2 Kings 3:16-19 Make Ready!

 “And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.””

‭‭II Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water: This was a strange promise from God. Water would be provided, but without any apparent rain or storm.

b. Make this valley full of ditches: God promised to send water to the valley, but they had to dig the ditches to catch what God would provide. They had to dig the ditches before the water was apparent, so they could benefit from it when it came.

i. “The dried-up river bed was to have many trenches (Hebrew ‘trenches trenches’) dug to retain the flash flood.” (Wiseman)

ii. When the kings returned from their visit to Elisha and told their commanders to have the men dig ditches, it must have been hard to hear. Thirsty, near-dead men in the middle of the desert don’t look forward to the hard work of digging ditches in dry ground. Yet this work was essential.

iii. This demonstrates the principle that God wants us to prepare for the blessing He wants to bring. Listening to Him, we are to anticipate His working and to get ready for it.

iv. Digging ditches was something the people of God could do. God didn’t ask them to do more than they were able to do. When God wants us to prepare for the blessing He will bring, He gives us things that we can really do.

v. “If we expect to obtain the Holy Spirit’s blessing, we must prepare for his reception. ‘Make this valley full of trenches’ is an order which is given me this morning for the members of this church; make ready for the Holy Ghost’s power; be prepared to receive that which he is about to give; each man in his place and each woman in her sphere, make the whole of this church full of trenches for the reception of the divine water-floods.” (Spurgeon)

vi. “But the most of people say, ‘Well, you know, of course, if God sends a blessing, we must then enlarge.’ Yes, that is the way of unbelief, and the road to the curse. But the way of faith and the road to the blessing is this: God has promised it – we will get ready for it; God is engaged to bless, now let us be prepared to receive the boon. Act not on the mere strength of what you have, but in expectation of that which you have asked.” (Spurgeon)

c. This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD: The kings came to Elisha inquiring about water. God wanted to give them more than their immediate need. God wanted to give them more than immediate provision; He wanted to give them complete victory over their enemies. (Guzik)

Make Ready!

“If we expect to obtain the Holy Spirit’s blessing, we must prepare for his reception…..be prepared to receive that which he is about to give” (Spurgeon)

Praying and preparation is the key that unlocks the power of the Holy Spirit!

If you pray for work but sit at home are you preparing?

If you pray for food but don’t leave your door open, will your table be filled?

Like the preparation of trenches for the water we need to be proactive and prepare for the power of the Holy Spirit!

Make ready because the Holy Spirit is willing!

Blessings 

2 Kings 3:13-15 God-given talents!

 “Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.” ‭‭

II Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother: Elisha’s call was to continue the ministry of Elijah, and here he imitated Elijah’s plain speaking to powerful people. Elisha’s plain speaking struck the conscience of the king of Israel.

i. What have I to do with you: “The Hebrew idiom… is commonly employed to express emphatic denial (cf. 2 Samuel 16:10) or differences of opinion between the persons involved (cf. John 2:4).” (Patterson and Austel)

b. Were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you: It wasn’t that Elisha was against every king or powerful person. He was willing to speak to these three kings for the sake of Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah.

c. Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him: When Elisha wanted to become more sensitive to the leading and speaking of the Holy Spirit, he asked for the service of a musician. This demonstrates the great spiritual power in music.

i. “This he requires, that his mind, which had been disturbed and inflamed with holy anger at the sight of wicked Jehoram, might be composed, and cheered, and united within itself, and that he might be excited to the more fervent prayer to God, and joyfully praising him; whereby he was prepared to receive the prophetical announcement.” (Poole)

ii. “The way to be filled with the Spirit is to edify ourselves by psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.” (Trapp)

iii. “This nameless musician was endowed with God-given talents and he used them for the good of others. Surely it never occurred to him that by his music he would help win a military victory and have a dramatic effect on history. But when he shared his God-given ability, the power of God came upon the prophet.” (Dilday)

(Guzik)

God-given talents!

“This nameless musician was endowed with God-given talents and he used them for the good of others.” (Dilday)

Let this nameless musician be a godly example for us! 

But first we must be filled with the Spirit! “The way to be filled with the Spirit is to edify ourselves by psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.” (Trapp)

Edify yourself and share your God-given talents is a great way to start your day!

Blessings 

2 Kings 3:11-12 Spiritual Service

 “But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.” ‭‭II Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him: Both Jehoram and Jehoshaphat believed there was a spiritual, divine element to their current crisis. Jehoram believed that God was to be avoided because of the crisis, while Jehoshaphat believed that God should be sought because of the crisis.

b. Who poured water on the hands of Elijah: This is a wonderful title for any servant of God. Elisha was the humble and practical servant of Elijah. This was spiritual servicethat prepared him for further spiritual service.

c. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him: This was encouraging humility on the part of these three kings. Normally, kings demand that others come to see them. These three were willing to go to the prophet. (Guzik)

Spiritual Service 

After accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are to show we are His by proclaiming His grace and mercy to those around us. We have spiritual gifts that are given to us by God and we are to use them to bring glory to God.

Elisha used his spiritual gifts of prophecy and healing for the glory of God.

Are you using your spiritual gifts in spiritual service for the Lord?

Blessings 

2 Kings 3:9-10 Guilty Conscience!

“So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched on that roundabout route seven days; and there was no water for the army, nor for the animals that followed them. And the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”” ‭‭II Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. They marched on that roundabout route seven days: The combined armies of Judah, Israel, and Edom had to travel a considerable distance to attack Moab from the south.

i. “Verse 9 mentions the king of Edom, but we have already been told in 1 Kings 22:47that there was no king in Edom at this time. So ‘king’ here must refer to a vice-regent appointed by the king of Judah.” (Dilday)

b. Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab: Jehoram’s guilty conscience convinced him that this calamity was the judgment of God. His own sin made him think that everything that happened against him was the judgment of God. (Guzik)

Guilty Conscience!

Don’t miss the last comment! “Jehoram’s guilty conscience convinced him that this calamity was the judgment of God.”

If your conscience is speaking to you take heed for the Bible says:

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,”

‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Paul speaks of the “good conscience” as opposed to the seared conscience.”

“Advancing God’s work,” he says, comes by faith, and love “comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” 

https://www.gotquestions.org/seared-conscience.html

If we have a guilty conscience there is still hope and time for repentance but if our conscience is seared, figuratively speaking we’re toast!

Blessings 

2 Kings 3:6-8 Which Way?

 “So King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel. Then he went and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he said, “I will go up; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” And he answered, “By way of the Wilderness of Edom.”” II Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. He went and sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: Jehoshaphat was a godly king (1 Kings 22:41-43), who followed in the godly footsteps of his father Asa (1 Kings 15:9-15). Yet Asa fought against Israel (1 Kings 15:16) while Jehoshaphat made peace with the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 22:44).

b. Will you go with me to fight against Moab: Though greater Israel was long since separated by a civil war, the two nations (Judah and Israel) were now willing to come together to fight this common foe.

c. Then he said, “Which way shall we go up”: Jehoram of Israel asked Jehoshaphat of Judah for military advice because Jehoshaphat was more experienced in battle than Jehoram. The king of Judah advised Jehoram to attack Moab from the south, going through the very dry desert of the Edomites. (Guzik)

Which Way?

There are times in our lives that we have to decide which way, which path we will choose. Before we decide, it’s best that we pray about it and ask the Lord for a clear answer and if not in His will to close the door. I recall one particular instance where the Lord closed the door but at the time I was devastated. 

It wasn’t until years later I realized it was for the best! 

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Do you acknowledge Him when decisions need to be made?

Blessings 

2 Kings 3:4-5 Rebellion!

 “Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheepbreeder, and he regularly paid the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and the wool of one hundred thousand rams. But it happened, when Ahab died, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.” ‭‭II Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheepbreeder: The Moabites lived on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, and were under tribute to Israel. When King Ahab died, the king of the Moabites saw an opportunity to escape the taxation that the king of Israel forced upon him. (Guzik)

Rebellion!

Rebellion comes in many forms but the worst is rebellion against God.

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ” Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.””

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” is mentioned twice in these verses for a reason! Are you a partaker in Christ?

Blessings 

Kings 3:1-3 A Real Believer in Jehovah?

“Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father and mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he persisted in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.” ‭‭II Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel: Jehoram came from a family that was far beyond dysfunctional. His father Ahab was one of the worst kings the Northern Kingdom of Israel ever knew and his mother Jezebel was certainly the worst queen Israel ever knew.

b. But not like his father and mother: Jehoram was better than his father and mother, but he was still a wicked man. He was the ninth consecutive bad king over the Northern Kingdom, which never had a godly king.

i. “The ‘sins of Jeroboam’ that Jehoram perpetuated were not related to the worship of Baal but to the false worship of Yahweh under the calf (or ox) images that Jeroboam set up in Dan and Bethel. This was primarily a political strategy rather than a religious one.” (Dilday)

ii. “He appears to have been, in spiritual matters, one of those undecided, neutral characters, who puzzle most observers, and who never seem to know themselves just where they stand, or belong. He put away the Baal statue, made by his father Ahab, but never became a real believer in Jehovah.” (Knapp)

iii. Poole believed that Jehoram put away Baal worship out of bad motives – either because he was frightened when he remembered the judgment that came against his father Ahab and his brother Ahaziah, or because he wanted to impress Jehoshaphat so the Judean king would agree to an alliance. Elisha wasn’t impressed with Jehoram’s putting away of Baal (2 Kings 3:13).

(Guzik)

A Real Believer in Jehovah?

For years we have attended bible teaching churches and one thing that they both have in common is the pastors preach that just because you attend our church and believe in God doesn’t mean you will go to heaven. 

Without Jesus there is no way to God. 

Some people can’t comprehend that, but the bible is clear.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jehovah-God sent His Son to be a sacrifice for our sins. If you reject Jesus you are rejecting God’s plan for Salvation. John the Baptist said when he saw Jesus, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

Blessings 

Lambs Book of Life!