24 Some time later, Ben-Hadad king of Aram mobilised his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria. 2 Kings 6
The King of Aram (could also represent a demonic king/principality) came back and besieged Samaria. The enemy returned to attack the capital city of Israel again, this time with the whole army. Elisha was trapped inside with all the people and he shared in their suffering, he wasn’t immune to it.
25 There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels.
MONEY IS A MEASURE of earthly values and just as the scriptures say elsewhere, those values can quickly change.
The people were crying out to the King for help but though he still had some power inside the city, he was unable to relieve their suffering.
27 The king replied, ‘If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?’
God was the only one who could deliver Israel from the enemy outside their gates. The King had humbled himself secretly to plead for mercy for his fellow citizens.
30 When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his robes. As he went along the wall, the people looked, and they saw that, under his robes, HE HAD SACKCLOTH ON HIS BODY.
Then the King couldn’t endure the suffering of the people any longer and decided to lash out in anger and take the life of God’s prophet, Elisha. Prophets can become targets when they speak God’s words to suffering people, but on this occasion Elisha was forewarned and told those with him to block the door of his house.
33 While he was still talking to them, the messenger came down to him.
The king said, ‘This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?’
7 Elisha replied, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: about this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.’
Elisha proclaimed the word of the Lord over the situation; God says this time tomorrow, just 24 hours more and the siege will be over. The money measure will completely change and everything will become plentiful again. The devil, wanted Elisha murdered because he could declare God’s word of victory and relief over the situation. That word came at the very lowest point when the king could take no more. I believe we are approaching such a time right now, when God’s word breaks the siege of the enemy from the neck of His people and circumstances become much easier for many. Lord, rescue Your people from the hands of the wicked we pray. Amen
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.