2Ki 6:1-3
1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell before thee is too strait for us. 2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto the Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. 3 And one said, Be pleased, I pray thee, to go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
Summary
Vs1 The sons of the prophets say "the place where we live before there is too narrow or small"?
Who are the sons of the prophets?
Those that seem to follow around Elisha. Remember they seemed to hear the voice of God because they were aware of the fact that Elijah was going to be taken up in a whirlwind back in 2 Kings 2. Seems that Elisha teaches, feeds and seems to oversee portions of their ministry.
What does this mean "the place where we live before there is too narrow or straight"? The place we live is too small. Or maybe it's too small the sons of the prophets because they are growing?
Vs2 Let us go to the Jordan (river?), and every man will take a beam (rafter) and we will make/build us a place there to dwell/live.
Why go to the Jordan?
Seems to be a fertile area that trees grow are able to grow.
Every man takes a beam. We will build us a place to dwell.
They want to build this larger place in or near the Jordan (River). Why?
Maybe they are from the Jordan River area?
What event happened by the Jordan River? Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind.
What else? Elijah's mantle had fallen off him here?
The presence of God was clearly seen here.
Vs3 One of the sons of the prophets say,"Be pleased to come with us, your servants". Elisha says "I will go"
(Vs3 in Septuagint: One of the sons of the prophets said to Elisha gently "come with thy servants". Elisha said "I will go".)
Why do they ask Elisha to come? He seems to be their master or overseer? They seek his approval.
So at this point in the story, does Elisha seem to approve of their idea? Yes
We also know that Elisha has told us twice already his position before God. What/where is it?
He says he stands before God. Therefore the assumption is that this is God's will.
2Ki 6:4-7
4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. 5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe-head fell into the water; and he cried, and said, Alas, my master! for it was borrowed. 6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither, and made the iron to swim. 7 And he said, Take it up to thee. So he put out his hand, and took it.
Summary
Vs4 Elisha goes with the sons of the prophet to the Jordan. They begin to cut down wood.
Vs5 As someone was cutting down a beam, his axe head / iron cutting tool fell into the water (Jordan?).
Vs5 Oh no, master! (Elisha) The axe isn't mine, I borrowed it!
Vs6 Elisha asks "Where did it fall?"
Vs6 When Elisha is shown the place, he cuts down a stick (branch or tree), throws it at the spot and makes the iron float to the surface.
Vs7 Elisha says "pick it up!" So the man put out his hand and picked it up.
Is there a spiritual picture of vs 1-7? Sure, where?
http://www.mountain-retreat.org/faq/miracle-of-elisha-and-the-floating-axe-head.html
Elisha is metaphor for God
The servants of God asks God for permission to build a larger house.
The servant of God losing the axe head in the river Jordan signifies that man owe a great debt, and are under the judgment of the law for it.
The Jordan river represents death as we see in Joshua.
Elisha (God) went and cut a piece of wood or stick from a tree and he casts it into the water at the location that the prophet thought the axe head fell.
That stick represents the work of Christ on the cross to remove the curse of the law, the debt that requires judgment.
The axe head is brought up, recovered and restored, the servant is now free from debt.
The work of Jesus on the cross (the stick) redeems fallen mankind from death (of Jordan). The debt is no longer due.
But it is also 7th day metaphor
Remember:
Elisha is a metaphor for the "double portion - overcomer ministry on day 7" which we have plainly seen before.
Isa 49:1
1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye peoples, from far: Jehovah hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name:
Listen, O isles, unto me, ye people from far…
This revelation is for God's people who populate the earth in the NT era….US!
Gal 1:15-16
15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Isa 49:2
2 and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me: and he hath made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he kept me close:
Polished shaft? Purified arrow
Quiver? Arrow case
Rev 6:2
And I saw, and lo, a white horse, and who sat thereon had a bow; and a crown was given him: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.
Rev 19:11
And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Jesus is the white rider with the bow. The hidden arrow would be his people (day of the Lord people).
Isa 49:3-4
3 and he said unto me, Thou art my servant; Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 But I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and vanity; yet surely the justice due to me is with Jehovah, and my recompense with my God.
God's NT people say: I have labored in vain, for nothing..
Isa 49:5-6
5 And now saith Jehovah that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered unto him (for I am honorable in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God is become my strength); 6 yea, he saith, It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Seems these two verses refer to only Jesus..
Isa 49:7
7 Thus saith Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of Jehovah that is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee.
Notice who is mentioned here:
Vs7 Jehovah the redeemer, and his Holy One
Who are these?
Vs7 "to a servant of rulers" …hmmm
Who might these be?
Vs7 …"Kings shall see and arise, princes."
Vs7 …"even the Holy One of Israel"
Jesus
Isa 49:8-9
8 Thus saith Jehovah, In an acceptable time have I answered thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages: 9 saying to them that are bound, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture.
Vs8 In a DAY of salvation have I helped thee
Vs8 to establish the earth
God promises to "establish / raise up the land (earth).
What will he raise up the land with? His kingdom and His people. Their numbers would increase
Isa 49:10-13
10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water will he guide them. 11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. 12 Lo, these shall come from far; and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for Jehovah hath comforted his people, and will have compassion upon his afflicted.
The promise has been reiterated.
Vs10 They shall not hunger or thirst
Growth? The growth of the trees of righteousness on day 7?
Vs11 My highway shall be exalted
Vs13 God will have upon the afflicted
Isa 49:14
14 But Zion said, Jehovah hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me.
God has forsaken and forgotten me..
Think back to 2 Kings 6…
The axe head has fallen off and sunk to the bottom of the water…
Isa 49:15-17
15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee. 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. 17 Thy children make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth from thee.
Who might the son of her womb be?
The man-child born in Rev 12 from the woman.
Does God forget the axe head in 2 Kings 6?
You may forget, but I don't.
You are engraved on the palms of my hand
Your walls are continually before me
Isa 49:18-19
18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith Jehovah, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and gird thyself with them, like a bride. 19 For, as for thy waste and thy desolate places, and thy land that hath been destroyed, surely now shalt thou be too strait for the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
Vs18 - those that come to thee, you will gird yourself with them like a bride.
Vs19 - the land that you dwell in will be too strait or narrow for the inhabitants.
Obviously the same statements made by the sons of the prophets in 2 Kings 6 to the Elisha - the double portion - overcomer on Day 7.
Isa 49:20-21
20 The children of thy bereavement shall yet say in thine ears, The place is too strait for me; give place to me that I may dwell. 21 Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?
Vs20 This place is too narrow for us. Give us a place that is bigger.
Vs21 Where did these children come from?
Vs21 I was a sunken solitary axe head, sunk to the bottom of the water. Where did these children come from?
Isa 49:22-
22 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my ensign to the peoples; and they shall bring thy sons in their bosom, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. 23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah; and they that wait for me shall not be put to shame. 24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives be delivered? 25 But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. 26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Vs22 Again, God doesn't forget his sunken axe head.
Vs22 I’ll lift up my hand (Elisha ministry) to the nations and raise my banner / sign to the peoples.
Vs22 they shall bring their sons…and their daughters.
Are these sons/daughters a metaphor for the sons of the prophets?
The sons of the prophets that need a larger place to live.
Vs23…And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers
Who do Kings and Queens represent?
Prob either the Elisha ministry or the sons of the prophets ministry
Vs23 …they that wait for me shall not be put to shame.
What are they that wait on God called? Eagles