“Glory to the Precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Jeremiah 31: 29, 30

In those days they shall say no more: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

But everyone shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen

For us, the bride, the church it is difficult to receive forgiveness from the Lord in our last moments.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in the portion of the Bible that we meditated upon in the past days, we meditated that if our soul, the bride, the church has been revived then in our back slidden life if we repent again then the Lord will give us back again the goodness (eternal life) that we have lost.

Next what we are meditating upon is that 2 Kings 8: 7 – 15 Then Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, “The man of God has come here.” 

And the king said to Hazael, “Take a present in your hand, and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’” 

So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads; and he came and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’”

And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ However the Lord has shown me that he will really die.” 

Then he set his countenance in a stare until he was ashamed; and the man of God wept. 

And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.”

So Hazael said, “But what is your servant—a dog, that he should do this gross thing?” And Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will become king over Syria.”

Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me you would surely recover.” 

But it happened on the next day that he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his place.

In the above-mentioned verses, Ben- Hadad, the king of Syria who was chased by the Israelites was sick and Elisha came to Damascus. Knowing that the man of God has come, the king said to Hazael, “Take a present in your hand, and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’” So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads; and he came and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’” And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ However the Lord has shown me that he will really die.” Then he set his countenance in a stare until he was ashamed; and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.” So Hazael said, “But what is your servant—a dog, that he should do this gross thing?” And Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will become king over Syria.” Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me you would surely recover.” But it happened on the next day that he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face so that he died; and Hazael reigned in his place.

My dear people, when we meditate upon the above-mentioned verses, when Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria was sick he comes to know that Elisha has come to Damascus, and he tells Hazael to go with offering and enquire from Elisha. The meaning of this is that in the soul when the deeds of Syria, that is the wicked thoughts when they are oppressing us our soul becomes sick. But in such kind of sickness if we offer offerings to the Lord we cannot be delivered from the sickness, and we must realize that. This is because the king of Syria is sending every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads. But what Elisha is telling to tell him is that you shall certainly recover. However the Lord has shown me that you will really die, and we can read this. 

Also, my dear people when we see even when Ben-Hadad is sending offering and enquiring the Lord did not allow him to escape. This is because due to the evil done to Israel, the church the Lord is inflicting him with sickness. Also, in the last minute through whom he sent offering to the Lord he is using him itself to kill him. In this manner, many among us do all kinds of evil and in the last moment we come to receive life from the Lord. But we must think one thing, that is in the last moment we cannot receive forgiveness for some things from the Lord. Therefore we must leave all wickedness and repent now itself and be saved.

Let us pray. May the Lord bless you all abundantly. 

       - To be continued