she had lost, even more than she could have imagined.
This passage reveals God's faithfulness and protection. We see that this woman served Elisha with no expectation of reward, yet her life was wonderfully preserved and provided for by God. When we fully rely on God, He will protect us in His unique way, sparing us from calamity and even restoring what we have lost.
Let us also be inspired by the Shunammite woman’s faithfulness in our walk with God. No matter the difficulties and challenges we face, let us believe that God is in control, and He will protect and bless us in ways beyond our understanding.
The next part of the story unfolds into a complex court drama, filled with betrayal and political struggles. The latter part of 2 Kings 8 records the events surrounding the royal families of Israel, Aram, and Judah.
We first encounter Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, who had previously attacked Israel several times, bringing much disaster upon the nation. Ben-Hadad had a servant named Hazael, who played a crucial role in the unfolding events. When Ben-Hadad fell ill, he sent Hazael to Elisha to inquire whether he would recover.
In this passage, we see that Elisha faced a very heavy prophecy. He knew that Hazael would betray and murder Ben-Hadad, and that this act would bring great suffering upon Israel. When Hazael came to inquire about the king’s illness, Elisha faithfully conveyed God’s message, stating that Ben-Hadad would not die from the illness but would instead be murdered. At the same time, Elisha foretold that Hazael would become the next king of Aram. Elisha’s response was filled with grief and sorrow, for he understood Hazael’s ambition and evil intent. Elisha even wept, knowing the calamity Hazael would bring upon Israel once he assumed power.
Hazael’s ambition had already exceeded his place. He was not a loyal servant but had long harbored plans to usurp the throne. When Ben-Hadad fell seriously ill, Hazael saw his opportunity. After hearing Elisha’s words, he wasted no time in executing his plan. The next day, he smothered Ben-Hadad to death, completing his betrayal and claiming the throne for himself, ushering in a bloody reign.
This story reminds us that when a person's ambition oversteps the boundaries of morality, it often leads to betrayal and evil. Even though Elisha was filled with compassion, he could not stop Hazael’s actions, as all of this was under God’s control. This again demonstrates that even in the face of the harshest realities, God’s word remains faithful, and His plans cannot be thwarted by human ambition and sin.
We can learn from this that when we face temptations and ambitions, we must remain vigilant and not allow our hearts to drift away from God, for power and desire can lead us down the path of betrayal and destruction. Yet, even in humanity’s darkest moments, God remains in control, and His will shall ultimately prevail.
Brothers and sisters, today’s message shows us that this period in 2 Kings was one filled with court intrigues and chaos. The kingdoms of Israel, Judah, Aram, and even Edom constantly attacked and betrayed one another, plunging the region into a state of turmoil reminiscent of a battlefield in the midst of civil strife.
Among these nations, the kings of Israel turned away from God, embracing idol worship and ignoring God’s laws and will. Judah’s situation was slightly better, with occasional kings returning to the worship of God, but ultimately, they followed the same downward path as Israel.
The conflicts and chaos during this time not only show how humanity, driven by power and desire, can spiral into self-destruction but also highlight God’s love and discipline for His people. Even in such turbulent times, God's will and grace were never absent. He used His wisdom to continue shaping and guiding His people through these historical events, reminding them of His sovereignty and faithfulness.
Although this history is painful to reflect on, it also leads us to consider whether we, in our lives, are like those kings, sometimes straying from God's path and chasing after our own idols. In this time of chaos and betrayal, God’s grace has never left us. We must always return to Him and rely on His guidance.
Thank you all for listening. Tomorrow, we will continue exploring the latter half of 2 Kings 8. May we, through the reading of Scripture, gain deeper insight into God’s will and grow in His wisdom and grace.
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