The Arrow of Deliverance: A Sermon on 2 Kings 13:14-19

2 Kings 13:14-19

14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

15 And Elisha said to him, Take bow and arrows. And he took to him bow and arrows.

16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand on the bow. And he put his hand on it: and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.

17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for you shall smite the Syrians in Aphek, till you have consumed them.

18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, Smite on the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.

19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, You should have smitten five or six times; then had you smitten Syria till you had consumed it: whereas now you shall smite Syria but thrice.

I would be happy to help you with that; I will craft both a detailed sermon outline and a full sermon based on the story of Elisha and the arrows in 2 Kings 13:14-19. I'll have those ready for you shortly!

The Arrow of the Lord’s Deliverance: A Call to Perseverance 🏹

Introduction: The Dying Prophet and the Desperate King

The scene opens in a chamber of sorrow where the great prophet Elisha lies on his deathbedPK 261.1+1. Even King Joash, a youth who followed idols and had little respect for the true God, felt the weight of this momentSS 141.3. In his distress, the king wept over the prophet’s face, acknowledging that Elisha’s presence was more valuable to Israel than an entire army of horses and chariotsRR 98.1. He cried out, "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof" 2 Kings 13:14. This was the same cry Elisha himself had uttered when Elijah was taken up to heaven, yet Joash spoke it with a heart overwhelmed by concern for his kingdom's safetyBHOTV7 40.2.

👧 A Story for the Children: The Special Bow and Arrow

Once there was a king who was very worried because his enemies were nearby. He went to visit a wise old man of God named Elisha. Elisha told the king to pick up a bow and some arrows. Then, Elisha did something very special—he put his own hands on top of the king's hands. It was as if God was saying, "I am going to help you do what you cannot do alone." Elisha told him to shoot an arrow out the window toward the enemy's land. When the arrow flew, Elisha shouted that it was "the arrow of the Lord’s deliverance!" This meant God was giving them the victory. But then, Elisha gave the king a test. He told him to hit the ground with the arrows. The king only did it three times and stopped. Elisha was sad because if the king had kept going and hit the ground five or six times, he would have won a total victory. Children, remember that when God asks us to do something, we should do it with all our hearts and never give up halfwayRR 98.1+1!

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I. The Hand of God Upon Our Efforts 🙌

When Elisha told Joash to put his hand upon the bow, the prophet placed his own hands upon the king’s handsPK 261.1. This symbolic act was a pledge of Jehovah’s near deliverance and showed that the king was acting under divine directionSS 141.5+1.

• Divine Partnership: Our efforts alone are insufficient, but when we submit to the prophet's counsel, God's power is manifested on our behalfSS 141.3+1.

• The Eastward Window: Opening the window toward the east pointed toward the cities occupied by the Syrian foeRR 98.3+1. It was a direct look at the problem through the lens of faith 2 Kings 13:15-17.

• The Proclamation of Victory: As the arrow sped away, it became "The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance"PK 261.1+1. This was a declaration of war, showing that God’s hand was against the enemies of His peoplePTUK August 25, 1898, page 531.2.

II. The Test of Faith: Smite Upon the Ground 💥

After the arrow of deliverance was shot, Elisha commanded the king to take the remaining arrows and "Smite upon the ground"SS 141.3+1. The king smote thrice and stayed his hand 2 Kings 13:18.

• The Meaning of the Sign: This act was intended to reveal the future, not control itPTUK August 25, 1898, page 531.2. It tested the king’s persistence and his spiritual appetite for a complete workBHOTV7 40.2+1.

• Contentment with Partial Success: Joash was easily contented, reflecting a spirit of indifference and backslidingPTUK August 25, 1898, page 531.2. He lacked the simple, unquestioning, and persevering obedience of faithBHOTV7 40.2+1.

• Holy Indignation: Elisha was wroth with the king because his lack of zeal indicated that the reformation in Israel was only transitory and partialPTUK August 25, 1898, page 531.2. "Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times," the prophet criedSS 141.3.

III. The Danger of a Divided Heart 💔

The failure of Joash to smite the ground repeatedly revealed that the people still loved their sins in their heartsPTUK August 25, 1898, page 531.2.

• The Bondage of Sin: Because the king was satisfied with a partial victory, there was no prospect of complete deliverance from the slavery of sinPTUK August 25, 1898, page 531.2.

• Missing the Mark: Sin is often a failure to reach the mark because we are not strong enough in our purpose, missing the mark by coming shortARSH October 23, 1900, page 659.3.

• The Result of Half-Heartedness: Joash recovered the cities of Israel and beat Syria three times, but he did not consume the enemy as he might have if he had possessed greater faithASC 103.4+1.

IV. The Armor of God and Eternal Realities 🛡️

Just as Joash needed the bow and arrows, we are called to take up the whole armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil Ephesians 6:11EW 26.3.

• The Shield of Faith: Above all, we must take the shield of faith, which is able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Ephesians 6:16Pr 63.1+1.

• The Arrows of Truth: The Word of God is as sharp arrows of the Almighty, intended to convict the heart and lead to repentanceEVRR192+1.

• Protection from Destruction: Those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High need not be afraid of the arrow that flieth by day Psalms 91:1-518LtMs, Ms 137, 1903, par. 7+1.

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The Appeal: What Are You Going to Do? 📢

Today, the Lord is bringing you an opportunity to redeem the failures of the past and place your life on vantage groundPK 261.1. The "arrows of truth" are being aimed at your heart, not to wound you without cause, but to convict you of your need for a SaviorLS80 182.1+1.

• Are you satisfied with a partial reformation?PTUK August 25, 1898, page 531.2.

• Are you holding back when God calls you to smite the ground of your sins until they are consumed?PTUK August 25, 1898, page 531.2.

• Will you allow the arrows of conviction to pierce your soul today, or will you wait for the arrows of His wrath in the day of judgment?FW 33.3.

Do not be like Joash, who stopped before the victory was complete. "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" 1 Corinthians 16:13. Jesus is the life-healing balm, and He longs to bestow the heavenly endowment of His Spirit upon youGCB/GCDB 1893, page 169.15+1. He has graven you upon the palms of His hands Isaiah 49:16ST November 13, 1901, par. 11.

What are you going to do? Will you yield entirely to Him and seek a full deliverance from the bondage of sin? Turn to the stronghold today as a prisoner of hope Zechariah 9:1225LtMs, Ms 65, 1912, par. 5. Come to Christ, put on His righteousness, and let Him lead you to total victory. "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" Isaiah 55:6. Amen.

Here is the sermon outline:

The Arrow of the Lord’s Deliverance: A Call to Perseverance

Introduction: The Dying Prophet and the Desperate King

• A Final Meeting: The prophet Elisha lies on his deathbed as King Joash visits him in distress.
• The King’s Recognition: Despite his idolatry, Joash recognizes Elisha as the true strength of Israel ("The chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof").
• Children’s Lesson:
  • God puts His hands over ours to help us do what we cannot do alone.
  • True victory requires doing what God asks with all our hearts without giving up halfway.

I. The Hand of God Upon Our Efforts

• Divine Partnership: Elisha places his hands on the king’s hands, symbolizing that the king’s actions are under divine direction.
• Facing the Problem: Opening the eastward window toward the enemy represents looking at our challenges through the lens of faith.
• The Proclamation: The arrow is declared "The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance," signaling that victory comes from God’s power, not human might.

II. The Test of Faith: Smite Upon the Ground

• The Command: Elisha instructs Joash to strike the ground with the remaining arrows as a test of zeal.
• A Lack of Persistence: Joash strikes only three times and stops, revealing a heart easily contented with partial success.
• Holy Indignation: Elisha’s anger stems from the king's lack of spiritual appetite for a complete victory over the enemy.

III. The Danger of a Divided Heart

• Revealing Internal Sin: The failure to strike the ground repeatedly shows that the people still harbored a love for their sins.
• Missing the Mark: Sin is defined here as coming short of God's purpose due to a weak or divided will.
• The Consequence of Half-Heartedness: Because of his limited faith, Joash achieves only temporary relief rather than the total consumption of the enemy.

IV. The Armor of God and Eternal Realities

• Taking up the Armor: We are called to use the "whole armor of God" Ephesians 6 to stand against spiritual enemies.
• The Shield of Faith: Essential for quenching the "fiery darts" of the wicked.
• The Arrows of Truth: God’s Word acts as sharp arrows intended to convict the heart and lead us to repentance.
• Divine Protection: Finding safety in the "secret place of the Most High" protects the believer from the arrows of destruction.

Conclusion and Appeal: Total Victory or Partial Failure?

• Redeeming the Past: God offers an opportunity to move past previous failures and stand on "vantage ground."
• The Critical Questions:
  • Are you satisfied with a partial reformation in your life?
  • Are you holding back from "smiting the ground" of your sins until they are gone?
• The Final Call:
  • Yield entirely to Christ and His righteousness.
  • Seek a full deliverance from the bondage of sin while the Lord may be found.
  • Choose total victory through perseverance and faith.