2 Kings 3:13-27Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Kings 3:13-27. Christmas has come early this year, because in this passage we can see three great gifts that God gives to you and me. Let’s go!
2 Kings 3:13-14 (NIV)
13 Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do we have to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” “No,” the king of Israel answered, “because it was the LORD who called us three kings together to hand us over to Moab.”
14 Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or even notice you.
On verses 13-14: Joram king of Israel, the God-fearing Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and the king of Edom together approach Elisha the prophet for guidance on what to do in their fight against the king of Moab. Elisha, knowing Joram to be an idol worshipper, wonders, “Why are you coming to me when you can be consulting your idols?” Joram’s response: “It’s because the Lord has called us here only to be defeated by Moabites” (v13) There goes Joram blaming God again for something God never told Joram to do. Elisha states that the only reason he would even consider being in contact with Joram is because of his respect for King Jehoshaphat who has come as well (v14).
What can we learn from this? Just as Jehoshaphat was the only reason Elisha could look at Joram, Jesus is the only reason God the Father can look at us. It is not our own righteousness or merit that allows us into the presence of God. Rather it’s Jesus — God’s most incredible gift to us — and our affiliation to Him that enables us to enter the Father’s presence.
2 Kings 3:15 (NIV)
15 But now bring me a harpist.” While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha
On verse 15: To help Elisha focus on the presence of God, he asks for a harpist to play background music. While the harpist is playing and Elisha is praying, the presence of God comes.
What can we learn from this? God gave us the gift of music so that we could more easily access His presence. When played skillfully, sensitively and with a worshipful attitude, music can be a powerful tool to help people enter God’s presence. So practically speaking:
– If you are wanting to draw near to God, take advantage of the power of music. One of the favourite ways to connect with God is just to sit in His presence and pray while my favourite worship music plays in the background. Use worship music to your advantage.
– If you are a musician who plays background music in church while people pray and worship, remember that you are not just playing music. Through your music you are ushering people into God’s presence. Musicians, you have an important role to play in the church, so keep refining both your musical skills and your spiritual sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
2 Kings 3:20-24 (NIV)
20 The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was–water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.
21 Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them; so every man, young and old, who could bear arms was called up and stationed on the border.
22 When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked red–like blood.
23 “That’s blood!” they said. “Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other. Now to the plunder, Moab!”
24 But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and fought them until they fled. And the Israelites invaded the land and slaughtered the Moabites.
On verses 16-27: Joram was convinced that God’s plan was for Moab to defeat the Israel-Judah-Edom alliance that Joram had formed. But Elisha receives a word from God that is just the opposite. He foretells that the Israel-Judah-Edom alliance will decisively defeat Moab (v18-19). Whereas this seemed impossible to Joram, “this is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord” (v18). Without the help of wind or rain, God causes water to flow from the direction of Edom, which in the light of the sun looked like blood to Moabites (v22). Thinking this meant that Israel, Judah and Edom had started to attack each other, the Moabites hastily launch an attack, only to be ransacked by the Israel-Judah-Edom alliance. In his desperate measure to appease his gods, the King of Moab sacrifices his firstborn son on the city wall, but it’s no use. In improbable and unexpected fashion, the Israel-Judah-Edom alliance conquers the Moabites, just as Elisha predicted.
What can we learn from this?
1. I like what Pastor Jon Courson says about this. In the Bible, water is sometimes used as a picture for the Word of God. Just like the Moabites saw the water which God sent from a distance and mistook it for blood, people who have never gotten close to the Word of God, who have never tasted it themselves, often assume that the Word of God is disgusting, abhorrent and a bringer of death. It’s those who come close to the Word of God and taste it who find that the opposite is true: the Word of God is good and it’s life giving! The Word of God is living water that saves us from our enemies and gives us life. Thank God for the gift of His Word.
2. Don’t be like Joram and count God’s people out too quickly or assume that God’s plans are to ruin you. God’s plans for your good. If you’ll trust in Him, He’ll bring about deliverance, salvation and provision in ways you could have never expected or accomplished yourself.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending us three great gifts: the water of Your Word, which saves us from our enemies and gives us life; the gift of music which the Holy Spirit uses to lead us to You; and the gift of Your Son Jesus, for it’s only because of Him that we can enter Your presence. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
