The
Book of Second kings
Chapter 3
[1] Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over
Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned
twelve years.
[2] And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and
like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.
[3] Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which
made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
1) Son of Ahab 1-3
Jehoram,
the son of Ahab begins his reign over Israel, after his brother Ahaziah died
from an injurious fall
Jehoram worked evil in the sight of the Lord
Jehoram, put away the image of Baal, but continued to
allow the worship of golden calves
[4] And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of
Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.
[5] But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled
against the king of Israel.
2) Service of Moab 4,5
Mesha, the king of Moab, was prosperous in the sheep
raising industry and paid tribute to Israel
With the current political instability and presiding
economic issues the king of Moab rebelled
The rebellion was first noted in chapter 1:1 and
continues thru the 2 yr reign of Ahaziah
[6] And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all
Israel.
[7] And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of
Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And
he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses
as thy horses.
3) Support of Judah 6,7
Jehoram,
king of Israel numbers his army
Upon review, he thinks he needs help from the people of Judah
Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah, agrees to help
Israel and together they form an alliance
[8] And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the
wilderness of Edom.
[9] So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom:
and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for
the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
[10] And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three
kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
4) Stranded Armies 8-10
Jehoram,
asks for military advice “which way shall we go up?”
Jehoshaphat gives advisement “thru the wilderness of
Edom.”
As they begin, the king of Edom joins in with them and
form a coalition
Problem was, they forgot to seek the Lord-
The great powerful armies have traveled 7 long weary days
in a burning desert & are yet to find water Jehoram
says “Alas! The Lord hath called these 3 kings together to deliver them into
the hand of Moab!”
[11] But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may
inquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered
and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of
Elijah.
[12] 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.
[13] And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get
thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the
king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings
together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
[14] And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely,
were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I
would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
[15] But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel
played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
5) Seeking God 11-15
Jehoshaphat
realizes his mistake and asks if there was a prophet of the Lord in order to
enquire of God
Jehoram is blaming God while Jehoshaphat is seeking God
One of the servants says “Here is Elisha, which poured
water on the hands of Elijah”
Jehoshaphat and the others went down to the man of God
---- went down—humbled themselves
Elisha said the to the king of Israel “go back to your
prophets, golden calves”
But the king said no. Was it because he knew they were a
fake or was he afraid to return?
The king felt helpless & hopeless
Elisha said I would not see you if you were not with
Jehoshaphat
Elisha calls for a minstrel that would aid in seeking the
Lord (Eph 5:19)
When the minstrel played “the hand of the Lord came upon
him”
The unidentified minstrel shared a God given ability
& God used this to help bring victory
I feel strongly to say something about the duties of the
Music/ Worship Leader and Musicians
Lets examine the attributes of the minstrel
Attributes of the Minstrel Sacred Duty 1 Sam 16:14-18,23
Intro: The church has talented singers, musicians and
choir. I believe the music leader, must have the following qualities:
A)
Ability
“Cunning
in playing”
To
lead Saul in worship and to minister in music, David had to be skillful in
playing.
Cunning means known, accomplished, well practiced. Exercising A God given ability & talent They cannot tolerate a too casual, unconcerned, lazy, “we don’t really need to practice” attitude.
B) Attitude
“A mighty valiant man”
- Strength that is determined to help, good courage
C) Action
“a man of war” -Worship
ministry is a constant battleground.
There are
often conflicts & contentions surrounding worship ministry, and if
unequipped for spiritual warfare, they
will probably be spiritually and emotionally “injured” in worship ministry, and
probably “injure”
others!
The desire for the
spotlight, the desire for prominence, the desire for attention, the need for
ego satisfaction, all work against effective worship.
Worship ministers must
make war against the world. Worldly ideas and approaches to music don’t
belong in worship ministry.
Worship ministers must
make war against the devil. He is constantly trying to stir up strife,
jealousy, hurt feelings, pride, discouragement, and anything else he can find.
Satan has a special “regard” for worship ministry, because before his fall, he
was the “worship leader” of heaven (Ezekiel 28:12-15).
Worship ministers must
make war against the flesh. To be effective in worship ministry, one
must die to self. If you “must” be
up on the platform, you need to die to self. If you “must” have a solo, you
need to die to self. If you “must”
have it your way, you need to die to self. Much of the conflict in worship
ministry blamed on the devil really comes just from the flesh. Sometimes it is
much more convenient to blame then devil than to die to self and crucify the
flesh with its passions and desires.
D) Attentive
“prudent in matters”-
Good worship ministry needs a lot of diplomacy and tact Everyone
has an opinion on music, and everyone has a suggestion. Supportive Effective worship
ministers know when to speak (to encourage) and when to be quiet (not calling
attention to self)
E)
Appearance
“a comely person” A worship
minister doesn’t need to be a model, but their appearance is important. Their heart should be clean w/ God and they need
to be Prepared for service.
They must present themselves so as to be neat and well kept.
F) Anointed
“The Lord is with him”
The other Attributes will grow & develop, but it must be said the
Lord is with him. This
means that they called by God, submit to God, and to leadership the Lord has
placed over them.
Concl: If these are present, the ministry will be a time
of refreshment for all participating and hearing
With these present, God moved in the
service and spoke
[16] And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
[17] For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain;
yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and
your cattle, and your beasts.
[18] And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver
the Moabites also into your hand.
[19] And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall
fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of
land with stones.
6) Strange Command 16-19
Thus saith the Lord “make this valley full of ditches” Gods ways are not our ways
Dig in a
desert? Some might say “ I see no way that will help! It’s hot, I’m tired, I
need water NOW! I’m not a ditch digger
Some might say “There is no sign of rain & there is
no river close by”
BUT God said “You dig and I will provide water without
rain” Just get ready to receive what I send
Some might say “Better to save strength to fight the
enemy than waste energy digging a ditch”
Nobody wants to take time to pray anymore that’s why we
are unfruitful, no revival, no power in pulpits
Some might say “Better use strength to move further to
find water than to labor here in the desert”
That’s
why we have No converts, Sunday School class is low and give up
(We
must “Dig on” to catch God’s provision Mal 3:10)
Philip
was moved from revival to the desert where he led the Ethiopian Eunuch to the
LORD
[20] And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered,
that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled
with water.
7) Submission v20
Those
soldiers dug by faith! Unquestioning,
without recording a complaint, unity -Work where
&when God says
Dig-
Break thru the dry crust of our heart and remove the stones oh hindrance
8) Streams of Refreshing 20
God
sent water just as He promised and the ditches were filled
Proportionate Blessings
The more they dug, the more blessings were received
[21] And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight
against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward,
and stood in the border.
[22] And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water,
and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
[23] And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have
smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
[24] And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote
the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the
Moabites, even in their country.
[25] And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every
man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and
felled all the good trees: only in Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof;
howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
9) Siege of the Enemy 21-25
The
enemy saw the water as blood. They thought the 3 kings turned on one another
and were dead
They ran right into Israel’s camp w/o weapons and the
enemy had to turn and run & were defeated
[26] And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he
took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto
the king of Edom: but they could not.
[27] Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and
offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation
against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
10) Smoke Screen 26-27
In an act of desperation, the
Moabites (w/ their king) could not break thru
The
king took his son, heir to the throne, an offered him as a burnt offering to
his false god
Showing his determination, Israel backed away w/o
complete victory
With
this chapter being studied lets study why we should make this valley full of
ditches
Make
this Valley Full of Ditches (Rivers of Blessing Jn 7:38
water represents the Holy Spirit)
Why
are the rivers of water slow to arrive? Because the ditches have not been dug.
1)
Because of the Barrenness of the Land
A great powerful war party marched
thru the desert toward Moab. A very organized movement.
They had spared no expense in
organizing this war. Everything they think they need for victory
7 days into the march are soon they
are facing disaster
There was no water for the great
host of people (9)....just barrenness
The
church has organization, ornate buildings, bank accounts, prestige BUT no water
of spiritual power
Why are we Barren?
A.
Our Affections
(4,5)Maintaining
material wealth and prosperity rather than the kingdom of God &
righteousness
The king had more
passion over material things than the souls of men Col 3:1,2
B.
Our Advisements
(8) King of Israel asked
Jehoshaphat which way to go rather than seek the Lord (seek programs)
C.
Our Alliances
(9) King of Israel,
Judah and Edom..............it looks like unity and strength is what they
needed
Political reasons and
spiritual considerations were never thought about
Regard your friendships
and alliances, what kind of things you embrace
Unequally yoked and now
barrenness results
2)
Because of the Burden for the Land
(16) Thus saith the Lord, Make this
valley full of ditches.............. Just
a place to hold water
A. Messenger
Jehoshaphat had the
kings to enquire of the Lord and went down to the man of God, Elisha
It was said of Elisha.... “The word of
the Lord is with him”
Most
concerned wtih how the pastor socializes, public relations & relates to
young people,
Concerned with pastors
education, talents and abilities, denominational man or not?
B. Moment
As the minstrel played
the hand of the Lord came upon him
We must have spiritual
song......where Peace and serenity came into the room
C. Message
Thus saith the Lord “make this valley full of ditches” Gods ways are not our ways
Preparation-
A trial of faith and obedience. Work before water (expect Gods blessing, make
room for it)
Dig in a desert? Some might say “ I see no
way that will help! It’s hot, I’m tired, I need water NOW!
I’m not a ditch digger. Some might say “There is no sign of rain & there
is no river close by”
BUT God said “You dig and I will provide
water without rain” Just get ready to receive what I send
Some might say “Better to save strength to
fight the enemy than waste energy digging a ditch”
Nobody wants to take time to pray anymore
that’s why we are unfruitful, no revival, no power in pulpits
Some might say “Better use strength to move
further to find water than to labor here in the desert”
That’s why we have No converts, Sunday School class is
low and give up
(We must “Dig on” to catch God’s provision Mal
3:10)
Philip was moved from revival to the desert where he
led the Ethiopian Eunuch to the LORD
Perspiration Those weary soldiers dug by faith! Determined, Unquestioning, without a
complaint,
Work where &when God says Hag2:4 Gal6:9
Dig in the Word, in Prayer
Persistency -Full Dig-
Break thru the dry crust of our heart and remove the earth & stones of
hindrance
3)
Because of the Blessing on the Land
A.
Spared Inward Destitution
The country was filled
with water (20) (when the meat offering was offered Ex29:39 sacrifice)
Provision (refreshment)
God planned this a provided this blessing. Sufficient for all
Proportionate The deeper
the ditches the greater the blessing
(Repentance, Prayer)
B.
Spared Outward Destruction
This provision was also
protection.
The enemy thought they
were dead and were delivered right into the hands of Israel
I
wonder also about King Mesha the Moabite king. He gravely miscalculated some
things
Mesha’s Misgivings 2 Kings 3:4-5, 16-27
Intro: In 1868, The Moabite Stone was discovered. It had 34
lines & 300 words written by Mesha king of Moab
He
said that his god Chemosh saved him from oppression of Israel............what a lie!
Gen
19:37 Lot & his daughters escaped Sodom. Lot got drunk had relations
w/daughters
one of the children born was named Moab. Moab was always
a thorn in Israels side
When Ahab died, Mesha thought Israel was weak and
unstable and revolted against Israel........Ps 108:9 washpot
3 times
Mesha made incorrect assumptions
1) He Thought Gods Power no Good -
Thought Water was Blood
When Moab revolted, Israel asked the help of Judah
(Jehoshaphat) & Edom
The kings strategy carried them on a 7 day journey into
the wilderness to out flank Moab
They never thought to seek the face of the Lord
But after 7 days they had no water and the king of Israel
complains (10) God gave us up
But Jehoshaphat enquired of the Lord via the man of God
Elisha
2K 3:16-20
Elisha said “God said make this valley full of ditches
and He will fill w/ water and deliver Moab”
With faith to dig. God filled the ditches w/ water (w/o
rain) and all armies & beasts were satisfied
2K 3:21-24
Moab stood on the border ready to fight
Saw water in the ditches w/ the sun rising and thought
the water was blood
Thought all the soldiers were dead and Moab ran into camp
w/o weapons drawn
Thought there would be no resistance
Thought to take all food & supplies for their profit
Mesha did not think there would be water in desert, there
had been no rain
Mesha served a false god and was ignorant that our God
provides
Many today think water (baptism) is blood .......... But w/o shedding of blood is no remission
(Heb9:22)
Don’t need Jesus
Israel had to put blood on threshold not water!!
2) He Thought Gods Promise No Good - Thought There is a Way of Escape
2 K 3:25,26 Mesha and Moab were beaten was back tat least
to Kirharaseth
This city is in the middle of Moab. Mesha is on the run
Mesha thinks he can take a number of soldiers and break
thru the battle lines
Mesha noticed 3 nations are fighting him and weakest of
these is Edom
* Edom had no king 1 K22:47.. a deputy was
king 2K 3:9 this king of Edom only a
placeholder
* Mesha believed Edom to be
weak...........but God defends the weak who trust in Him
·
Mesha believed Edoms
heart not in the battle, easily discouraged, no joy.....ATTACK them!
But God had promised victory to Israel (2K 17-19)
Mesha did not believe nor care about God promise. Mesha
thought there was an escape
* MY GOD PROMISED me the only way to heaven
is Jesus Jn 3:3,16-18 Jn 6:44, Jn 14:6
* MY GOD PROMISED He would always be with me,
eternal security,
Meshas god gave him no promise and no
direction
3)
Thought God’s Provision No Good - Thought Their Sacrifice would obtain
salvation
2 K 3:25 Mesha is beaten back. W/ cities taken, farm land
ruined, wells stopped up, trees cut
In desperation, he offered a sacrifice of his own son to
his false god Chemosh
His own heir, the future ruler of the nation offered
as a burnt sacrifice
With indignation, the 3 nations depart from him and turn
and go home
In Gen
4:2-5, Abel came with the firstling of the flock and offered blood to the Lord
(as taught by God & Adam)
Cain came w/ firstfruits of the ground.............good
works and was rejected and then killed his brother
People assume you have to work to come to God.
But we have no sacrifice to offer God. He only accepts
sinless blood
The only sacrifice accepted by God is Jesus- Gods own
Son (Jews,Catholics,Mormons,Islam deny
Him) God does not ask our
sacrifice BUT believe & accept His Sacrifice (Acts 4:12 no salvation in any
other) Concl: Mesha
sacrificed his own son and gained nothing!.On Moabite Stone, Mesha mentioned
Jehovah but rejected him
Spared for the moment but his trust in Chemosh and
rejection of the Lord landed him in hell