Do We Still Weep?

“And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.” (2Ki 8:11 AV)

Elisha had looked into the eyes of Hazael and it was revealed to him what Hazael would do.  Hazael was sent from the king of Syria, Benhadad, on an errand of fact finding.  Benhadad lay in his bed very ill.  The king wanted to know from the man of God of the future of this illness.  Would it take his life or would he recover?  The LORD revealed to Elisha this sickness was not unto death, but rather, Hazael would take advantage of this illness to slay his boss.  Then, Hazael would inflict the eastern regions of Israel with violent invasions.  This is why the man of God wept.  The man of God saw the resident evil in the heart of another.  This is what the man of God weeps over.

What strikes me this morning is what Benhadad and Hazael were to Elisha and the fact his rebellion still brought the man of God to tears.  Benhadad was the king of Syria.  Syria had constantly been used of God as a means to chasten Israel back to Himself.  Almost never successful, Israel returned to their apostacy once the affliction was over.  Benhadad was a thorn to the Jewish people.  Naaman the Leper was his general.  Hazael was his secretary.  These men made it their life’s calling to make it miserable for Israel.  This was of the LORD’s doing to motivate Israel towards repentance.  If I was Elisha, I may not appreciate the ‘ministry’ of Benhadad, Naaman, or Hazael.  I may have a hard time conversing or offering them any ministry at all.  Yet, Elisha did.  He was conversant with Benhadad and healed Naaman.  Now, he weeps over Hazael.

Elisha wept because he saw the waste.  He saw what might have been but will never be.  This is a man who can still see the worth of a human soul.  He can still see there is hope.  No matter how bad things are, he can still see there might be some ministry somewhere.  He weeps because he still cares.  He will not allow the waning ministry of the ten tribes change him to the point he is calloused toward the eventual outcome.  He has not hardened himself against the inevitable.  This is a man that allows reality to keep him soft rather than protecting his heart against repeated failures.  Unlike his predecessor, Elisha embraces his times and remains as passionate as possible with the message God has given.  He will not allow the darkness of the hour to steal away his ability to feel.  In this, Elisha is alive deep down in his soul.  He weeps because he is alive.  He weeps because there are still those who will turn even though this one won’t.  He uses what he sees in Hazael to reach others who will not go his way.  Elisha weeps because he still cares.