JESUS CHRIST and HOLY SPIRIT in 2Kings

JESUS CHRIST in 2Kings

The failure of the prophets, priests, and kings of God’s people points to the necessity of the advent of Christ. Christ Himself would be the ideal combination of these three offices. As a Prophet, Christ’s word far surpasses that of the great prophet Elijah (Matt. 17:1–5). Many of the miracles of Jesus were reminiscent of the wonders God did through Elijah and Elisha in 2 Kings. In addition, Christ is a Priest superior to any of those recorded in Kings (Heb. 7:22–27). Especially, 2 Kings vividly illustrates the need for Christ as our reigning King.When asked if He was King of the Jews, Jesus affirmed that He was (Matt. 27:11). However, Christ is a King greater than their greatest king (Matt. 12:42). The reign of each of the twenty-six rulers came to an end, but Christ will reign on the throne of David forever (1 Chr. 17:14; Is. 9:6), for He is “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:16).

HOLY SPIRIT in 2Kings

The words of the prophets in 2:16 indicate that the Holy Spirit (the “Spirit of the LORD”) sometimes transported Elijah from one location to another (see 1 Kin. 18:12). This is not unlike Acts 8:39, 40, where Philip is described as having a similar experience.

There is an indirect reference to the Holy Spirit in the phrase “spirit of Elijah” found in 2:9, 15 (see the text and note on 1 Kin. 2:9–16). Here Elisha is seeking to receive the same empowerment Elijah had in order to carry on Elijah’s prophetic ministry. The energizing spirit or power that enabled Elijah to prophesy was the Spirit of God (see 1 Sam. 10:6, 10 and 19:20, 23).

Second Kings 2:9–16 then provides an interesting Old Testament parallel to Acts 1:4–9 and 2:1–4. Elijah went into heaven, Elisha sought the promise of empowerment to carry on his master’s ministry, and he received it. In a similar way, Jesus ascended, the disciples awaited the promise, and the Holy Spirit descended to empower them to carry on the work that their Lord began.

A final allusion to the Holy Spirit in 2 Kings is in 3:15. Here the “hand of the LORD” came upon Elisha, enabling him to prophesy to King Jehoshaphat. The formula “hand of the LORD” referred to the divine inspiration for prophets (see Ezek. 1:3), which as noted above, is the Spirit of God. That prophecy is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit is confirmed in 1 Corinthians 12:7–11.