May 22

When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” — 2 Kgs 13:14 BSB

It’s inspiring, as we stand beside the deathbed of this old man, to reflect on the blessing he was to his country.

He first appears as a young farmer plowing when the prophet Elisha comes up behind him and throws a sheepskin cloak over his shoulders. This cloak symbolized the prophetic office, and the young farmer was called to ministry. From that moment on, his life was dedicated to serving God, first as Elijah’s attendant and later as Israel’s prophet. He was a gentle and kind man. Only a few stories are told about him, but they show us his spirit. He was a friend to the poor and oppressed and a counselor and helper to kings.

There’s no better time to understand the impact of a person’s life and work than from the perspective of their death. We should live in such a way that when our life comes to an end, the world will speak well of us.