Alas! How Shall We Do?

The young servant of the prophet Elisha has risen early. They were living in a time of war. The Syrians who had been defeated several times already were still warring against Israel. To that end the servant with his master Elisha, being in Dothan, living in solemn and alarming times, had special reasons to rise early to take inventory of the circumstances.

“Behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots.” We also live in a time of wars and rumors of wars. The spiritual warfare declared in Genesis 3 continues in all its intensity. Perhaps on New Year’s Day we, too, have awakened early with great fears concerning the coming year. Then, first, we do well to consider which king we are under and, secondly, which place we occupy under his banner. There are those who fight on the front and those who are more at the back, but all are warring under the same leader. It is an appalling thing when we resemble Benhadad. Ahab, the king of Israel, had been very merciful unto him in sparing his life. Benhadad’s general, Naaman, had been wonderfully cured of his leprosy. Yet, in this chapter he is warring against the God of Israel and His people. My readers, have you begun the New Year as King Benhadad? Then surely it is high time to repent and turn unto the Lord.

“Alas, my master! how shall we do?” During the night the enemy has come and surrounded Mount Dothan. When the servant of Elisha saw the mount compassed with so many chariots and soldiers, his fears have multiplied. Undoubtedly, there are many on this New Year’s Day with the same question, “Alas, how shall we do?” Surely, there are many valid reasons for this question. Alas, how shall we do? How shall fathers and mothers provide for their children concerning their daily bread with costs escalating? How shall they deal with a son or daughter, who more and more with an indifferent heart, is turning his or her back on the church?

How shall they do who are struggling with continual pain and weariness of the body? How shall they do who are struggling with depression? How shall we do as a sinful people with sinful hearts, surrounded by so many temptations and ungodliness? Surely, we cannot expect to do well when we carry unfiltered Internet in the palm of our hands. How shall they do who are addicted? How shall we do when the world’s enmity is greatly increasing against the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth? Perhaps this is the question in the midst of family circles where the love is waxing cold.

“Alas, my master! how shall we do?” What an important question concerning our death. There is only a step between us and death (1 Samuel 20:3). How shall we do in the swelling of the River Jordan, when we are ushered into eternity to appear before our Maker (Hebrews 9:27)? Young and old, has this been our question and concern on New Year’s Day?

“And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” This servant has already beheld wonderful things when the Lord made the axe head to float. Yet, he looked more on the circumstances of the horses with the chariots than upon what the Lord had done in the past. However, this servant did not despair but went to his master, unburdening his heart. It is still a blessing when we with our many temporal and eternal anxieties are given earnestly to enquire of the Lord. Are there souls who, in addition to the many temporal fears, are surrounded and followed by a thundering law and demanding justice, with not a penny to pay? Elisha has prayed for the opening of the eyes of his servant that he may be given to see the faithfulness, the mercy accompanied by the power and protection of the LORD, the I AM that I AM.

“And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man.” He was given to see that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. They were the holy angels that appeared in the form of fiery horses and chariots. We read in Psalm 34:7a, “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him.” Paul has written to the Church in Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” This is the blessed portion of God’s people. Readers, we would do well to consider when we stand on the threshold of another year whether we belong to this chosen and blessed people. Have we been born again (John 3:3)? Have we become poor, a mourner, one hungering and thirsting after righteousness (Matthew 5:3-6)? Have we come to a saving knowledge of the Son of God (John 17:3)? To the true and living Church Christ has declared in Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

“LORD, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” It is necessary, my unconverted readers, to see with a holy jealousy the blessed portion of Elisha. It is needful for all of us to see more the seriousness, shortness, solemnity, and uncertainty of our life, and the certainty of death, judgment, and eternity. It is profitable to see and recognize the signs of the times when the judgments of the Lord are hovering so low over this earth (Psalm 119:120). We need the uncovering of the Holy Ghost to see our sins in the light of the mirror of God’s holy law (Romans 3:20). Our eyes need to be opened to see our great, provoking sins against all the attributes of a majestic God (Lamentations 5:16). We need eyes opened to see and experience that by the works of the law no flesh can or ever shall be justified (Galatians 3:10).

We need the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, by true saving faith, to embrace the promises written in the Scriptures for those who truly fear Him. We need our eyes opened to see the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ who taketh away the sins of the world (John 1:29); to see Him who is fairer than the children of men (Psalm 45:2); eyes accompanied by light to see who the Lord is when He enables them to trust in Him (Psalm 37:5). With the many cares concerning our daily bread, we need eyes to see that every beast of the forest and the cattle upon a thousand hills are all His (Psalm 50:10)—eyes, at times, to see Immanuel’s Land where the Church may be delivered to praise a Triune God perfectly and eternally.

“LORD, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” To that end in this year may there be many among us, who sitting by the wayside where Jesus passes by in the proclamation of His holy Word, be given to ask and cry loudly as a Bartimaeus of old, “Lord, that I might receive my sight” (Mark 10:51).

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