1 September 18, 2011 Sermon on the First Lesson: 2 Kings 6:8-23 ...

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and
forevermore. Amen.
Dear Friends in Christ,
Half asleep, I stepped outside for a breath of fresh mountain air. Yawning I looked down
from the hill to take in the view in the early morning light. My eyes scanned the hills ringing the
town and the rich green pastures in the valleys. There I saw it--dark shapes in the valley.
Soldiers marching and they weren’t on our side. Then everywhere I looked I saw them coming
as the sky grew brighter. Horse-archers here, chariots there—yes, chariots, armored horse
drawn carts, the most feared weapon on the battle field! Oh I should introduce myself, though
you’ve probably guessed who I am. I’m a young man who served the prophet Elisha on that day
I saw amazing things, some 2800 years ago! But first I was trembling with fright. There was no
way out. I panicked and ran, almost crashing into the Elisha himself. “Oh no, my lord! What
shall we do?” I shouted.
But you can understand, can’t you? I’m not asking you to excuse. My fear, worry and
panic was wrong. But as a fellow believer in God’s promised Savior who still has a sinful
nature, and wrestles with sinful temptations every day, you can relate, can’t you? Sure, you’ve
never been surrounded by an Aramean army, but you still know what I felt that day. Maybe you
felt it when you were overwhelmed with helplessness, burdened with grief at the death of a loved
one or when a relationship was ripping apart. Maybe it was problems at work or school piling
up, or you wondered how you’d ever get everything done. Maybe you’ve been burdened with a
guilty conscience, besieged with failures and guilt. Was it when you were stuck in a storm or felt
all alone, after an accident or facing sickness? Could you relate to my situation when ten years
ago the terrorists attacked and you still wonder if it might happen again. That hymn you’ll sing
in a bit sums up our life in this sin wrecked world: I walk in danger all the way… and how that
truth can crush and paralyze us with fear!
But our God has the answer we need. It’s what Elisha said: Don’t be afraid, those who
are with us are more than those who are with them. And then he asked God to open my eyes
and comfort me. Let us ask the same thing: Lord, Open our Eyes.
Oh did God ever answer Elisha’s prayer as the enemy soldiers came closer! Hear it
again: Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of
horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. There on the hills and all around us there they
were… horses and chariots of fire. Remember, this was long before tanks and planes. There
was nothing faster or more powerful on the ancient battle field than horse drawn chariots. They
stood for power and speed. And if you could see them bright with the fire that stands for the
glory of God, you’d still be impressed even if you have seen tanks and planes!
For just a moment God let me see what is normally hidden and invisible to human eyes:
God’s angel armies. Those powerful beings our second lesson spoke of: “He makes his angels
winds, his servants flames of fire.” There was no reason to fear. God did not forget us. He
sent his angels to take care of us.
Since there are so many false ideas about angels, let’s remember what God tells us about
them. The angels are not believers who have died, no matter what popular culture or the comic
“Family Circus” says. God’s people, believers in Christ who have died, do not become angels,
but right now their souls enjoy the blessed, peace and happiness of heaven, where along with the
angels they praise God in perfect contentment even as they look forward to when Jesus will raise
their bodies.
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