Let us turn in God's holy word to 2 Kings chapter six, 2 Kings chapter six, and we'll begin reading at verse eight, and we'll read through verse 23. 2 Kings chapter six, you can find it on page 576 in your Pew Bible. Let us hear the word of the Lord as we begin reading at verse eight. Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel. And he consulted with his servants, saying, My camp will be in such and such a place. And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there. Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice, Therefore, the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing. And he called his servants and said to them, will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said, none, my lord, O king, but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom. And so he said, go and see where he is, that I may send and get him. And it was told him, saying, Surely he is in Dothan. Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servants said unto him, Alas, my master, what shall we do? And so he answered, do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. And Elisha prayed and said, Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see. Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, strike this people, I pray, with blindness. And he struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Now Elisha said to them, this is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria. And so it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw There they were, inside Samaria. Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, my father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them? But he answered, you shall not kill them. Would you kill those who you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master. Then he prepared a great feast for them, and after they ate and drank, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel. Amen, may God bless the reading of his precious and infallible word. Dear congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we look at the life and ministry of Elisha and continue to do so, we have witnessed that indeed he testifies of his own name that God is a God of salvation. And he has revealed that in so many amazing ways, in his provision, his healing of waters, his granting life even to those, a child who has died, his provision in countless ways, but also his protection. God is a God who not only provides for his people but also protects his people. We saw that already in 2 Kings 3 with the three kings as Israel was attacked and afflicted by the Moabites and they were going to go up against the Moabites and they came into a desperate place in the desert and God protected them and gave them the victory over the Moabites. So you see God's protection there also for Israel. And today we want to look at God's protection even in a more profound way, not only His protection over the King of Israel, but also His protection of Elisha. And especially in our day and age, protection gets a lot of attention. It's a great marketing tool to instill fear upon people to market things that will protect you. Think of even in our daily lives with alarm systems and insurance policies and vaccines and you think of vehicle repairs or other things that would protect you. But we also look at countries around us who are being afflicted and attacked by oppressors. We think of Israel at this time. And they're also, their desire for protection. You see the same things happening in Taiwan, where China seems to be coming more and more aggressive against them. And they're looking for protection, protection against their aggressors. And they seek to find that protection in various special intelligence, having special forces and special defense systems. Think of the THAAD defense system that the U.S. just recently gave to Israel to be able to help them and protect them against the missile attacks of Lebanon and Iran. These are things that are marketed today and spoken of greatly. But I want to take you today to the best protection you can ever have and ever imagine. And it's not a missile protection defense system. This is the Lord of Hosts, the God of Elisha and his protection. Let's look at this from this account that we just read from in 2 Kings 6. Elisha, with the theme Elisha, the Lord's protection. We see that, we'll see that with three thoughts. The Lord's protection through his knowledge. Secondly, by his power. And thirdly, according to his mercy. The Lord's protection, first of all, then through his knowledge. The situation in Israel was again in a difficult place. We find that the king of Syria, Ben-Hadad, was making war again against Israel. You might think, this Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria, how could he want to make war again against Israel? Hasn't he witnessed so many times, already back in Ahab's day, where he thought that the God of Israel was only a God of the hills and not of the valleys, of the valleys and not of the hills, but God proves himself to be a God both of the hills and of the valleys, and even though Ahab was supposed to take his life, Ben-Hadad is allowed to escape and even has a treaty made with him, and yet he continues to be a thorn in the side of Israel. And not only that, then you think of Naaman, just a chapter ago in 2 Kings 5, how Naaman, one of his special forces, who had done so much damage already to Israel, comes now to Israel at the request of Ben-Hadad, even seeking to be healed from his leprosy. And he's sent to Elisha, and indeed is healed. And he comes back to Syria, and certainly Ben-Hadad, after all of this, would not come again against Israel. Maybe Naaman knew more about his master, his king. And what we realize, especially in 2 Kings 5, when he knew the hardness of Ben-Hadad's heart, that he would still want to go into the house of Rimen, even though the God of Israel is proven to be the God who can heal him from his leprosy. And so incensed against God and his people, he goes again against Israel. What a wicked king. What a foolish king. And yet, here he comes again against Israel. And he's telling his servants, our camp will be in such and such a place, and let's try to trap this King Jehoram, let's try to trap him, and let's try to ambush him, let's try to capture him. But what he doesn't realize is that Israel has the best intelligence system that's available. the intelligent system of the Lord Jehovah, the Lord of hosts. And he indeed informs the man of God, Elisha, of Ben-Hadad's plan. And so Elisha has this insight even into the very bedroom of Ben-Hadad. into the very thoughts of Ben-Hadad, into the very discussions of Ben-Hadad, and knows the plots that he has against the king of Israel. And so, Elisha, as the man of God, sends the word of the Lord to Jehoram. And he comes with this word, this powerful word, beware that you do not pass through this place where Ben-Hadad will be seeking to capture you. For the Syrians are coming down there. And the king of Israel, he checks it out and tests it. He tests it. He hears this powerful word, and he tests this word, and indeed it is true. And Elisha sends to him this word, not once, not twice, but at least three times. And it comes true every time. The word of the Lord is coming to Jehoram, a rebellious king. It's coming to him with power. And it's proven to be true. I almost think we need to stop here and to think about this. Jehoram, this wicked king with one foot in the world and one foot in Israel, as it were, one foot wanting to serve Baal and the other foot, he's kind of coming to an understanding that this God whom his fathers have served is indeed the Lord of hosts, but he wouldn't, Bend the knee. He wouldn't do away with Baal worship. He wouldn't do away with idolatry. And yet, when this word of Elisha comes to Jehoram, it comes with power. Power to open his ears. Power that he would test it and obey it in the sparing even of his own life and the lives of the Israelites. And this really is the power of Christians in this world, isn't it? When we as Christians in a society can bring the Word of the Lord to bear in a society and upon a society, that's a gift from God to a province, to a nation, and to the world around us. Why? Because the Word of God is truth. The Word of God is what's this intelligence system. It is full of knowledge and truth and it gives understanding by His Spirit so that ears are opened and people obey it and their lives are spared. It's a grace of God to have Christians in this world. What a privilege here Jehoram has to have an Elisha who brings this word. and the best intelligence system that you could imagine. But this is greatly disturbing to bin Haydad, the king of Syria. Greatly disturbing. He's so disturbed. How could, not once, not twice, but at least three times, how could we have planned something so good, so right, And this King Jehoram knows exactly what's going on. Somebody is leaking. So he comes to his servants and he says to them, will you not show me which one of us is for the King of Israel? Someone's a traitor. Someone's leaking information. But one of his servants said, no one, my Lord. O King, But Elisha, a servant of Ben-Hadad, we don't know who it was, but I wonder if he had had some consultation with Naaman. I don't think Ben-Hadad would have been stupid enough to send Naaman to Israel again after healing. I doubt that. I don't think Naaman was here. Naaman may have spread this good word, this good news about the God of Israel, and how Elisha is a prophet who knows, because God reveals things to him. And so, maybe this servant of Ben-Hadad's like, you know what? I've heard enough stories, I know who's doing this. That Elisha. Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, he is the one who's telling the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom. He knows what's in your thoughts even, Ben-Hadad. He knows what you're talking about in secret, and he certainly knows what you are communicating to your troops. They have a special intelligence system. It's this Elisha. And what an amazing truth this is. It's ultimately not Elisha, though. It's God himself who's their intelligent system, the one who knows all things, who's all-knowing, omniscient. You find that in Psalm 139, and what a comfort that is, and encouragement that is. It's a, Lord, you have searched me, and you have known me. You know my sitting down. You know when I rise up. You know what happens in my bedroom. You know everything. You understand my thoughts afar off. And you comprehend my path and my lying down. You are acquainted with all of my ways. There's not even a word on my tongue, but behold, Lord, you know it all together. You have hedged me behind, and before you laid your hand upon me. Oh, says the psalmist, such knowledge is too wonderful for me. This knowledge that God has of us is so wonderful for the psalmist, because he knows everything in their life, and everything in their thoughts, and everything, and everyone who is against them. He's all-knowing. This knowledge, he says, is too high for me. This means that the Lord knows our enemies. He knows Satan. Satan has some knowledge, but he doesn't have infinite knowledge. He doesn't have perfect knowledge. God is all-knowing, and he knows what Satan, and he knows the attacks of Satan upon us. And he knows how our hearts would naturally go and follow Satan and be allured by Satan into the world and all of the pleasures of it. God has this knowledge. God knows what's going on. And isn't it so beautiful then that in the knowledge of God, he knows all of Satan's devices, he knows all of Satan's attacks on you, and he so graciously gives you warning after warning after warning. Just like he did Ben-Hadad. He says to you, don't go to that place. Satan is there. And Satan is seeking to trip you up and lure you into his hands. Don't go to that website. That's going to lead you down a terrible path and Satan will hold you captive. Don't go there. Avoid it. Doesn't God warn us so many times? It's the gracious knowledge of God being applied to our lives. Don't go there. But knowledge doesn't prevent you from doing anything, does it? Knowledge is wonderful. It's wonderful. It's a great intelligence system. But it's really the power of God, isn't it, that preserves us? Isn't that exactly what happens here? That the Lord's protection comes through his knowledge, but secondly, comes by his power. Notice this in verse 13. And so he said, go and see where he is, that I may send and get him. was told him, saying, Surely he is in Dothan. So he sends his chariots there. And the servant to the man of God rose up early, and there was an army surrounding with chariots and horses. And the servant said to him, Alas, my master, what shall we do? And so he answered, Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. The Lord of hosts is on our side. And it's by his power we will be delivered. You see, As the situation here continues, with Ben-Hadad sending his raiders, his troops, to go and to get Elisha, we recognize that Ben-Hadad He might have come to understand that, indeed, this God is revealing things through Elisha to Jehoram, but he has not come to understand this God. Ben-Hadad exhibits irrational unbelief here, doesn't he? If you were one of his servants, what if you said, but Ben-Hadad, if Elisha knows your plans, and he's telling Jehoram Why would you even go and try to capture him in Dothan? Because after all, if he knows all about that, he's certainly going to know your plot against him. But Ben-Hadad, in his blindness, continues. He's going to go get Elisha. And you would think, it's going to happen. As his army surrounds Dothan at night, about 10 miles or so from Samaria. They go there at night and they surround the city and Elisha's servant wakes up early. This young man goes out and he looks and oh, they're surrounded by chariots and horses and swords. They're coming to take us, Elisha. And he wakes him up. But what this servant doesn't understand either is that God is there with special forces. Not only does God have a special intelligence system, he has special forces ready to defend and to protect his people. And so even as Elisha may have even known, it doesn't say he does know, it doesn't say he doesn't know. One thing was for sure, Elisha laid his head on the pillow the night before, and he rested sweetly in the hands of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel. He could envision the psalm we sang in Psalter 5, Psalm 3. I lay me down to sleep. I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, who have set themselves against me all around. He trusted in God and sweetly slept through the night as the Syrian host surrounded Dothan. Maybe Psalm 27, which we sang earlier, Psalm 71. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. Jehovah is my light and my salvation. The Lord of hosts is on my side, says Elisha. Therefore, as we find in Psalm 91, which we hope to sing later, we shall not be afraid of the terror by night. for he shall give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. Elisha could trust in the Lord of Hosts because the special forces of the Lord of Hosts were on his side. The servant of Elisha comes to Elisha. Oh, alas, my master, what shall we do? It's kind of like the disciples in the boat with Jesus, right? As the storm is beating upon them and they can't make any headway and they're about ready to capsize and they wake Jesus up, Lord, don't you care? Oh, you of little faith. And he calms the storm. Hear Elisha, calms the servant of the Lord. But you can understand this young servant. He says, don't you see, Elisha, what I see? We are surrounded. We are finished. There's no hope. But faith says, fear not. Fear not. Because Elisha says, don't you see what I see by faith? Young man, don't you see what I see? Well, he didn't, obviously. And so Elisha prays. Lord, open his eyes that he may see. Servant's eyes are open. And what does he see? The whole mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. The whole mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire. It made the number of those horses and chariots with swords look small, insignificant. And they compared it to the special forces of God. who were surrounding them. Young man, do you see what I see? Young woman, do you see what I see? I can't comprehend it each time when we come and gather and worship. Because I don't see it with my physical eyes. but I hear it from the word of God and I believe it, that we worship the Lord our God and he's pleased to be with us and to have his angelic host with us in worship. Do you see what I see? Do you see what I see when I turn to Hebrews chapter one? And find that God says in His Word that He sends His angels as ministering spirits to us for our protection, for our edification. Do you see what I see? Do you see what I see when you feel so down and helpless? When you feel like you can't battle against sin because you can't? You are no match for Satan. You are no match for the world. And you feel that, don't you? You find yourselves not taking to heart the very warnings of God from his word, even though it comes from a special intelligence system. By nature, we would all do that, every single one of us. But by the grace of God, he shows us more than his knowledge. He shows us his power and his special forces. His special forces. Do you see what I see? Do you see how these special forces are sent out to do the very bidding of God and the will of God? But then you might ask me, but pastor, And why doesn't the Lord send his special forces to deliver me at all times so that I would never get sick, so that I would never have to fear those terrors of the night, so that I would never have to have a depressed day and a down day? Why doesn't the Lord send his special forces all of the time? Well, they're sent to do his will. And there are times when the Lord uses his will to work in us his good pleasure. Because all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. And his providence is so perfect that he does so even as Joseph. He didn't protect Joseph in that, in that den. When he was sold to the Egyptians. When he was brought to the house of Potiphar. And when he had to serve in the prison. But yet God used it all through his special will and special forces to work it together to preserve his people. It is the Lord who's in control. And so we can sweetly sleep and rest in the arms of the Lord of hosts because it's by his grace that we can experience his power, a power that's without limit. This is the special forces of the Lord. Ah, do you see what I see, says Elisha. Oh, may our eyes be opened to see by faith what he sees. These are the special forces of the Lord, and they come with special power. Verse 18. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, strike this people, I pray, with blindness. This is the power of the Lord. The same power of the Lord that opened the eyes of his servant to see the special forces, the same prayer gives power to blind the Syrians. Blind them. What a contrast. And they're blind. They're blinded to the reality that Elisha's right before them. Elisha says, well, this isn't the way, nor is this the city. Just follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. And so he leads them right to Samaria. This is all by the power of the Lord. Sometimes, isn't it true that we find ourselves so trapped and so caught up in, and we don't see any way out, none whatsoever. And so as if the Lord provides that way out, as he opens our eyes and maybe even shuts the eyes of others, and there's a way out. And so also, Elisha, he leads them. He leads them right to Samaria. This power, the power of the Lord to protect us in the midst of temptation, in the midst of trial, in the midst of depression is so amazing. He's all-knowing, but He's also all-powerful. But the best is yet to come, because He's also merciful. The Lord's protection is also according to His mercy. When they came to Samaria, Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men that they may see. Open their eyes. And guess what? They saw. Elisha prays, Lord, open the eyes of the young man so they may see. He sees the Lord of hosts is on his side. Lord, blind the eyes of our oppressors. And he blinds the eyes of the oppressors. Now, Lord, open the eyes of our oppressors. And he opens their eyes. And they're held captive right in Samaria. The tables are turned. They were going to take Jehoram captive. They were going to take Elisha captive. But now they're held captive by both Elisha and Jehoram. And Jehoram sees it. The king of Israel says to Elisha, my father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them? You know, his grandfather Ahab didn't kill Ben-Hadad when he was commanded to. And the Lord was going to, because of that, use the Syrians against Israel again and again and again, and he still is. So maybe Jehoram has got it right now. I heard my grandfather never did kill Ben-Hadad. Maybe if I took care of these raiders and killed them, This would be some justice from the Lord. Well, what happens? Elisha says, no, you shall not kill them. Would you kill those who you have taken captive with the sword and the bow? You've taken them captive. Here they are. They're your captives. Would you then kill them now? No. Because our God is a God of mercy. And so you need to set food and water before them that they may eat and drink and go back to their master and testify of the mercy and the grace of God, of the God of Israel and of the prophet Elisha. And so they prepare a great feast for them. And they ate and they drank and he sent them away and they went to their master. They went to their master. This is the mercy of God. And he sets before them, as it were, a gospel provision through these actions. And they go in peace, and they go to their master, Ben-Hadad. Could you imagine what they now had to tell their master, Ben-Hadad? Ben-Hadad, to their servants. He says, where is Elisha? Oh, you wouldn't believe what happened to us. He took us right into Samaria. There we were before King Jehoram. And he's going to kill us. And Elisha said, no, no, no. Set before them food and water. Care for their needs. Set a feast before them. And have a banquet with them. And send them back to you. and there was peace in the land. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more to the land of Israel. You see, what God does, he takes his enemies and he makes them his friends through the gospel. But isn't that what he does in each one of our lives? He takes rebels who've dared to show contempt to God. He takes the enemies of God of which we all once were, and maybe some of us still are. He takes the enemies of God and he sets before them the provisions of the gospel so that they would believe and that they would become the best friends of Jesus Christ, the very bridegroom of Christ. What a gospel. What a gospel that takes blind sinners, blind sinners, who can't see their way out of the mess, who could never find their way out of the mess that they're in. He takes blind sinners and He opens their eyes and they realize that maybe even here sitting in church this morning that you are held captive by Jesus Christ and His Word and His power and all-knowing Savior has brought you here. And He opens your eyes to see even through a passage like this of the Lord of hosts, the God of Elisha, who prays even as your pastor has prayed. Lord, open their eyes. Open their eyes to see that in the gospel they've come face to face with Jesus Christ. And they've come face to face with the gospel provision through his word. They come face to face with his gospel provision through his sacraments. and that there's bread and there's wine set forth, a banqueting feast that testifies of the one who has come to take enemies and make them friends through his perfect sacrifice and his perfect obedience. This is the gospel that's set before you. You come face to face with Jesus Christ each and every day. It's as if you're led into Samaria and there come before the Lord Jesus Christ. blind sinners whose eyes are opened by the power of the Holy Spirit to see Jesus and their need for Jesus. Did these Syrian raiders, did they take up their arms and say, oh, there's Jehoram, let's get him. Let's kill him. Jehoram had power to kill them. That's what they might have deserved. And that's what you and I deserve. We don't deserve anything but death. But by the grace of God, he sets before us not death. But he says, you shall not die, but live. Live in Jesus Christ and out of Jesus Christ all the days of your life that you might have peace with him. Why would you then think and even consider of going against God? God who sustains you in life, spiritual life, a God who even protects you in life. But it also comes with a warning, doesn't it? The warnings of Scripture are clear. Because one day, those who are blind will be led before the Lord in his throne on the last day. And there before his throne, there will be a mandate from Jesus Christ, from the Lord, to kill and punish for all eternity, for everyone who has refused to bend the knee in the day of grace. Today is not that day yet. Today is the day of grace. It's a day of God's mercy. and he's come with these overtures of his mercy to you and to me. As he sets the banquet of his word before us in the gospel of Jesus Christ, do you see what I see? There's a perfect suitable Savior for sinners. for blind rebels. There's a Savior. And not only saves you from death, but he sets banquets before us. A Savior who has such awesome care and knowledge of us that he protects us by his power and through his mercy. He will never, ever let us go. The Lord of hosts is on our side. Can you say that? Amen. Lord, we give thanks for who you are. and all-knowing, everywhere present, almighty, powerful God, who is rich in mercy. What a privilege it is to meditate upon who you are and upon the gospel of Jesus Christ. May we find in Him life and not death. May we find in Him the fullness of life life everlasting. For we pray it in his name alone. Amen.