A few months ago, I submitted a 2500-word response to 1 and 2 Kings as part of studying the Old Testament at college. The lecturer invited us to be as creative as possible – poems, board games, flow charts, music albums were all fair game. My response ended up being a selection of acrostic poems following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet (à la Psalm 119), responding to the events of 1 and 2 Kings. My favourite part was reflecting on the comparisons between Elisha and Jesus (as others have also done), and how it highlights the book of Kings’ importance in pointing us to Jesus, the perfect Messiah. This response is below, and I hope it whets your appetite to read more of Kings, and the Old Testament, looking for Christ.
Mem מ
A maskil. Of the Shunammite woman, 2 Kings 2-6.
May all pay attention to Elisha
Meagre farmboy turned miracle worker
Mouthpiece of Yahweh, whose armies surround him[1]
May all who taunt him be mauled![2]
May all pay attention to Elisha
Miracle worker amidst death in the land
Made meals for the hungry,[3] restores dead to life[4]
Made way for slaves to be free![5]
May all pay attention to Elisha
Minister to Gentiles,[6] he made lepers clean
Master even over Creation’s sway[7]
May all make straight paths for him!
May all pay attention to Elisha
Mother and father he leaves behind[8]
Model disciple who mimics his Master
Might he lay down his life for his friends?[9]
[1] 2 Kings 6:17
[2] 2 Kings 2:23-25
[3] 2 Kings 4:1-7, 2 Kings 2:38-41
[4] 2 Kings 4:32-37, 2 Kings 13:20-21
[5] 2 Kings 4:1
[6] 2 Kings 5:1-16
[7] 2 Kings 6:6
[8] 1 Kings 19:19-21
[9] John 15:13