Michiana Covenant Presbyterian Church

We have come to the very center of the book of Kings! We have seen over and over in this story that the wages of sin is death. (We see that again tonight!) But in the ascension of Elijah we see the most profound sign of hope in the Old Testament! Why do I say the most profound sign of hope? Moses died here – and was buried by God. But Elijah is take up to heaven! Admittedly – in its own day, it might be taken ambiguously: "Oh great, someone special, like Elijah, gets zapped out of here – but for us ordinary schmucks, we're just stuck in the mess!" But one who is paying attention will notice that this ascension is surrounded by two resurrections: Elijah raises the Sidonian widow's son – and Elisha will raise the Shunamite's son (ch 4). And Elijah and Elisha have a ministry that reminds us of Moses and Joshua. And the point of the whole book is that yes, Israel is going to die – Judah and Jerusalem are going to die – so what hope is there for those who are doomed to death and exile?! Your hope is that God raise