2 Kings

2 Kings 7: Good news for starving Samaria

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the four men at the city gate, let us come to the Lord together. Ask Him to make us hungry for His Word, and to show us Jesus, the good news of God.

Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

Psalm 107:8

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You keep Your word and feed the hungry. Help us to hear the good news of Jesus and to share it with others. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Elisha promises that by this time tomorrow, fine flour and barley will be sold cheaply at the gate of Samaria. A captain who leans on the king doubts the word, and Elisha says he will see it but not eat it. Four men with leprosy sit at the city gate, and they reason that they will die if they stay or if they go in. They walk to the Syrian camp at twilight, and the camp is empty, because the LORD had made the Syrians hear chariots and horses. The lepers eat, carry away silver and clothing, and then say that today is a day of good news they must share. They tell the gatekeepers, and the king sends scouts, who find the road full of what the Syrians threw away. The people plunder the camp, food is sold at the price Elisha foretold, and the doubting captain dies in the crowd at the gate.

As you read 2 Kings 7, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD kept His word and sent food to starving Samaria through four lepers.

Samaria was starving under siege, yet Elisha said food would be cheap tomorrow (verse 1 and 2 Kings 6 verse 25). The captain the king leaned on doubted it, and Elisha said he would see the food but not eat it (verse 2). Four men with leprosy sat at the gate, because the law kept lepers apart (verse 3 and Leviticus 13 verse 46). They went to the Syrian camp at twilight and found it empty (verse 5). The Lord had made the Syrians hear the noise of a great army, and they fled (verses 6 and 7). The lepers ate, then said, “Today is a day of good news,” and went to tell the city (verses 8 to 10). The king feared a trap, but scouts confirmed it, and the people plundered the camp (verses 12 to 16). The food sold as the LORD had said, and the doubting captain died in the gate crowd (verses 16 and 17). The LORD keeps His word when it seems impossible, and the news came through men who lived apart.

How does 2 Kings 7 show us that the LORD kept His word and sent food to starving Samaria through four lepers?

The LORD keeps His word, as Elisha said.

Elisha promised that by this time tomorrow, food would be cheap at the gate (verse 1). The Lord made the Syrians hear a great army, and they fled and left their camp (verses 6 and 7). The people went out and found food, and it sold at the price Elisha had named (verse 16). This was according to the LORD's word (verse 16).

Four lepers carry the good news.

The lepers sat at the gate and chose to act, rather than wait to die (verses 3 and 4). They found food in the camp and took silver and clothing (verse 8). They said that today was a day of good news, and they did not keep it to themselves (verses 9 to 11). The good news today is that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1 verse 15).

The captain who doubts does not eat.

The captain the king leaned on asked if the LORD could make windows in heaven, and doubted Elisha's word (verse 2). Elisha said he would see it with his eyes but not eat of it (verse 2). The people trampled him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said (verses 17 to 20).

Memorise

For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots, and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army

2 Kings 7:6

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I believe the LORD's word, and will I share the good news of Jesus?

Four men with leprosy sat at the gate and asked, “Why do we sit here until we die?” Then they found the camp empty and said, “Today is a day of good news.” Jesus brings good news to sinners who sit at the gate of death.

Sin leaves every person under the sentence of death, and no one can buy his way out. Jesus died on the cross in the place of His people and paid for their sin in full. He rose again, and He gives food that lasts.

So come to Him, turn from your sin, and trust Jesus. Then tell others the good news, as the four men did. Jesus forgives everyone who comes to Him in repentance and trust.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD kept His word, and that Jesus is the good news of God. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He kept His word and fed the hungry, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

It shall be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us! This is Yahweh! We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation!”

Isaiah 25:9

Father, thank You that You kept Your word and fed starving Samaria. Thank You for Jesus, the good news, who died for sinners and rose again. Draw every child to turn away from sin and trust Him. Help us to tell others the good news this week. Amen.