But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
The chapter is a test of faith involving testing and temptation that will be met again in a similar way. Its teaching is that trust is to rest not on human ability and what people can do, but on what God can do for and through those who trust Him. When that trust is exercised, His power will then be realized in the work.
The verse marks the moment when the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha, showing divine power at work rather than human strength. The battle against the enemy is turned not by human strength but by the strength of the mighty General of armies acting for His own name's glory. God works in ways least expected, and how He will work cannot be laid out in clear lines beforehand.
The Holy One whose power is from of old and whose ways are beyond finding out must not be limited, and marking out in advance the ways God must work brings disappointment. The Lord's hand comes without observation. The verse calls small faith that walks by sight to go forward with the grace of Christ despite apparent impossibilities, without questioning the length or obstacles of the way, because the Lord has ways and means for every emergency.
The chapter is a test of faith involving testing and temptation that will be met again in a similar way. Its teaching is that trust is to rest not on human ability and what people can do, but on what God can do for and through those who trust Him. When that trust is exercised, His power will then be realized in the work.
The verse marks the moment when the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha, showing divine power at work rather than human strength. The battle against the enemy is turned not by human strength but by the strength of the mighty General of armies acting for His own name's glory. God works in ways least expected, and how He will work cannot be laid out in clear lines beforehand.
The Holy One whose power is from of old and whose ways are beyond finding out must not be limited, and marking out in advance the ways God must work brings disappointment. The Lord's hand comes without observation. The verse calls small faith that walks by sight to go forward with the grace of Christ despite apparent impossibilities, without questioning the length or obstacles of the way, because the Lord has ways and means for every emergency.