Let us not be content to know of Elisha in these chapters of Scripture. Let us not be content to know of Christ and His glory in the Scripture. There are many in that great day who may say Lord Lord did not we know these famous prophets of old and He will tell them to depart from Him. Instead, take hold of Christ by faith that you may know Him and be found in Him, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.
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!”
II Kings 9:14 NKJV
Shortly before Jesus was crucified, Pilate realized Jesus was from Galilee and sent for Herod who was ruler of that region and in Jerusalem for business that night. Luke 23:8 tells us Herod “was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him…and hoped to see some miracle done by Him.” Jesus did not provide answers to Herod at which point Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and mocked Him. It is not uncommon for those who have great fame to be sought out by those who have no faith. The world loves to be among the famous.
In the final account of Elisha’s ministry, Joash the king of Israel went to see Elisha. We know only a little of King Joash but what we know is not good and summed up like this:
And he did evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, but walked in them.
II Kings 13:11 NKJV
When Joash visited Elisha it seems he went hoping for some help from Elisha in fighting against Israel’s long-time enemy, the Syrians.