Scriptural Prayers - Elisha’s Eye-Opening Prayer
David W Palmer
(2 Kings 6:17 NKJV) And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
In his prayer to God, the prophet Elisha asked God to “open his eyes.” Elisha prayed this for his servant, because he was only seeing with his natural eyes; he was only aware of what the enemy was doing in the natural realm. So the prophet prayed that he could also see what God was doing in the spirit realm. When he did, he saw that God’s army and actions completely eclipsed what the enemy was doing.
Let’s now read this in context, remembering that the “king” mentioned is the king of Syria/Aram who had been outsmarted by God; the Lord used Elisha and supernatural insight to circumvent his every incursion and ambush:
(2 Kings 6:12–17 NLT) “It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!” {13} “Go and find out where he is,” the king commanded, “so I can send troops to seize him.” And the report came back: “Elisha is at Dothan.” {14} So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. {15} When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. {16} “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” {17} Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
After the servant’s eyes were opened, he could see what Elisha could see; he saw what God was up to, and how he vastly outnumbered the mere human army. As a result of his supernatural seeing and saying, Elisha led the enemy into such defeats that they finally fled altogether and stayed away. Especially after they abandoned the siege of Samaria and left their riches to God’s people (See: 2 Kings 6–7).
Today, the enemy is again up to some horrific ambushes, advances, and attempts to overrun God’s people. But God is far greater. What’s more, God can do far above anything that we can ask or imagine:
(Ephesians 3:20 NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
God can rout the enemy today too; but, unless we know by revelation what God is capable of, is doing, or is planning, the enemy can get hold of our tongues and empower his victory through us. To be used in the overcoming of the enemy, we need to be able to see like Elisha could, and in the way that he prayed that his servant would. Then we will be able to confess what we see in the spirit—what God is doing/planning in our day; God will watch over his word and perform it.
To help us with this, we have some amazing New Testament passages and promises:
(1 Corinthians 2:9–13 NKJV) But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” {10} But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. {11} For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. {12} Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. {13} These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
How do we get this insight? ...
