The Three Kings of 2 Kings 3
A broken national trade agreement started a war. Sound familiar?
The King of Moab broke an agreement with Jehoram, King of Israel. His agreement had been with Jehoram’s predecessor, Ahab, but stopped the trade agreement when Ahab died.
Jehoram, wanting to retaliate, formed an alliance with Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom to go after the Moabites.
The Three Kings:
2 Kings 3:9-10
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. [in the wilderness of Edom]
And the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
Do you see that? The natural circumstances were catastrophic. And the king of Israel, the idolater, has assumed because of circumstances that God had sent them into battle against Moab to be defeated.
First of all, he was under the assumption that God had sent them--but they had not consulted God.
Secondly, now that they are in a full MESS because of presumption, they blame God.
Idolatry in the heart will cause us to not represent God correctly.
Jehoshaphat (king of Judah), knowing they were in a disastrous situation, spoke up and said (basically), “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?”
I wonder if he was questioning his quick alliance with Jehoram. His initial answer had been, “…our people are your people and our horses, your horses!” It was before that point, he should have inquired of the Lord!
But isn’t God good? When we find ourselves in a situation that is a result of our presumption, He is still available for us to ask for counsel. And He is still willing to step in and turn things around.
2 Kings 3:11
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.”
They go to where Elisha was and I absolutely love what Elisha said to the king of Israel when he saw him:
v.13 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.”
The king of Israel (idolator) has the nerve to still presume to know what the Lord is doing, and states such to Elisha. And Elisha doesn’t miss the opportunity to rebuke the son of Jezebel and Ahab.
v.14 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.”
Though Jehoram was king of Israel, Elisha would have paid him no regard if not for Jehosaphat who was with him!
And even though Jehoshaphat was in a mess from his own hasty alliance, the prophet had regard for him.
…and look at Elisha’s request:
v.15 “But now bring me a musician.”
There isn’t another written account where Elijah or Elisha requested a musician before prophesying.
Why did Elisha request one at this point?
He needed the atmosphere purified before he could effectively receive and deliver the Word of the Lord.
Yes, it is important with whom you are in alliance.
And yet if you are not allied well, the Lord has a remedy for you.
Move out of assumption and into Worship.
Shift into the Glory to hear what He has to say.
The King of Moab broke an agreement with Jehoram, King of Israel. His agreement had been with Jehoram’s predecessor, Ahab, but stopped the trade agreement when Ahab died.
Jehoram, wanting to retaliate, formed an alliance with Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom to go after the Moabites.
The Three Kings:
- Jehoshaphat, King of Judah – fears God
- Jehoram, King of Israel – idolatry, following Ahab’s legacy
- King of Edom – along for the conquest
2 Kings 3:9-10
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. [in the wilderness of Edom]
And the king of Israel said, “Alas! For the Lord has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
Do you see that? The natural circumstances were catastrophic. And the king of Israel, the idolater, has assumed because of circumstances that God had sent them into battle against Moab to be defeated.
First of all, he was under the assumption that God had sent them--but they had not consulted God.
Secondly, now that they are in a full MESS because of presumption, they blame God.
Idolatry in the heart will cause us to not represent God correctly.
Jehoshaphat (king of Judah), knowing they were in a disastrous situation, spoke up and said (basically), “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?”
I wonder if he was questioning his quick alliance with Jehoram. His initial answer had been, “…our people are your people and our horses, your horses!” It was before that point, he should have inquired of the Lord!
But isn’t God good? When we find ourselves in a situation that is a result of our presumption, He is still available for us to ask for counsel. And He is still willing to step in and turn things around.
2 Kings 3:11
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.”
They go to where Elisha was and I absolutely love what Elisha said to the king of Israel when he saw him:
v.13 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.”
The king of Israel (idolator) has the nerve to still presume to know what the Lord is doing, and states such to Elisha. And Elisha doesn’t miss the opportunity to rebuke the son of Jezebel and Ahab.
v.14 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.”
Though Jehoram was king of Israel, Elisha would have paid him no regard if not for Jehosaphat who was with him!
And even though Jehoshaphat was in a mess from his own hasty alliance, the prophet had regard for him.
…and look at Elisha’s request:
v.15 “But now bring me a musician.”
There isn’t another written account where Elijah or Elisha requested a musician before prophesying.
Why did Elisha request one at this point?
He needed the atmosphere purified before he could effectively receive and deliver the Word of the Lord.
Yes, it is important with whom you are in alliance.
And yet if you are not allied well, the Lord has a remedy for you.
Move out of assumption and into Worship.
Shift into the Glory to hear what He has to say.
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