Elisha the prophet has grown old and fallen ill with the sickness from which he will die. Throughout his ministry, which began when Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha has served as God's spokesman to Israel's kings and performed numerous miracles. He witnessed the reigns of multiple kings of Israel, including the house of Ahab and Jehu's dynasty. The current king, Jehoash (also called Joash), son of Jehoahaz, has been reigning in Israel for several years during a time when Syria under Hazael has oppressed Israel and reduced its military strength significantly. Despite Israel's continued idolatry and sin, God has shown them compassion and not completely destroyed them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jehoash now comes to visit the dying prophet, recognizing Elisha's importance to Israel's defense against their enemies.
[14] Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”
[15] And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. [16] Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. [17] And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” [18] Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. [19] And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”
[20] Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. [21] So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
During Jesus's inaugural sermon in his hometown synagogue of Nazareth, he has just read from Isaiah about the Spirit's anointing and proclaimed its fulfillment. The congregation initially marvels at his gracious words but then questions how Joseph's son could make such claims. Jesus responds by noting that prophets receive no honor in their hometowns, then cites two Old Testament examples where God's prophets ministered to Gentiles rather than Israelites during times of great need. He reminds them that Elijah was sent to a widow in Zarephath of Sidon during a severe famine when many widows existed in Israel, and that Elisha cleansed Naaman the Syrian of leprosy though many lepers lived in Israel. These illustrations suggest God's blessing extending beyond ethnic Israel to outsiders, which provokes the audience's fury. Jesus is addressing the congregation gathered in the Nazareth synagogue.
[25] But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; [26] but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. [27] And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
[28] So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, [29] and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. [30] Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.
St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians 2:6-10
Paul has been explaining to the Corinthians why he deliberately avoided using eloquent wisdom and persuasive rhetoric when he first preached to them, choosing instead to focus simply on Christ crucified and to rely on the Spirit's power rather than human wisdom. He emphasized that their faith should rest on God's power, not on human cleverness or philosophical arguments. The apostle contrasted worldly wisdom, which failed to recognize God's plan of salvation through the cross, with God's wisdom that appears foolish to the world but demonstrates His power. He reminded them that the message of the cross seems like foolishness to those who are perishing, but to believers it reveals God's true wisdom and strength. Paul is addressing the church at Corinth.
[6] However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, [8] which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
[9] But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
[10] But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.