“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 2 Kings 7:3-4 10/12/2008 Dr. Dane Boyles

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 24 Some time later, Ben-Hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria. (2 Kings 6:24)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 25 There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels. (2 Kings 6:25)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, “Help me, my lord the king!” 27 The king replied, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the wine- press?” (2 Kings 6:26-27) 26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, “Help me, my lord the king!” 27 The king replied, “If the LORD does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the wine- press?” (2 Kings 6:26-27)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 28 Then he asked her, “What’s the matter?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we'll eat my son.’ (2 Kings 6:28)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 29 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she had hidden him.” (2 Kings 6:28-29)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 30 When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his robes. As he went along the wall, the people looked, and there, underneath, he had sackcloth on his body. (2 Kings 6:30)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 31 He said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today!” (2 Kings 6:31)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 32 Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Don’t you see how this murderer is sending someone to cut off my head? (2 Kings 6:32)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 32 Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold it shut against him. Is not the sound of his master's footsteps behind him?” (2 Kings 6:32)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 33 While he was still talking to them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This disaster is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” (2 Kings 6:33)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 1 Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.” (2 Kings 7:1)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 2 The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it!” (2 Kings 7:2)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” Introduction –There was a terrible state of affairs among the Israelites. –Famine was so serious as a result of the Syrian siege that the people were turning to cannibalism to avoid death. Introduction –There was a terrible state of affairs among the Israelites. –Famine was so serious as a result of the Syrian siege that the people were turning to cannibalism to avoid death.

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” –King Joram blamed all of the trouble upon the prophet of God, Elisha. –Found right in the middle of this account is a story about four individuals who suffered from leprosy. –It is upon these four men and their choices for life that we want to focus. –King Joram blamed all of the trouble upon the prophet of God, Elisha. –Found right in the middle of this account is a story about four individuals who suffered from leprosy. –It is upon these four men and their choices for life that we want to focus.

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 3 Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? (2 Kings 7:3)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 4 If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’- the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die. (2 Kings 7:4)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” The First Choice - to ‘enter into the city’. –What the city had to offer. Starvation and famine. Certain death for them. The First Choice - to ‘enter into the city’. –What the city had to offer. Starvation and famine. Certain death for them.

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” –The city pictures the world today. It has nothing of any lasting value to offer to the individual in need. All of what this world has to offer is temporal. –The city pictures the world today. It has nothing of any lasting value to offer to the individual in need. All of what this world has to offer is temporal.

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Matt. 24:35). 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. (Isa 40:8) 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Matt. 24:35). 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. (Isa 40:8)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3:10)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” –The city, like the world today, was incapable of providing life. 10 “I have come that they may have life’...” (John 10:10). –The city, like the world today, was incapable of providing life. 10 “I have come that they may have life’...” (John 10:10).

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” The Second Choice - “sit still here.” –Not much of a choice. To sit still meant certain death. They saw their hopeless situation. The fact that they were able to see their condition was in itself promising. The Second Choice - “sit still here.” –Not much of a choice. To sit still meant certain death. They saw their hopeless situation. The fact that they were able to see their condition was in itself promising.

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” –Many people today choose to “sit still.” They do not realize that it means certain death for them. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:18) –Many people today choose to “sit still.” They do not realize that it means certain death for them. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:18)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—(Rom. 5:12)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” Many feel there will be time enough to make a decision later on in the future. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:2) Many feel there will be time enough to make a decision later on in the future. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:2)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” The Third Choice: to plead for mercy from their enemy Syria. –Syria was at war with Israel. The Syrian army wanted to destroy the Israelites. This doesn’t sound like a group who would be very merciful. The Third Choice: to plead for mercy from their enemy Syria. –Syria was at war with Israel. The Syrian army wanted to destroy the Israelites. This doesn’t sound like a group who would be very merciful.

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” There was no other choice for them if they wished to live. To plead for mercy from an enemy that desired to destroy you seemed almost hopeless. There was no other choice for them if they wished to live. To plead for mercy from an enemy that desired to destroy you seemed almost hopeless.

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” –That is the only choice for those who are not saved today. They must fall upon their knees and plead for mercy from their enemy. 4 Whoever is a friend of the world is an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) –That is the only choice for those who are not saved today. They must fall upon their knees and plead for mercy from their enemy. 4 Whoever is a friend of the world is an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” God’s desire is not to destroy but to deliver. 37 whoever comes to me I will never drive away (John 6:37) 9 He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) God’s desire is not to destroy but to deliver. 37 whoever comes to me I will never drive away (John 6:37) 9 He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 5 At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, not a man was there, (2 Kings 7:5)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 6 for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!” (2 Kings 7:6)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 7 So they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives. (2 Kings 7:7)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” – 8 The men who had leprosy reached the edge of the camp and entered one of the tents. They ate and drank, and carried away silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also. (2 Kings 7:8)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” Conclusion –The Lord delivered them just as the prophet Elisha had said. –There is no way to turn for deliverance, but to the Lord. –Why sit still and die? Conclusion –The Lord delivered them just as the prophet Elisha had said. –There is no way to turn for deliverance, but to the Lord. –Why sit still and die?

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 9 Then they said to each other, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.” (2 Kings 7:9)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 10 So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers and told them, “We went into the Aramean camp and not a man was there—not a sound of anyone—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents left just as they were.” (2 Kings 7:10)

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 11 The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported within the palace. (2 Kings 7:11) –They realized it was wrong to keep quiet about it. –They went and told others the Good News. 11 The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported within the palace. (2 Kings 7:11) –They realized it was wrong to keep quiet about it. –They went and told others the Good News.

“Why Sit Here Until We Die?” 2 Kings 7:3-4 10/12/2008 Dr. Dane Boyles