Kelli Trujillo Supporter Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Teacher, Musician

The exact reason as to why power was released to Elisha via the music of the harpist isn't specifically given in this passage, but we can deduce some reasons from the scriptures and other incidents in the Bible.

The first idea that comes to me is that where praise is offered, God is present. Psalms 22:3 tells us, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." (KJV) Another version says this: "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." (ESV) When we praise God, He is inclined to reveal the closeness of His presence to us. The harpist was brought to offer songs of worship to God in order to invite the presence of God.

Second, it was common practice at that time and in that part of the world to call upon musicians to calm the mind and ease stress. It makes sense that Elisha might call upon a musician, as many did in his culture, to reduce the stress he probably carried as a prophet of God in a tumultuous time. He would need a clear mind to be able to discern the voice and will of God.

Another example of this is in 1 Samuel 16: 14-23, when David was called upon to play the lyre for Saul. An evil spirit had been sent to Saul to torment him, but when David played for Saul, the evil spirit departed. My opinion is that David probably played songs of worship for Saul since he was inclined to write worship songs, many of which are recorded in the Book of Psalms.

Third, songs of worship have the power to break the powers of darkness and to make way for God to move. In Acts 16: 23-26 we find the account of Paul and Silas, who literally sang themselves out of prison! Having been unjustly locked up for preaching the gospel, they sang praise to God for the privilege of being persecuted for Him, and as a result, every person in the prison was set free.

Fourth, praise paves the way for victory. In Joshua 6 we find the account of the Israelites taking Jericho. The priests blew trumpets in praise to God every day for six days as the company of Israel marched around the city wall, and no other word or sound was uttered. On the seventh day, the priests did the same, then blew a loud trumpet blast, followed by the shouts of the people. As a result, the walls of Jericho fell flat.

Here's the bottom line: Worship helps us to raise our minds and hearts above the stress of our circumstances, and helps us instead to focus on God, who is able to deliver us from every battle, trial, and source of stress and strife. Elisha probably called upon the harpist to help him clear his mind and focus solely on God in order to discern the will of God at a crucial time.

June 26 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

2 Kings 3:15: "But now bring me a minstrel." And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.

When E-li’-jah came to E-li’-sha, he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he cast his mantle upon him and went his way. E-li’-sha left the oxen and ran after E-li’-jah and said unto him, “Let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.” E-li’-Jah then said to him, “Go back again: for what have I done to thee?” When he returned back, he took a yoke of oxen and slew them, boiled their flesh with oxen's instruments, and gave unto the people, and he arose and went after E-li’-jah. Elisha was one of the seven thousand in Israel, who bowed not unto Ba’-al. When the Lord would take E-li’-jah to heaven, E-li’-sha then said unto him, “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee,” and they went to Beth’-el, and then to Jericho, and to Jordan. Elijha then cast his mantle and smote the waters of the Jordan, and they went over on dry ground, and the chariot of horses of fire appeared, and E-li’-jah went up in a whirlwind into heaven. (1 Kings 19:16-21/2/2 Kings 2:1-11)

This was the “treasures that E-li’-sha had, who was perfect to go and sell that he had, who then gave to the poor, to have treasure in heaven, and to follow E-li’-jah, who was then taken up to heaven.” (Mat 19:21/2 Kings 2:2,4,6) The “Power of God” that came upon E-li’-sha, through his faithfulness with God the Father, reveals unto us today the “Wisdom of God given unto you through His Holy Spirit.” With the treasures that were given to him, through His Holy Spirit, he then smote the waters of Jordan and went on dry ground back to Jericho. (2 Kings 2:14-15) The Power of God was to reveal to the three kings, whose fathers were worshiping Baal, prophets, and false gods. This was the faith of God the Father that he had, who then called the minstrels who played, and the Hand of the Lord came upon him. 

The Hand of the Lord that came upon Elisha was to reveal unto the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom that He would deliver the Mo’-ab-ites into their hands who came and then departed and returned to their own land. (2 Kings 3:9,18,24-27) The power of God came upon Elisha as he came again to Gil’-gal. There was a man who brought bread of the first fruit, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn. And he said, "Give the people that they may eat, for thus saith the Lord, 'They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.'" The servitor then said, “What, should I set this before a hundred men?" He set it before them, and they did eat it. 

This was the power of God that came upon Elisha, as the scriptures reveal to us, when our Lord Jesus walked across the Sea of Galilee, and a great multitude followed Him. The lad that had five barley loaves and two small fishes, he took the loaves, and the fishes, and gave thanks and distributed them to the disciples to give to the great multitude that followed Him. (2 Kings 4:38-44/John 6:2,9,11) 

Matthew 19:21: Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

24 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report