The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 106

C'unning more thRn Ptrength that the king relied on. He "took counsel with hie Ferva_nt~" 11s t0 the best met hod .of carrying out his plane. Men are apt to overvalue C'unnmg. It plays II hrge p~rt m the conduct of worldly, especially of political and military, affairs. 2. The failure of plans. If the plotters were "profound to make slaughter" (Hos. v. 2), God was deeper than the plotters," a rebutter of them all" (Hos. v. 2). This was the element Benhadad left out of his calculations. Everything that passC'd in the king's council-chamber wns revealed by God to Elisha., who told it to the King of Israel. \Vhat was spoken "in the car" in Damascus w&B proclaimed "upon the housetops" in Samaria. (Luke xii. 3). Thus the King of Israel saved himself" not once or twice." The wicked greatly err when they say, "How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?" (Ps. lxxiii. 11). Not one of their plans but is "naked and opened" (Beb. iv. 13) to him. With a knowledge and skill infinitely beyond theirs, he can easily bring the cunningest of their schemes to nought. This is the comfort and safety of those who trust God, and are under his special care. 3. The secret discovered. The King of Syria's chagrin at the continual frustration of his schemes was great. He could account for it in no other way than that some of his own servants habitu!\lly betrayed his counsels. They who have God to fight with must lay their account for many disappointments and troubles. At Inst the real state of the case was made known to him by one who had learned the facts about Elisha. It was a startling discovery to make, that the things which he spoke in his bedchamber ""ere accurately told by Elisha to his enemy, the King of Israel. None of us would Ii ke to be thus snpervised in our secret doings by our fellow-men. How little we reflect that, in sober fact, we are being thus morally supervised by the living God I Elisha's name would be well known in Syria since the healing of the famous captain. II. h"VISIBLE DEFENCE. If Elisha was the medium of discovering his plans, the only practicable course for the King of Syria to pursue was to secure the person of the prophet, and so stop further communications with the King of Israel Benhadad might have reflected that, if all his plans were known to Elisha, this plan would be known too, and Elisha could easily escape. But wicked men do not, as a rule, reflect on the folly of their opposition to God. The king, having ascertained that Elisha was at Dothan, sent an expedition to arrest him. 1. The encompassing host. The force despa.tched against Elisha was "a great host," far exceeding the captains of fifties with their fifties who were sent to arrest Elijah (eh. i.). Benhadad put trust in chariots and horses (Ps. xx. 7). Yet why so great a company to take one prisoner, if no super- natural arm was there to fight for him? And if God was Protector, what would even this great host avail? Another proof of the inward uncertainty with which this enterprise was entered upon is seen in the fact that the host surrounded the city "by night." Combined with the worldly man's belief that physical force is irresistiblt>, there is the lurking fear that it may not prove irresistible after all. 2. The trembling servant. Awaking early the next morning, and going forth, the servant of Elisha saw, to his dismay, the city compassed about with both chariot and horse. His cry, as he rushed back to report the fact to his master, wBB, "Alas, my master I how shall we do?" Thus apt are men to judge of a situation purely by the standard of sense. The material factors are nearly the only ones looked at. Things n.re esteemed to go well or ill with us according as the natural situation looks favourable or the reverse. It is the comtant aim of Bible-teaching to lift us above this point of view-to give us a higher one. 3. The invisiole protector,. Elisha prayed that the young man's eyes mio-ht be opened, and then he saw the mistake he was committing. "The mountain wn; full of horses and chariots of .fire round about Elisha." No wonder that, in this moment of apparent danger, Elisha was full of calm trust. Knowing Benhadad'e designs, be might have escaped had he desired, but with the forces of the invisible King interposed between him and his enemies, he did not feel even this to ~e necessar;r, Not lees confidently, in seasons of danger from ungodly men, may the believer commit hie way unto the Lord. It may not be given him to see the symbols of invisible protection, but not the less surely can he depend that" the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Ps. xxxiv. 7). He can say with David, "I will not be afraid of ten thousand of people that have 11et themselves against me rou!!d about" (Ps. iii 6). They can do him no further harm than God sees W8"t to allow. They that are for him are more than they that be aga.inst him.  OTT. VI. 1-33.] 'l'IIE SECOND IlOOK OF THE KINGS. 145