SERVANTS

Being servant to a prophet has advantages,
but I hasten here to mention that it has its downside too.
Sometimes things get rather scary, 
fortunately prophets always know just what to do.
Take the time we went to Dothan (I'm the one who thought we shouldn't go)
I knew the king would find us there.  Elisha didn't seem to care.
You might have thought he didn't even know
the Syrians were looking for us, searching high and low.  
The king had made it more than clear, it didn't matter, far or near,
his spies had better find out where we were and let him know.
It didn't take him long to learn our whereabouts.
He sent his army there by night to circle Dothan — sealed it tight!
Guess what greeted me at dawn besides the morning light?
Frightened, I returned to warn the prophet.
He was sleeping peacefully, completely unaware
that the Syrians had found us, sent their chariots to surround us,
that their numbers would astound us, and our only resource — prayer.
Waking him from slumber, I informed him of the number
of the horses and the chariots with which they could encumber
our departure out of Dothan to a safer haven anywhere.
Elisha was untroubled, so my efforts I redoubled
to communicate the grave and solemn nature of our plight.
Focussing prophetic might towards alleviating fright,
he assured me that our forces had been marshaled for the fight.
Then he prayed, "Lord, open this man's eyes that he may see."
And suddenly, before my eyes, in wonderment and glad surprise,
an army of enormous size was round about Elisha.
Chariots and horses made of fire filled the ground.
Then Elisha, in his kindness, prayed for God to visit blindness
on the host of Syrian soldiers to preserve them safe and sound.
Then he garnered an admission of their purpose, their commission.
And he forged a coalition to control their expedition,
as he led the Syrians captive to the King of Israel.
"Shall I smite them?"  Was the query from a king who'd grown weary 
of his never-ending warfare with the King of Syria.
But Elisha counseled mercy to resolve the controversy.
So, in lieu of admonitions, he supplied them with provisions.
And he sent them to their master with their faculties restored.
Thus, the warring bands of Syria came to Israel no more.
While the prophet, ever fervent, ever watchful and observant,
carries on a faithful servant, dedicated to the Lord.


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