在第十三章，我們讀到有關北國以色列的政治、屬靈光景。當耶戶作以色列王時，上帝興起亞蘭王哈薛奪取了以色列的土地（10：32）。這是上帝審判以色列的方法，因為他們不停止敬拜耶羅波安在以色列設立的金牛犢。以色列人受壓太重，甚至連不敬上帝的約哈斯也忍不住呼求上帝拯救他們（13：4）。上帝因祂的憐憫，垂聽了約哈斯迫切的祈求，並應許要賜下一個拯救者，使以色列不致被滅絕。約哈斯之子約阿施是上帝所賜的救星之一，但耶羅波安二世，即約哈斯的孫子，才是主要的功臣。上帝看見以色列人如此無助，便向他們施憐憫。「耶和華並沒有說要將以色列的名從天下塗抹，乃藉約阿施的兒子耶羅波安拯救他們。」（14：27）。雖然耶羅波安也很邪惡，但他是個強而有力的領袖，救以色列人脫離了亞蘭人的壓迫。

        約哈斯之子約阿施也行上帝眼中看為惡的事，容許以色列人繼續敬拜金牛犢。但約阿施心繫先知以利沙，以利沙可能是他與上帝唯一的接觸點。以利沙身罹絕症時，約阿施去探望他，並求他為以色列呼求上帝，使他們得脫敵人的壓迫。約阿施為以利沙的重疾哭泣，因為他很尊敬以利沙，並承認以利沙是以色列堅固的保障，就如他在以利沙的病榻前所言：「我父啊，我父啊，以色列的戰車馬兵阿。」以利沙也曾用這相同的字眼來形容以利亞的能力（12：12）。上帝也將祂的靈降在以利沙身上，使他能為上帝的榮耀行許多了不起的神蹟。當一個人完全順服於上帝的旨意，而不是自己的旨意，他就能為上帝做大事。

        在眾先知、聖徒中，以利沙是唯一死後還被上帝使用來行神蹟的人：有一個死人碰到以利沙的骸骨就復活了。這個神蹟的目的一定是為了確認以利沙之預言的真實性，也就是以色列將能得脫亞蘭之手。事實上，在以利沙死後不久，他預言約阿施三次擊敗亞蘭人的話應驗了（13：18~19、25）。雖然那時的以色列並不忠於上帝，但上帝仍信守祂對亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的約。上帝並沒有將以色列人從祂面前塗抹，雖然以色列人也是罪有應得。這清楚的說明了上帝奇異的恩典。

        十四章轉向而敘述南國猶大的情況，約阿施被謀殺後，他的兒子亞瑪謝接續他作王。亞瑪謝並沒有參與刺殺父親的陰謀，他把那些謀害父親的人處死了。亞瑪謝效法他父親的行為，這很得上帝的喜悅，但卻不若大衛那樣合上帝的心意。上帝祝福亞瑪謝，使他大勝以東。亞瑪謝卻從此信心十足，以為自己所向無敵，他向以色列王約阿施挑戰，卻吃了敗仗。「驕傲在敗壞以先，狂心在跌倒之前」（箴言16：18）

主啊，以利沙甚至在年老體衰時仍被您使用來行神蹟。您對我們的應許是：「你們的日子如何，力量就必如何。」我們求您天天不斷的賜給我們力量。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        In chapter thirteen, we read of the political and spiritual situation in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. While Jehu was king, the Lord raised up Hazael, king of Syria, to take land from Israel (10:32). This was a means of judgment upon them for continuing in the idolatrous calf-worship that Jeroboam established in Israel when the kingdom was first divided (1 Kings 12:26-28). Even after Jehu's death (10:35), Syria continued to oppress Israel where his son Jehoahaz was reigning. The oppression was so great that even the ungodly Jehoahaz called out to God to deliver them (13:4). In His compassion and mercy, God heard his desperate prayer and promised to send a deliverer so Israel would not be completely wiped out (13:5). Their escape from extinction, however, was accomplished partly by his son, Joash (13:25) and mainly by his grandson Jeroboam II. God saw that they were helpless without Him and showed them mercy. "And the Lord did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash" (14:27). Although Jeroboam was wicked, he was a strong leader and brought deliverance to Israel.

        Joash (alternate spelling is Jehoash), the son of Jehoahaz, also did evil in the sight of the Lord by allowing calf-worship to continue. Yet he had a tender place in his heart for Elisha, the prophet of God, who may have been his only point of contact with God. When Elisha was close to death with a terminal illness, Joash visited him to request that he appeal to God on behalf of Israel, that they might be delivered from their enemies. He wept with the thought of losing Elisha, for he had great respect for him and recognized him as a strong defence for Israel, as is evident by the expressive words: "my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen". It is fitting that these same words which expressed the strength and power of Elijah (2:12) were also used of Elisha. God has also put His Spirit upon Elisha to do many wonderful things for His glory. When an individual has surrendered himself to God's will and not his own, great things can be done for the Lord.

        Elisha was the only one among all the prophets and saints whom God used as an instrument to bring about a miracle after he had died: the dead man was resurrected to life when he was placed upon the bones of Elisha (13:21). This miracle must have been given to confirm the truth of Elisha's words that Israel would have the deliverance from Syria just as he had prophesied. In fact, it would not have been long after his death that those three defeats upon the enemy, which had been symbolized by the three arrows Joash struck to the ground (13:18-19), came to fulfillment (13:25). Though Israel was unfaithful to God at that time, He remained faithful to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He did not cast them from His presence, though they deserved it; this is a clear illustration of the marvelous grace of God.

        In chapter fourteen, the narrative turns to consider the condition in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. After the assassination of Joash (12:20-21), his son Amaziah reigned in his place, but he had no part in the conspiracy against his father, for he put to death those who murdered him. Amaziah's ways were just like his father's. This pleased the Lord, but not to the same degree as He had been pleased with David (14:3). After God blessed him with a great victory over Edom, Amaziah felt confident and invincible, so he challenged Jehoash, king of Israel, and went to war but was defeated. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 10:10).

        Thank You, Lord, for Your miracles through Elisha, even into his old age. Your promise to us all is "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." We ask for Your continued strength as our daily portion. Amen.