2 Kings 7:12 - Meaning and Application

Here we see the king’s suspicion about what the Syrians had done, in 2 Kings 7:12. He thought they might have pulled back into a trap, so that when the besieged people came out, the Syrians could attack them more easily. He had no good reason to expect such a remarkable act of God, because his unbelief and impatience had put him outside God’s favor. He also could not explain why the Syrians fled, since it does not seem that he or any of his attendants heard the sound of chariots that frightened the Syrians.

People who, like him, are unstable in all their ways should not expect to receive anything from God. A guilty conscience makes people fear the worst and become suspicious. Their own fear often feeds their doubt.

Next, they took steps to make sure they were not walking into a snare. They sent out spies to find out what had happened to the Syrians, and they learned that the whole army had fled, both commanders and common soldiers. They were able to follow them by the clothes the Syrians had thrown off along the way to move faster, as 2 Kings 7:15 says.

The man who gave this advice clearly understood how desperate Israel’s condition was, as 2 Kings 7:13 shows. When he spoke of the horses, most of which were dead and the rest near death from hunger, he said, and repeated, that they were like all the people of Israel. Israel had once boasted in its great numbers, but now it was weakened and brought low. He suggested sending five horsemen, but it seems there were only two horses fit for the task, and those were chariot horses, as 2 Kings 7:14 says.

Then the Lord had pity on his servants when he saw that their strength was gone (Deuteronomy 32:36). The people’s weakness became the stage for God’s mercy.

Then came the plenty in Samaria from the spoil of the Syrian camp, as 2 Kings 7:16 says. If the Syrians had followed the usual customs of war, they would likely have burned their tents and supplies rather than leave them for their enemies. But God decided that the siege meant for Samaria’s ruin would become a blessing to it, just as Israel had once been enriched by the spoil of the Egyptians.

Here we should notice three things. First, the wealth of sinners is often stored up for the righteous, and the spoilers can themselves be spoiled (Job 27:16, Job 27:17; Isaiah 33:1). Second, God supplied Israel’s needs in a way they never expected, which should teach us to trust his power and goodness in our hardest times. Third, Elisha’s word was fulfilled exactly: a measure of fine flour sold for a shekel. Those who had plundered the camp had more than enough for themselves, and even enough to sell cheaply for others, so that those who stayed at home also shared in the spoil (Psalm 68:12; Isaiah 33:23). God’s promise can be trusted fully, because not one word of it will fail.

The unbelieving court official who doubted Elisha’s word also died, showing that God’s warnings are fulfilled just as surely as his promises. “He who does not believe will be condemned” stands as firmly as “He who believes will be saved.” This nobleman, first, was put by the king in charge of the gate, as 2 Kings 7:17 says, to keep order and make sure there was no confusion while the spoil was divided. The king trusted him for his wisdom and seriousness, and honored him by giving him this duty. Anyone who wants greatness should serve the public.

But he was trampled to death by the people at the gate. It may have been an accident, since the crowd was very large and he was standing in the middle of it. Or it may have been deliberate, because he had misused his authority and harshly kept the people from getting food. In either case, God’s justice was shown, and Elisha’s word came true. He saw the plenty, which should have silenced his unbelief and shamed his doubting heart. He saw grain become cheap without any opening of the windows of heaven, and in that he saw how foolish it was to tell God what he must do. Yet he did not live to eat what he saw. When he was about to fill his stomach, God’s anger struck him (Job 20:23), and death came between the cup and the lips.

Those who think God’s promises are empty are justly disappointed in the world’s promises. If believing does not always lead to seeing, seeing will not always lead to enjoying. This event is repeated and set next to the prophecy in 2 Kings 7:18-20 so we will pay close attention to it. From it we learn three things. First, God deeply resents our distrust of his power, care, and promise. When Israel asked, “Can God provide a table?” the Lord heard and was angry. His perfect wisdom will not be limited by our foolishness. God never promises an outcome without also knowing where the means will come from.

Second, life and its comforts are very uncertain. Honor and power cannot keep people from sudden and shameful death. The man the king leaned on was trampled by the people. He who thought himself the support of the government was crushed like mud in the street. Human pride is often stained in this way.

Third, God’s warnings are just as certain as his promises, and they always fall on the guilty. Let everyone fear before the great God, who treads on princes like mortar and is terrible to the kings of the earth.