2 Kings 4:1-7

 

We are entering a unique section in the book of 2 Kings,

Unlike any we have studied in the book thus far.

 

It is a section that focuses primarily on the ministry of Elisha.

 

Chapters 4:1 – 6:7 deals primarily with the miracles he worked.

Chapters 6:8 – 8:15 deals primarily with his fulfilled prophesy.

 

One of the things that is interesting about this section is that

All of the miracles occur for those who are seeking the Lord.

 

All of the fulfilled prophecies are for those who are not.

 

That in itself gives us tremendous insight about

The way in which God used miracles in the Old Testament.

 

The miraculous power of God was manifested to those who trusted Him.

As for those who did not, God gave the demonstration of His fulfilled word.

 

But none the less we see this interesting segment of Scripture.

 

The real question for me has been,

WHAT IS GOD TRYING TO SHOW US THROUGH THIS SECTION?

(In fact, I have been racking my brain with that question for several months)

 

• One could see it merely as a validation of Elisha’s ministry (and it is)

• One could see it as a demonstration of the depravity in Israel (and it is)

• One could see it as individual examples of faith (and it is)

• One could see it as various testimonials to God’s power (and it is)

• One could even see it as prophetic of Jesus’ ministry (and it is)

 

But to simply stop at any of those

And call it the main reason God included this section in His word

Is to miss the primary reason for why we have it here before us.

 

It seems to me that it is best to see this section

As a fulfillment of God’s promise to move and work in Israel.

 

Once again I remind you of the promise that God made to Elijah

After his wilderness Experience.

 

1 Kings 19:15-18 “The LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. “It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

God promised Elijah that He was going to reclaim His supremacy

As the only God of Israel.

 

Israel had fallen into Baal worship,

And God promised Elijah that Baal would come to an end.

 

Certainly there are many factors involved in how God would do that,

Most of which we have still yet to see occur in the book.

 

But aside from actually killing off Baal (which God will do)

God is also at work to strengthen the hearts of those who are His,

And to reveal Himself to those who are not.

 

That is the purpose for this section.

It reveals part of the fulfillment of God’s promise of revival

Which He made to Elijah.

 

God is here working in Israel to strengthen the righteous

And to call the wicked.

 

To the faithful, we see demonstrations of power.

To the wicked, we see fulfilled prophesy.

 

And this morning we start with a miracle for a widow.

 

Allow me to just bring three things to light this morning.

#1 THE WIDOW’S CIRCUMSTANCES

2 Kings 4:1-2

 

There are actually a couple of things I think we need to see about this widow this morning, and the first has to do with her faithfulness.

 

You will notice the she is “of the wives of the sons of the prophets”

 

In modern terms we would call her a preacher’s wife.

 

But just to make sure we don’t overlook the implications,

You must remember that prophets are not all that popular in Israel.

 

• Elijah was certainly a hunted man.

• Beyond that we remember that Jezebel ordered all of them to be killed.

 

Remember Obadiah’s ministry?

1 Kings 18:13 “Has it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, that I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water?”

 

In fact the total number of faithful in Israel was only 7,000

 

1 Kings 19:18 “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

 

This was not a day in which the prophets were treated with respect.

They were not routinely invited over for Sunday dinner.

In fact, we will soon see that many of the prophets were starving.

 

NOW IF YOU COMPROMISED, YOU COULD BE COMFORTABLE

Remember the old lying prophet in Bethel?

 

But such wasn’t the case for this woman’s husband.

This man had been faithful.

 

“you know that your servant feared the LORD”

 

Scripture also indicates that he was FAITHFULLY BOLD prophet,

For his ministry was apparently well known.

 

“YOU KNOW that your servant feared the LORD”

 

It is obvious that this woman was married to a godly man,

And also obvious that they had been rejected by the world.

 

 

BEYOND THAT, WE SEE HER FINANCIAL STATE:

 

“the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”

 

If the only thing you have left to sell are your kids, then you are poor.

 

Remember the man Jesus spoke of?

Matthew 18:23-25 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.”

 

And verse 2 verifies that fact.

“Your maidservant has noting in the house except a jar of oil.”

• She had no furniture…

• She had no garments…

• She had no food…

 

Even the widow Elijah ministered to had meal to go with her oil.

This woman did not.

 

She only had two possessions.

1 was oil, the other was the jar that contained it.

 

The point being that this woman was poor,

Her poverty was due to the faithfulness of her and her husband.

 

That then sheds much light on the depravity of Israel as well.

 

You should know first of all that selling your children into slavery

Was indeed a common practice, and one not forbidden by Mosaic Law.

 

The Law indicated that you could indeed purchase your Hebrew brother as a slave to settle debts, but that at the end of 6 years he was to go free.

 

Exodus 21:2 “If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment.”

 

And so, it is not a shocking thing

That this woman’s children are about to be sold.

 

The reason we are able to see depravity here

Is because of the extreme lack of compassion for this widow.

 

SCRIPTURE CONTINUALLY SPEAKS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPASSION

 

In fact to be faithful to the legalities of the Law,

But to miss compassion

Renders you the most obvious of hypocrites.

 

Remember what Jesus said to the Pharisees?

Matthew 23:23-24 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”

 

When the Pharisees chastised Jesus for eating with sinners

He responded by saying:

Matthew 9:12-13 “But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. “But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Pharisees claimed to love the Law,

But their lack of compassion revealed a bad heart.

 

So it is in Elisha’s day.

The creditors had every legal right to take this woman’s children,

But their lack of compassion revealed the depravity.

 

They had failed to grasp God’s commands in regard to the helpless

(and that is who the widows were in Bible times)

 

God had much to say in regard to those who were helpless.

God cared for widows.

Deuteronomy 10:17-18 “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. “He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.”

 

Psalms 68:5 “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation.”

 

Psalms 82:3-4 “Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”

 

It is obvious that God cared about the plight of the helpless

And had even commanded for others to rescue them from their hardship.

 

The point was that if the helpless were in need,

You shouldn’t be taking their children,

You ought to be meeting their need.

 

This is what the Law commanded.

Exodus 22:22-24 “You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. “If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.”

 

This is what the prophets commanded.

Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.”

 

If they are in need, then help them out.

 

Israel revealed their depravity through their lack of compassion.

Here was a widow in need, a faithful widow at that,

And no one was doing a thing to help her.

 

BUT IT IS NOT JUST THEIR FAILURE TO HELP.

IT IS ALSO THEIR FAILURE TO PROVIDE.

 

God actually ordained provision for the helpless all throughout the Law.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. “The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”

 

Every third year, the helpless were actually to be the recipient of the tithe.

 

That is why Malachi came along and said this:

Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

 

But the tithe was not all that was there’s.

God also said:

Deuteronomy 24:19-22 “When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. “When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing.”

 

This widow should have never been in a position of need,

Let alone a position of need with none to help.

 

God had intended for the helpless to be cared for.

These people reveal their depravity because they did not.

 

Deuteronomy 27:19 “Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”

 

Hopefully that paints a picture of the circumstances

This widow finds herself in.

 

That leads to a second point.

 

First, the widow’s circumstances

#2 THE WIDOW’S CRY

2 Kings 4:1

 

It is too obvious to point out that this woman trusted God to protect her?

• She didn’t go on the run with her children…

• She didn’t try to hide them…

• She isn’t found begging and pleading with the creditor…

• She has carried her request to God.

 

She rightly understood that God cares for His own.

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

 

She has determined to take her dilemma to God (through His prophet)

Instead of seeking deliverance from other source.

 

And certainly we could learn from such a woman.

 

REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID?

Matthew 6:25-33 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

 

Her first concern her entire life had not been food and clothing.

Her first concern had been the kingdom of God, and now that she is in desperate need she is going to the One who promises to meet our needs.

 

GOD PROMISES THE SAME FOR YOU!

 

Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

If we understand compassion,

How much more do you thing Holy God understands it?

 

That is why this woman is crying out to Him and not the creditor.

 

The Widow’s circumstances The Widow’s cry

#3 GOD’S COMPASSION

2 Kings 4:2-7

 

Now please notice Elisha’s answer.

“What shall I do for you?”

 

That indicates a couple of things.

• For one, that Elisha may have been poor as well.

• But most importantly, Elisha was revealing that the power for provision was not his, but God’s.

 

Elisha could not do a thing, but God could.

And God would.

 

After revealing her jar of oil, Elisha gives a command.

(3) “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.”

 

Now obviously this would have been a strange request.

 

Can you imagine the neighbors response?

Why do you need jars?

What could you possible do with these?

 

But, true faith reveals itself through true obedience,

And so this woman does exactly what is commanded of her.

 

She gathers every possible vessel she can get her hands on.

 

(4) “And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.”

 

I find this concept quite interesting.

(not the miracle)

 

“go in and shut the door behind you”

 

I think it is safe to say that our society is becoming more and more “mystical” in regard to the things of God.

 

We live in such a “instant gratification” society that people are literally

Craving the ecstatic, the miraculous, and the flamboyant.

 

Furthermore there seem to be no shortage of mystical magicians out there

Who are willing to give them what they crave for.

 

But when God works this miracle, He purposely does it in private.

 

And by the way, we continually saw this from Jesus as well.

Luke 5:14-15 “And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.”

 

Luke 8:54-56 “He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Child, arise!” And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.”

 

In fact notice what Jesus did on one occasion:

Mark 1:32-39 “When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city had gathered at the door. And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.”

 

Jesus knew that signs and wonders don’t lead people to salvation,

But rather the preaching of the gospel leads men to salvation.

 

AND HERE GOD IS WORKING HIS MIRACLE IN PRIVATE

This is not a demonstration for validity,

This is not some public spectacle meant to wow the people.

 

This was very simply God,

Doing what His people should have been doing all along.

He is helping the helpless and doing it privately.

 

IS THAT NOT WHAT WE ARE COMMANDED TO DO?

Matthew 6:2-4 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

 

This is not about publicity, this is about compassion.

God is here doing what His people would not.

 

VERSES 5-7

 

God multiplied the oil (Elisha wasn’t even there)

But Elisha knew the purpose.

 

“Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

Not only did God give what she asked for,

But He gave more than she asked for.

 

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

 

God is compassionate for His own, even when no one else is.

 

Psalms 37:25 “I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread.”

 

I know the society we live in today.

It is daily growing more and more cold

To the things and people of God.

 

And it is certainly true that living a life devoted to God

Can force you to sacrifice the things of the world.

 

Some of the greatest saints to ever live, were also some of the poorest:

 

Hebrews 11:37-38 “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.”

 

And because the world treats God’s servants with such hostility,

It is very tempting to not go too far in our service to God.

 

We fear the loss of all things, and so we don’t surrender all to Jesus.

 

Learn from this woman.

GOD DOES NOT FORSAKE HIS OWN.

 

Hebrews 13:5-6 “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”

 

This morning I don’t know what sort of things you are facing.

 

This world promises all sorts of hardships.

But I do know that if you will humble yourself and seek God,

He will meet your needs.

 

But you do have to trust Him.

You do have to seek Him.

You do have to obey Him.

 

Maybe today you are not oppressed in any way,

But you need to open your eyes to those around you

And display the compassion of our great God.

 

It’s good to tithe mint and dill and cumin,

But don’t neglect the weightier provisions of the Law,

“justice, mercy, and faithfulness”

For God “desires compassion and not a sacrifice.”

 

This morning determine be the hands and feet of Christ.

 

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

 

2 Kings 3 (1-3)

 

Back now in our study of the Kings of Israel,

We see what appears to me to be a thick headed individual.

 

We are all familiar with this family line.

• GRANDFATHER: Omri – introduced Baal worship to Israel

• FATHER: Ahab – Built Baal a temple

• MOTHER: Jezebel – lover of idolatry, murderer

• BROTHER: Ahaziah – ruled 2 years and fell through the lattice

 

And it is still safe to say that the acorn didn’t fall far from the tree.

 

Jehoram (also referred to as Joram)

Reigns from 2 Kings 3 – 2 Kings 9:24

 

But the bulk of information on him is found here in chapter 3.

 

And as we study him, it is quite easy to come to the conclusion

That Jehoram was clueless.

 

IN A CLUELESS WORLD, HE IS QUITE A RELEVANT STUDY

 

There are three main divisions in our chapter this morning.

#1 HIS DESCRIPTION

2 Kings 3:1-12

 

Allow me to break this down a little more and show you exactly who he was.

 

1) HE REBELLED CONTINUALLY (1-3)

 

The simple evaluation of his life was this:

(2) “He did evil in the sight of the LORD,”

 

So really the question is there answered.

He was a wicked king.

 

But the Bible doesn’t leave it at that,

There is more information about him.

 

“He did evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and his mother, for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal which his father had made.”

For some reason (which the text does not state)

JEHORAM WAS NOT GIVEN TO BAAL WORSHIP.

 

• Maybe he had heard about Mt. Carmel…

• Maybe he had enough knowledge of the Levitical Law to know better…

 

Whatever the reason, it appears that Jehoram is doing well.

(3) “Nevertheless, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.”

 

So while Jehoram did not fall into his parent’s sin,

He did fall into Jeroboam’s sin.

(Golden calves – Unqualified Priests – Changed the feasts)

 

And apparently he did more than fall into it.

Scripture says he “clung to” it.

 

That word “clung” in the Hebrew is DABAQ

 

Ruth 1:14 “And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.”

 

(of Hezekiah)

2 Kings 18:6 “For he clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses.”

 

But probably most notable:

Genesis 2:24 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”

 

The picture is even though he may have been warned otherwise,

Jehoram was married to the evil of Jerobaom.

 

The point is that he rebelled continually.

He refused to let go of Jeroboam’s sin.

 

And this is an interesting point,

For in our day, there would be many who would say:

 

“Well, at least he didn’t follow Baal, I mean he is trying isn’t he?”

 

Many adopt such a view of sin today.

“I may not give God everything He wants,

But at least I do some things right”

 

Those who adopt such a view on obedience are clueless.

 

It is the theology of the Rich Young Ruler, who when Jesus told him to “keep the commandments” he said, “Which ones?”

 

Always seeking to give God just enough to keep Him happy.

 

Somewhere in our minds, there is this desire to adopt a theology

That God is happy with the scraps of your life.

 

But that is not true!

The greatest commandment is:

Matthew 22:37 “And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’”

He doesn’t accept a partial offering, He wants all of you.

 

People think Jehoram was OK because they compare him to Ahab,

But other men are not the standard by which mankind is judged.

 

With God there is no middle ground.

He either owns you or He doesn’t.

 

Jesus said:

Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

 

God requires absolute and total obedience.

 

Jehoram “clung to the sins of Jeroboam”

And thus he was continually out of the will of God.

 

THE POINT IS:

You cannot live in sin and be in the middle of God’s will.

 

We often offer up “The Doctrine of Fair Exchange” to God.

Well, I do this wrong, but I do this right…

I may not have done that, but I did do this…

 

God is not interested in such half-hearted obedience.

 

Jeremiah told his listeners:

Jeremiah 7:9-10 “Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’ — that you may do all these abominations?”

 

Jehoram may have looked better than his father,

But in God’s eyes he was still a long way away (as you will see later).

 

If he thought partial obedience was acceptable to God,

He was truly clueless.

 

He Rebelled Continually

2) HE STRUGGLED POLITICALLY (4-8)

 

For those interested in apologetics, history, or even archaeology:

This happens to be quite a fundamental text in Scripture for historical purposes.

In 1868 an archaeologist discovered what is called “The Mesha Stele” it is a graven monument written by Mesha, King of Moab which actually verifies historically the truths we study in the book of Kings.

 

What I want you to see is that

Because Jehoram was out of the will of God,

By reason of his disobedience, things did not go easily for him.

 

Moab had been in subjection to Israel

Since the days of his grandfather Omri.

And now, he was losing control.

 

SO JEHORAM IS GOING TO GO AFTER HIM

(And of course there is Jehoshaphat: The Influenced King right there with him)

 

THE POINT IS, when you study the Kings, it is apparent that those kings who honored God in their heart enjoyed God’s favor on their kingdom.

 

Of course we remember the splendor of Solomon:

1 Kings 10:23-25 “So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart. They brought every man his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.”

 

You may remember as well God’s blessing on Asa:

2 Chronicles 15:12-15 “They entered into the covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and soul; and whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. Moreover, they made an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets and with horns. All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had sought Him earnestly, and He let them find Him. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.”

 

Even Jehoshaphat was blessed by God:

2 Chronicles 17:3-6 “The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, followed His commandments, and did not act as Israel did. So the LORD established the kingdom in his control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. He took great pride in the ways of the LORD and again removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah.”

 

God rewarded those kings who fully submitted their lives to Him.

 

But Jehoram was not fully committed and so he struggled.

He saw his enemies begin to rise up and defy him.

 

WHEN WE ARE OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD

IT MAKES BLESSING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

 

2 Chronicles 16:9a “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”

 

God desires to bless your life, but as long as you cling to sin,

It makes it extremely difficult for Him to do that.

Jehoram was clueless to the fact.

He Rebelled Continually He Struggled Politically

3) HE WAS CONFUSED THEOLOGICALLY (9-12)

 

And this may really prove to be the reason

Why Jehoram never really sought God correctly.

 

These kings run out of water and are in real danger.

 

But notice who Jehoram immediately blames it on.

(10) “Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of the Moab.”

 

Jehoram didn’t see God as a deliverer,

Jehoram saw God as a destroyer.

• Maybe his parents filled his head with negative thoughts about God…

• Maybe Ahab cursed God for the drought…

• Maybe Jezebel blamed God for Ahab’s death…

 

Nevertheless it is apparent that Jehoram

Does not see God as Someone to seek, but as Someone to avoid.

 

He has a bad theology on God.

And bad theology leads to bad action.

 

Now it is true that God should be feared,

But that does not mean you should not trust Him.

 

Jeremiah 29:11 “’For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

 

Many times we hesitate to give God complete control of our lives

Because we tend to think that if we do,

He will do something awful to us.

 

• If I fully surrender to Him, then He will send me to Africa…

• If I dedicate my child to Him, He will send them to Africa…

• If I tell Him to use me for His glory, then He will make me suffer…

 

Such thinking does not come from God.

That mindset is directly planted by the enemy.

 

REMEMBER SATAN & EVE?

 

Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

 

Genesis 3:4-5 “The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Is it true that there are things out there that God didn’t want us to know?

And the answer is YES!

 

• He never wanted you to know what it felt like to cry over a loved one’s tomb

• He never wanted you to know what chemo felt like.

• He never wanted you to know the heartache of a rebellious child.

 

And so God said, “Stay away from that tree of knowledge, because there are some things you just don’t want to know – namely death.”

 

But mankind was stubborn,

Believing that God was killing all the fun,

And so instead of trusting Him,

We believed the worst about Him and went the other way.

 

That is where Jehoram obviously was.

He wouldn’t seek God because He thought God to be out to get him.

 

THAT WAS NOT TRUE!

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

 

God was not out to kill Jehoram.

Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them, ‘ As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’

 

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

 

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

 

Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

 

• Why in the world would you reject a God who desires to help you?

• Why in the world would you disobey a God who wants to bless you?

• Why would you refuse to seek a God who has good plans for you?

 

You wouldn’t, unless you were clueless.

 

It makes me wonder how many cluless people

Really dwell in our world today.

• People who insist on a lifestyle of disobedience…

• People who would rather suffer the struggles of life than trust God…

• People who think God is out to get them, and run from Him at all cost…

 

That was Jehoram.

He was clueless, you can see it in his description.

 

#2 HIS DIRECTION

2 Kings 3:13-19

 

Now it is apparent that Jehoram never gave any thought to seeking God,

So it was good for him that his companion knew all about it.

 

Jehoshaphat had said, (11) “Is there not a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?”

 

You may remember that is one of Jehoshaphat’s favorite questions.

 

And it is fortunate for Jehoram that Jehoshaphat is there.

And so they go to the prophet.

(It is sort of like taking a lost and hopeless person to church.)

 

And in this “Church service”

Jehoram is going to learn a thing or two about God.

 

In fact there are four main things he will learn.

1) GOD IS ANGRY (13-15)

 

Just in case you were in doubt about God being pleased

With his half-hearted obedience, Elisha settles the debate.

 

And Elisha makes no bones about revealing that Jehoram

Is outside of the will of God and God is not pleased.

 

(13) “What do I have to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.”

 

After an argument Elisha nails him again:

(14) “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.”

 

This is something that a clueless world needs to understand.

• God does love you.

• God does have a plan for your life.

• God does desire to prosper you and not to harm you.

• God does desire for you to be saved.

But don’t let that translate to you that God is a pushover.

 

Just because God is love does not mean God does not get angry.

If you are living in sin, it is true that God has a better plan for you,

But it is also true that if you reject that plan you are in hot water.

It is before a Holy God that you have sinned,

While He does seek to bless, He does not leave the guilty unpunished.

 

I have always loved what God said to Moses.

(God actually introduced Himself to Moses on the Mountain)

 

Here is how God introduced Himself.

Exodus 34:6-7 “Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

There is tremendous love and mercy there,

Yet there is also a very real promise of judgment.

 

God had a plan for Jehoram,

And it was not ok that Jehoram was rejecting that plan.

 

The same can be said to us today.

• God has a plan for your forgiveness…

• God has a plan for your salvation…

• God has a plan to give you new life and life abundant…

 

That plan is Jesus.

But that plan is not optional, if you reject the plan of Jesus,

The full and total wrath of God abides on you.

 

Listen to what Paul told the Romans:

Romans 2:4-6 “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:”

 

Jehoram was rejecting God’s plan for his life and God was angry.

 

God is angry

2) GOD IS MERCIFUL (16-17)

 

God is angry, yes Jehoram is clueless.

But, somehow, Jehoram is in church asking God for help.

 

And God is so merciful that He didn’t give Jehoram what he deserved.

 

(17) “You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts.”

 

Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve.

Jehoram deserved to die in the desert, but God was merciful.

(I wonder if the answer shocked Jehoram)

 

I don’t care how angry He is with you,

If you return to Him, He is merciful.

 

Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

You may be way out of the will of God,

And God may be fuming angry at you for it.

 

But at this very moment if you will cry out to God in your heart

And ask for His forgiveness, and salvation, He will give it.

 

You deserve judgment, but God is merciful.

 

A Clueless King needed to know that

 

God is angry God is merciful

3) GOD IS GRACIOUS (18)

 

We could easily talk about God’s power here as well, as Elisha says, “This is but a slight thing in the sight of the LORD”

 

In other words, deliverance is easy for God.

If you would only cry out to Him, He can easily do it.

 

But the real beauty of the verse is found next.

“He will also give the Moabites into your hand.”

 

Mercy is you not getting what you deserve.

Grace is you getting what you don’t deserve

God went the extra mile in order to promise victory as well.

 

That is what God does for us when we call upon Him.

Not only does He not send us to hell as our sins deserve,

But He goes the extra mile and offers eternal life.

 

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”

 

Jehoram had God all wrong.

God was not out to get him, God was trying to help him,

He only had to seek.

God is angry God is merciful God is gracious

4) GOD IS EXPECTANT (19)

 

There is one condition to crying out to God for help.

That is that your life is now under His authority.

JEHORAM WOULD BE EXPECTED TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE

 

God doesn’t save you to make sin OK

God saves you so that you will live for Him

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

 

We are saved by grace and we are saved for obedience.

A Clueless King needed to know that.

 

His Description His Direction

#3 HIS DELIVERANCE

2 Kings 3:20-27

 

God delivered Moab.

The problem is that Jehoram did not fully obey.

God had told him to “strike every fortified city and every choice city”

 

But, when Mesha sacrificed his son, and the battle got more intense, Jehoram and the three armies pulled out.

 

One might say that Jehoram started out clueless

And that he ended up clueless.

 

Not only did he not start seeking God, but according to

2 Kings 10:26-27, he went home and got Baal’s idle out of the closet

 

And so instead of blessing, he dies by getting shot in the back

While fleeing from an enemy.

He was clueless.

 

This morning we know that Jehoram didn’t learn a thing,

But what I wonder is if you did.

 

• Is there an area of disobedience in your life that you have failed to surrender?

• Have you refused to seek God afraid of what He might require of you?

DON’T LEAVE CLUELESS

 

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

 

2 Kings 2 (8-14)

 

We have seen many kings come and many go.

 

And yet the hero has been Elijah

He was the prophetic voice which always seemed

To stand against the tide, even if he had to stand alone.

 

WHERE WOULD ISRAEL BE WITHOUT ELIJAH?

 

But now it is time for a new voice to step onto the scene.

This story actually started several weeks ago.

 

1 Kings 19:15-18 “The LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. “It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

 

Between those three men not a single Baal worshiper would escape.

 

We learned that even though it wasn’t as fast as Elijah wanted,

God was at work, and revival was coming.

 

And so Elijah went from that place and called Elisha

1 Kings 19:19-21 “So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.”

 

From that point on Elisha was the understudy.

He served Elijah, he ministered to Elijah.

He was in training for the day when Elijah would be gone.

 

In our text this morning, that day has come.

And this morning we see exactly how this new witness comes about.

 

3 main points this morning.

#1 THE PERSISTENCE OF ELISHA

2 Kings 2:1-6

 

You will immediately notice that it is time for Elijah’s departure.

And God is going to give him quite a departure.

Elijah would not taste death, but would catch a whirlwind to heaven.

In a moment you will see why.

 

But as it nears his time to leave, we find a man glued to his side.

That man is Elisha.

 

In fact, three times Elijah tries to get Elisha to go away.

VERSE 2, 4, 6 But Elisha refused to leave Elijah’s side.

 

Twice we have the sons of the prophets interfering (3,5),

But Elisha refused to be distracted.

 

He reminded me of the Canaanite woman.

Matthew 15:21-28 “Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.”

 

This woman was also persistent.

She knew what she wanted, she knew where to get it,

And she wasn’t leaving until she got it.

 

That is the same type of attitude that Elisha has here.

He refuses to leave Elijah’s side.

WHY?

 

Well, that is what we see next.

#2 THE PETITION OF ELISHA

2 Kings 2:7-14

 

It is apparent from verse 9 that Elijah knew why Elisha would not leave.

“Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.”

 

Elisha had a request.

 

WHAT WAS THE REQUEST?

“Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

 

Elisha was about to try and fill Elijah’s shoes.

He most certainly did not want to do it in his own strength.

 

(At Pastor’s Conference – “Filling Jerry Vines’ shoes”)

 

Talk about feeling incapable and second rate.

And here Elisha is about to try and fill Elijah’s shoes.

 

No way he could do it unless he had equipping from on high.

He asked for “a double portion of your spirit”

 

Elijah was bold…

Elijah was strong…

Elijah was confident…

ELIJAH WAS ALSO PERSECUTED

 

Remember Ahab wanted to kill Elijah – he searched to every country.

Remember Jezebel wanted to kill Elijah – she vowed to do so.

Remember Ahaziah wanted to kill Elijah – he sent 3 captains with their 50

 

It is similar to when Jesus answered James and John:

Matthew 20:20-23 “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”

We all know that cup was.

It was the same cup Jesus referred to when He prayed, “Let this cup pass from Me…”

 

To share in His Spirit is to share in His suffering.

But Elisha asked anyway.

 

(10) “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”

 

By this sign, Elisha would know if his request had been granted.

 

(11-12) “As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.”

 

Elisha nearly got run over by a flaming chariot,

And at once Elijah was gone.

Elisha ripped his clothes as he saw his mentor disappear.

 

And then a very important thing happened.

(13) “He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan.”

 

This was more than following Elijah around.

This was fulfilling the calling of God.

 

Who would step up and fill the void left by Elijah?

And the answer is: Elisha.

 

And his first priority was to make sure God was with him.

(You don’t want to go, if God is not for you)

 

(14) “He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.”

 

And instantly God reveals that He is for Elisha.

(Such great confirmation!)

 

So we see the Persistence of Elisha

The Petition of Elisha

#3 THE PROOF OF ELISHA

2 Kings 2:15-25

 

What you will see taking place here is God revealing to the rest of the world that Elisha is indeed His new chosen spokesman.

 

1) A SEARCH (15-18)

 

The sons of the prophets were not yet ready to concede all to Elisha.

They wanted to make sure.

 

Elisha told them otherwise, but they didn’t believe him.

In fact, they shamed him.

 

(17) “But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched three days but did not find him.”

 

Apparently they said something like:

“You just don’t want us to find Elijah, so you can be the bid chief prophet. You think it’s all about you.”

 

And so Elisha told them to go, but they obviously did not find Elijah.

 

(18) “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

God allowed Elisha to get the last word,

And to prove that he was indeed God’s spokesman.

A Search

2) A SIGN (19-22)

 

It was one of many miracles that Elisha would work.

In fact, many recon that Elisha

Worked twice as many miracles as Elijah.

 

A Search, A Sign

3) A SLAUGHTER (23-24)

 

Here, Elisha goes to Bethel.

 

You will remember it as one of the locations of Jeroboam’s golden calves,

 

It is obvious there that the people

Don’t care to hear from God’s prophets.

 

They have even taught their children to be disrespectful

To those men who speak for God.

 

And so the children come out mocking Elisha.

(They are really mocking God and His word)

 

(24) “When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up the forty-two lads of their number.”

 

It was a brutal lesson, but the lesson was clear.

 

Then Scripture says:

(25) “He went from there to Mt. Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.”

He visited that historic battle site

And then, “he returned to Samaria.”

 

The prophet was ready to begin his ministry.

• He was now God’s witness.

• He had been clothed with God’s power.

• God had proven Him with miracles and signs.

 

We see there a man who was faithful to his calling,

To pick up the torch of those who had gone before him.

 

WHAT I DIDN’T TELL YOU AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS TEXT IS THAT THIS IS A HIGHLY PROPHETIC CHAPTER.

 

This chapter serves as an amazing picture,

With many details which are far more than coincidence.

 

The reason Elijah was caught up into the sky is because

He was foreshadowing how someone else would some day leave.

 

Elijah was a picture of Jesus.

Elisha was a picture of the disciples.

 

LET ME GIVE YOU A FEW SIMILARITIES

 

1) THE NEED FOR GOD’S SPIRIT

Elisha knew he needed it.

 

Remember what Jesus taught His disciples?

John 15:26-27 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

 

John 16:1-7 “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. “These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. “But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘ Where are You going?’ “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”

 

In fact, Jesus specifically instructed the disciples

Not to try and start their ministry without Him.

Luke 24:44-49 “Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. “You are witnesses of these things. “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

 

2) THE ACTUAL ASCENSION

 

With Elijah’s last breath, he was giving instruction

(11) “As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.”

 

This is also how Jesus ascended.

Acts 1:6-9 “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

3) THE RESPONSE TO THE ASCENSION

Notice that after Eljiah was gone, Elisha ripped his garments.

 

It symbolized a time of mourning…

It symbolized a time of separation…

 

This is no different than Jesus’ disciples.

Matthew 9:14-15 “Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

 

Although the disciples had a ministry to perform,

It did not mean that they did not long to still be with Jesus.

 

4) HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME

 

Notice how Elisha received the Holy Spirit.

Fire came down, as the whirlwind took Elijah up.

 

At Pentecost when the disciples received Him:

Acts 2:2-4 “And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”

 

5) THE IMMEDIATE PRESENCE OF BOLDNESS

 

Elisha is speaking to all with boldness and authority.

 

So the disciples also.

These once timid men who hid in the upper room and went fishing every time it got difficult, suddenly found themselves with a bold passion to serve.

 

Acts 4:19-20 “But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

 

6) THE SHARING IN PERSECUTION

 

Elisha was instantly mocked.

 

Look at how the disciples were treated:

2 Corinthians 4:8-11 “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

 

They shared in His cup.

7) THE INCREASE IN MIRACLES

 

Elisha did twice as many miracles as Elijah.

 

Remember what Jesus said to His disciples?

John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”

 

No, they were not greater than Jesus,

But because they were able to spread out,

They took the gospel further than Jesus ever took it.

 

THIS IS A PROPHETIC CHAPTER

REVEALING HOW GOD WOULD ONE DAY EMPOWER HIS CHURCH TO CONTINUE THE MINISTRY OF JESUS.

 

And can you imagine where we would be today if they had not stepped up to the plate after the departure of Jesus?

 

• What if Peter had refused to preach at Pentecost?

• What if Peter had refused to witness to Cornelius?

• What if Paul had been too afraid to take the gospel to Asia or Rome?

 

Where would we be if these men had not decided

To try and fill shoes that seemed impossible to fill?

 

But as you must know, it didn’t stop there.

Jesus passed the torch to these men, and faithfully they took up the mantle and carried the truth to a lost and dying world.

 

But there would come a day when these men

Would see their departure as well.

 

Peter wrote:

2 Peter 1:12-15 “Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.”

 

Peter wrote to his followers, that he would soon be departing,

And they needed to be reminded of the truth,

So that they could be faithful witnesses just as he had been.

 

Paul was no different.

When he was getting close to leaving, he invested in a replacement as well.

 

That man’s name was Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:8-14 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

 

In case you didn’t know the background to that letter.

Timothy was discouraged and wanted to quit.

Paul wrote to challenge him to stay the course.

 

At the end of the letter he said:

2 Timothy 4:1-8 “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

 

Paul closed his letter revealing that he was about to depart,

And that he wanted Timothy to fill his shoes.

 

While we don’t have record of how Peter’s followers responded,

WE DO KNOW WHAT TIMOTHY DID.

 

Hebrews 13:23 “Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.”

 

It is obvious that Timothy took up Paul’s mantle.

Timothy stood strong, even to the point of imprisonment.

 

• Jesus had passed the torch to His disciples…

• They had passed the torch to theirs…

 

Hopefully I don’t have to tell you that the torch is still passing today.

 

“Christianity is always only one generation away from extinction.”

 

We know the truths of Jesus today

Because of the faithful who went before us.

They were empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill a task

Much bigger than themselves and they answered the call.

 

TODAY THE CALL GOES OUT TO US.

Perhaps you have read Hebrews 11.

 

We call it the “Faith Hall of Fame”

It lists those tremendous saints of old who trusted God no matter what.

 

And the preacher says this:

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

 

In other words, since those before us have faithfully run the race,

Even amidst hardship, let us also run.

 

Let us take up their mantle and faithfully proclaim their message.

 

The preacher would go on to say:

Hebrews 13:12-14 “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”

 

• At one point, Elijah held the mantle…

• He passed it to Elisha…

• Eventually it made it’s way to Jesus who passed it to Paul…

• Paul passed the mantle to Timothy…

• And now, having passed throughout the ages, it is passed to us.

 

The question is will we do what Elisha did?

Will we do what Paul did?

Will we do what Timothy did?

 

Will we take up the mantle and fulfill the ministry?

 

In a world of moral decay, when so many hate the truth,

Will you stand for God and speak the truth?

 

2 Timothy 4:1-5 “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

 

1 Kings 22:51 – 2 Kings 1:18 (51-53)

 

We are now into the study of another new king.

You will remember a couple of weeks ago

That Ahab died a predetermined death.

 

Today we see the heir to his throne. – AHAZIAH

 

The King Who Didn’t Fear God

 

By that I mean that Ahaziah very simply

Did not take God seriously.

 

When God gave commands Ahaziah ignored them…

When God warned of judgment Ahaziah didn’t believe him…

 

You will see this as we examine our text.

#1 HIS LEGACY

1 Kings 22:51-53

 

In case you are wondering, when it was initially written, there was not 1 & 2 Kings.

It was all just one book. However to conserve papyrus, it was broken into two books. (This explains the rather odd division)

 

But to close out the book of 1 Kings

We see a generic description of this king we call Ahaziah.

 

He was king in the north while Jehoshaphat was king in the south.

He reigned for 2 years.

 

And here is his legacy

(52) “He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.”

 

From there it is easy to see the problem with Ahaziah.

He had three really bad mentors.

 

 

Of course you are very familiar with Ahab.

1 Kings 16:30-32 “Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him. It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him. So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria.”

 

Ahab took idolatry to a whole new level in Israel.

Not only did he worship Baal, but he actually built Baal a temple.

 

At the end of his life, the general description of Ahab was given.

1 Kings 21:25 “Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him.”

 

Ahab was an idolatrous, immoral King.

 

And God brought him to an pre-determined death.

(lying prophets – random arrows – bloody chariot – bathing harlots)

 

And this was one of Ahaziah’s mentors.

 

You are also recently familiar with his second mentor; Jezebel.

 

As we just read, Jezebel was the daughter of

Ethbaal king of the Sidonians.

 

We know that she was an idolatrous woman as well.

1 Kings 18:19 “Now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel,together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

 

She was also a deceptive and immoral woman.

1 Kings 21:8-10 “So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city. Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘ You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

 

You may also remember her to be a real stumbling block to Ahab.

(Ahab might have turned to the Lord after Mt. Carmel – Elijah thought so)

 

But Jezebel wouldn’t have it

1 Kings 19:1-2 “Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

 

We are talking about a woman who is not only apathetic to the things of God, but one who is downright opposed to them.

 

She will die by being thrown out a window

 

And this was also one of Ahaziah’s role models.

 

The third role model for Ahaziah was Jeroboam.

 

God chose him as a form of punishment on Solomon for straying.

God gave him the ten northern tribes to rule over.

 

But because he feared that people would return to the king of Judah,

Jeroboam did a despicable thing in Israel.

 

1 Kings 12:28-30 “So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.” He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.”

 

Jereboam changed the location of worship, changed the date of worship, and invented his own order of priesthood.

 

It was total disrespect for the word of God, and God judged him for it.

 

1 Kings 14:7-10 “Go, say to Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ” Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over My people Israel, and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you — yet you have not been like My servant David, who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only that which was right in My sight; you also have done more evil than all who were before you, and have gone and made for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back — therefore behold, I am bringing calamity on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male person, both bond and free in Israel, and I will make a clean sweep of the house of Jeroboam, as one sweeps away dung until it is all gone.”

 

Jeroboam led Israel away from God, and they never returned to Him.

 

When Assyria eventually carried the northern kingdom into exile,

It is the sin of Jeroboam that is given as the reason why.

 

He was one of Ahaziah’s mentors.

 

They were arguably the three worst culprits in Israel’s history

And they are the ones that Ahaziah chose to follow.

 

And you can see the result of him walking in their path.

(53) “So he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.”

 

It is safe to say that Ahaziah is a chip off the old block.

 

BUT HERE IS WHAT IS PUZZLING

• You knew of God’s judgment on Jeroboam…

• You saw God’s judgment on Ahab…

• God’s judgment on Jezebel has already been promised…

 

SO WHY WOULD AHAZIAH FOLLOW THEIR LEAD?

 

He didn’t see what happened to them as the judgment of God,

AND HE DOESN’T FEAR GOD’S JUDGMENT IN HIS OWN LIFE.

 

It is obvious that to Ahaziah, God is all bark and no bite.

• Sure He threatens judgment…

• Sure He commands righteous living…

• Sure He desires personal devotion…

But God really won’t do anything about it will He?

In fact, there is evidence here in a moment that

Ahaziah might not have even believed that God was real.

 

He was apathetic.

He did not fear God.

 

This is our society as well.

Romans 3:18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

 

• People live in blatant immorality…

• People flirt with idolatry…

 

But mostly people disregard the commands of God.

 

THE GREATEST PROOF PEOPLE DON’T FEAR GOD IS DISOBEDIENCE

 

All throughout Scripture, there is a clear link

Between fear of God and obedience to God.

 

Psalms 112:1

“How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments.”

 

Psalms 128:1

“How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.”

 

Isaiah 50:10 “Who is among you that fears the LORD, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.”

 

If you don’t obey God, then you don’t fear God.

 

It is apathy.

And Ahaziah had it.

He was taught it by the best, and now he followed in their shoes.

 

His Legacy

#2 HIS LESSON

2 Kings 1:1-18 (1-2)

 

Ahaziah falls through the lattice of his upper chamber.

(They did much on the roof, and this was like a fence around the edge of the roof)

 

And then the problem. (not surprising)

“So he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this sickness.”

 

This is why you even might ask if Ahaziah believes God is real.

When life gets serious, and he really wants answers, he doesn’t go to God.

He goes to Baal-zebub.

This is a major slap in the face to God.

• It is to say He is incompetent…

• It is to say He is ignorant…

• It is to say He isn’t even real.

 

And the tragedy is that this type of belief

Has become the accepted belief in Israel.

 

So God is about to teach Ahaziah, and all Israel a lesson.

• He is tired of being overlooked…

• He is tired of being ignored…

• He is tired of being mocked…

 

And so there is a basic lesson for Ahaziah and Israel.

 

God is about to teach Ahaziah and Israel

Some of the most basic and fundamental lessons about Himself.

 

In a world of people who don’t seem to fear God.

These are three things you need to know.

 

1) God is a Jealous God: Seek Him (3-6)

 

After reading those few verses, it is apparent

That God was upset with what was going on in Israel.

 

• These were His chosen people…

• This was His land that He gave to them…

• He had been their God and provided for them…

 

And now, when tragedy strikes they go and seek some foreign god.

 

This is most definitely NOT cool with God.

Nahum 1:2a “A jealous and avenging God is the LORD;”

 

Perhaps you remember when God issued the Ten Commandments:

Exodus 20:3-6 “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

 

Later in Exodus God said:

Exodus 34: 14 “for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”

 

As we read at the end of 1 Kings, seeking other gods provokes Him.

 

 

 

In Deuteronomy God began to reveal the punishment for provoking Him.

Deuteronomy 4:23-24 “So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you. “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

 

Deuteronomy 6:14-15 “You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.”

 

When you provoke God to jealousy,

You invite upon yourself His judgment.

 

That is precisely what is happening here.

Ahaziah did not seek God, and he provoked God to wrath.

 

(6) “Thus says the LORD, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.’”

 

Ahaziah cried to a god he thought could tell him the future.

He should have cried to the God who holds his life in His hands.

 

That is what He wants from us as well.

God doesn’t want you trusting in man, or trusting in money.

God wants you trusting in Him.

God wants you seeking Him.

 

He intended it this way.

Not just for Israel, but for all mankind.

 

Remember when Paul preached in Athens?

Acts 17:24-27 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;”

 

God is the only God, and demands to be treated like it.

 

Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.”

 

The point is that it is no trivial thing to provoke God to jealousy.

 

TURN TO: 1 CORINTHIANS 10

 

God is a Jealous God: Seek Him

2) God is a Powerful God: Fear Him (7-15)

 

What you see in that incident

Is a man who has forgotten that God is not to be messed with.

• They supposed God to be subject to intimidation…

• They supposed they could get Elijah to change his mind…

 

God twice responded to their arrogance.

 

But the third time, Israel has learned her lesson.

“O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. Behold fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.”

 

They finally realize that God’s word is not to be taken lightly.

 

He has the power to do anything He wants,

SO YOU HAD BETTER FEAR HIM.

 

And this too is seen throughout Scripture.

Isaiah 8:13 “It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread.”

 

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 “Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?”

 

Deuteronomy 10:20 “You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name.”

 

And the command is no different in the New Testament.

 

Jesus said:

Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

 

Paul said:

2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

 

Peter said:

1 Peter 1:17-19 “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

 

God’s word is not a suggestion,

And we do not have the option of arrogantly rejecting it.

Ahaziah’s men did not start out with a fear of the Lord,

But they learned that lesson in a hurry.

 

And we ought to learn that lesson as well.

 

Uzza

1 Chronicles 13:7-10 “They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets. When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.”

 

Aaron’s sons

Leviticus 10:1-5 “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the LORD spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.'” So Aaron, therefore, kept silent. Moses called also to Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come forward, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to the outside of the camp.” So they came forward and carried them still in their tunics to the outside of the camp, as Moses had said.”

 

Moses & Aaron

Numbers 20:11-12 “Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

 

In the New Testament:

Acts 5:1-6 “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.”

 

And even today, we have a warning from the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11:27-32 “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.”

 

God is worthy of fear, respect, and honor.

God is a Jealous God: Seek Him

God is a Powerful God: Fear Him

3) God is a Trustworthy God: Believe Him (16-18)

 

I find this section pretty interesting.

 

Ahaziah wanted Elijah to come and meet him face to face.

We can suppose that he wanted Elijah to change his stance.

 

But you probably noticed that the message did not change.

“is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word? – therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.’”

 

Then I like verse 17.

“So Ahaziah died according to the word of the LORD”

 

Israel just learned another important lesson.

When God promises something, it happens.

 

Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

 

1 Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

 

1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

 

Psalms 37:5 “Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

 

• If He promises blessing, then blessing is what you get.

• If He promises judgment, then judgment is what you get.

• If He promises provision…

• If He promises protection…

• If He promises forgiveness…

 

Ordinarily if someone promises that they will do something,

There are two reasons why it might not come to pass.

• They might lack integrity (they are lying)

• They might lack ability (they can’t do what they intended)

 

God lacks neither.

 

It is impossible for Him to lie, and with Him all things are possible.

 

 

 

Because He is honest, and because He is omnipotent,

We know that if God says it, it is a done deal.

 

It is apparent that ever since the reign of Jeroboam,

Israel had allowed their theology on God to slide.

 

They had forgotten that:

• God is a jealous God, so seek Him.

• God is a powerful God, so fear Him.

• God is a trustworthy God, so believe Him.

 

 

Those are basic things that ought not to be forgotten.

But if you are not walking in obedience to the word of God

It is obvious that you have forgotten those things.

 

It is sheer stupidity and arrogance

To ignore the commands of God in Scripture.

 

Listen:

God is merciful…

God is gracious…

God is love…

BUT HE IS STILL GOD

Seek Him, Fear Him, Believe Him

 

Ahaziah learned those lessons the hard way.

 

This morning I would simply ask, is there an area of disobedience in your life that you have failed to give to the Lord?

 

If so, let me strongly encourage you to correct it,

For God is not someone to be messed with.

 

Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

 

1 Kings 22:41-50

 

We are now moving on in the book of Kings to a new era.

 

This morning we come across a King named Jehoshaphat.

He is typically regarded as one of the 8 good Kings

To sit upon the throne of Judah.

 

And for the most part that is true.

As you will see, he was a man of high character,

And he was a man with good intentions.

 

However, Jehoshaphat was easily influenced and his lack of conviction

Ultimately did more harm for Judah than good.

 

From Jehoshaphat we learn a little bit about

The importance of following your convictions,

And not giving in to the evil influences around you.

 

And obviously this is a relevant topic.

 

We live in a day of wicked and evil influence.

We as Christians must learn to recognize it and resist it.

 

Paul said:

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.”

 

You can be a Christian with high morals who desires Godliness,

But if you do not protect yourself through discernment

You can still find yourself in a world of hurt.

 

It is that spirit of compromise

That has so many times gotten God’s people in trouble.

 

That is why Jesus told the church at Thyatira:

Revelation 2:20 “But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.”

• That church was too loose in their relationships,

• They found themselves actually tolerating the Jezebel of the New Testament,

• Allowing her to wreak havoc in their church as she preyed on weak believers.

 

God’s people must not only have high moral character,

But also a sense of discernment and conviction.

 

AND SO WE STUDY JEHOSHAPHAT

A man of high moral character,

Whose influences nearly destroyed him.

There are four things I want us to look at in regard to Jehoshaphat this morning.

 

#1 HIS INTEGRITY

1 Kings 22:41-43a

 

The section opens on Jehoshaphat with a reminder

Of his basic nature as a man of integrity.

 

Verse 43 states it explicitly, “He walked in all the way of Asa his father; he did not turn aside from it, doing right in the sight of the LORD.”

 

Allow me to refresh your memory about Asa.

“Wholly Devoted, Under Committed”

 

Asa started well,

1 Kings 15:11-15 “Asa did what was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father. He also put away the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols which his fathers had made. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah; and Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was wholly devoted to the LORD all his days. He brought into the house of the LORD the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things: silver and gold and utensils.”

 

However late in life Asa quit seeking the Lord.

When he had war with Israel, instead of seeking God,

He sought out the King of Aram, and that made God angry.

 

2 Chronicles 16:7-10 “At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand. “Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.” Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.”

 

That was Asa.

For the most part, he was a good King who sought God,

But he did stray away from God toward the end of his life.

 

But history does remember him as a good king,

And now Jehoshaphat is said to have been like him.

 

In his heart, Jehoshaphat only wanted to be pleasing to God.

 

Allow me to give you one of the examples

Of Jehoshaphat’s great devotion to God.

 

During Jehoshaphat’s reign, there was a 3 king coalition

That came up against him to conquer Judah.

 

Ammon, Moab, and Edom all three got together to wipe out Judah.

 

Jehoshaphat handled it like a pro.

2 Chronicles 20:6-12 “and he said, “O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. “Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? “They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying, ‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.’ “Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance. “O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

 

You can see in his prayer that he was a man of great personal devotion,

And one who truly trusted God.

 

He didn’t turn to other nations for help,

He put his problem in the lap of God,

And allowed God to deliver him.

 

He was a man of great integrity in his personal walk with God.

 

There is more I want you to see:

#2 HIS INTENTIONS

1 Kings 22:45-46

 

In these two verses we only get a little glimpse

Of his intentions for the nation.

 

VERSE 46, “The remnant of the sodomites who remained in the days of his father Asa, he expelled from the land.”

 

You will remember that Asa removed

All of the mail cult prostitutes (sodomites).

 

Apparently some went into hiding, and a small remnant remained,

But Jehoshaphat got rid of them.

 

He was finishing what his father started.

 

Let me show you some more of what he did.

 

In addition to the sodomites, Jehoshaphat wanted Judah

To be a pure nation that was solely devoted to God.

 

2 Chronicles 17:6 “He took great pride in the ways of the LORD and again removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah.”

 

It is clear that he wanted God and God alone to be worshiped.

 

He also had a passion for the whole land to be taught the Word of God.

2 Chronicles 17:7-9 “Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.”

 

And God blessed this endeavor

2 Chronicles 17:10-12 “Now the dread of the LORD was on all the kingdoms of the lands which were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. So Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah.”

 

The point is that when you look at Jehoshaphat

You see a man of high integrity

And a man who had the best intentions in the world.

 

• He trusted God and he wanted all of Judah to trust God.

• He loved God’s word and he wanted all of Judah to love God’s word.

 

On a personal level, he was a great man.

 

But there was one chink in Jehoshaphat’s armor.

He was too easily influenced.

 

His Integrity, His Intentions

#3 HIS INFLUENCES

1 Kings 22:43-44, 47-48

 

Let’s just take these negative incidents in order.

And let me show you some of his influences.

 

1) HE WAS INFLUENCED BY A CROWD

 

We just read in 2 Chronicles

That Jehoshaphat removed the high places.

 

But look at what it says in verse 43,

“However, the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places.”

That can mean one of two things.

1) He removed the high places, but they came back.

2) He stopped the worship of false gods on the high places, but people still worshiped the LORD at those sites.

 

To allow either to happen was a mistake on Jehoshaphat’s part.

It showed a propensity to compromise.

It showed a willingness to give in

And not follow through on your convictions.

 

Although he personally only worshiped God,

He was one who did not take full use of his authority as king

And fully clean up the land.

 

Part of the reason is because crowds could influence him.

(Remember how Ahab used a crowd

To manipulate him into going to battle with him?)

 

That gives a pretty good explanation

As to why he allowed the high places to be rebuilt as well.

 

He was influenced by a crowd / mob,

And it led to the rebuilding of the high places.

 

As Christians we have to learn to have convictions

That reach beyond public opinion.

We can either be men pleasers or God pleasers.

 

Jehoshaphat was too easily influenced by men.

But that was not his only influence.

2) HE WAS INFLUENCED BY AHAB

 

Verse 44 says, “Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.”

 

First allow me to give you a correction to some misinformation.

Last week I said Jehoshaphat was Ahab’s son-in-law, that is wrong.

I got my facts mixed up.

 

Jehoshaphat gave his son in marriage to Ahab’s daughter.

 

2 Chronicles 18:1-3 “Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.”

 

IT WAS THIS ALLIANCE

That got Jehoshaphat into a battle that nearly got him killed.

 

What you didn’t see last week

Is God’s response when Jehoshaphat got home.

2 Chronicles 19:1-3 “Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so bring wrath on yourself from the LORD? “But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.”

 

God was angry with Jehoshaphat

For his willingness to walk in unity with the wicked.

 

We don’t know why he did it.

(Most likely it was to stop the fighting that had occurred between his father Asa and the kings of Israel)

 

Jehoshaphat didn’t maintain his convictions

He allowed himself to be too easily influenced by a wicked man.

 

So he was influenced by a crowd

He was influenced by Ahab

3) HE WAS INFLUENCED BY AHAZIAH

 

Ahaziah was the son of Ahab.

 

Verses 47-48 says, “Now there was no king in Edom; a deputy was king. Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.”

 

What you don’t see is the reason Jehoshaphat began this venture.

 

2 Chronicles 20:35-37 “After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing. So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish.”

 

Again, he makes a bad decision to ally himself with an evil person,

And it brought upon him wrath from God and this time also financial ruin.

 

So despite the fact that Jehoshaphat really was a man of integrity

With good intentions, his influences cost him greatly.

 

• On one occasion it nearly got him killed…

• On another occasion it cost him financially…

• On both occasions it made the LORD angry…

 

BUT THOSE ARE NOT THE ONLY CONSEQUENCES

 

Jehoshaphat’s bad influences continued on even after his death.

 

Jehoshaphat gave his son (Jehoram)

In marriage to Ahab’s daughter.

2 Chronicles 21:1-7 “Then Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place. He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. Their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn. Now when Jehoram had taken over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and some of the rulers of Israel also. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did (for Ahab’s daughter was his wife), and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.”

 

All because Jehoshaphat made a covenant with the wicked.

The Kingdom actually went exactly opposite of what he had hoped.

 

He was a man of integrity…

He was a man of great intentions…

But in the end, you could say that

He actually did more harm for the nation of Judah than good.

 

• The high places he removed were rebuilt…

• The false gods he removed were restored by his son…

• The Law he taught was disregarded by the nation…

 

These influences ruined all that this man tried to accomplish.

 

Now I will say this.

Jehoshaphat did finally learn his lesson.

 

#4 HIS IMPROVEMENT

1 Kings 22:49-50

 

We read about the first time Ahaziah had this idea

And how it cost Jehoshaphat greatly.

 

Apparently, after this venture failed Ahaziah wanted to try it again.

However, Jehoshaphat had finally learned.

 

You can’t include the wicked in your plan and ask God to bless it.

And so “Jehoshaphat was not willing.”

 

He did finally learn his lesson, but the seeds had been sown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT IS THE POINT?

 

You can be a man who truly loves God,

And who truly desires to see God alone be glorified.

 

You can be a man of character.

 

But if you do not add conviction to your character,

Your character won’t last long.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.”

 

1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

 

Throughout Scripture, God’s people have been warned

Not to allow themselves to be influenced by the wicked.

 

Numbers 33:55-56 “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live. ‘And as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.'”

 

Joshua 23:12-13 “For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.”

 

In the New Testament God echoes this theme.

 

He is speaking of the church, and is calling for her purity.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.”

 

And we could go on.

• Look at how Lot was influenced by the people of Sodom…

• Look at how Samson was influenced by Delilah…

• Look at how Solomon was influenced by his foreign wives…

• Look at how Aaron was influenced to make a golden calf…

• Look at how the children of Israel were influenced by the grumbling rabble…

 

And throughout the course of history,

Satan has had no shortage of false prophets and false teachers

To wickedly influence God’s people to disregard His word

And walk in disobedience to Him.

 

Ephesians 5:6-14 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”

 

The wicked are a stumbling block for the people of God.

And if you don’t have enough discernment to see it

And conviction to stand against it,

You will watch the curse slowly creep upon your entire world.

 

“Jehoshaphat was a good man,

But he lacked the conviction to stand against

The peer pressure, and it ruined him.”

 

Allowing yourself to be swayed by the wicked

Will only bring you to ruin.

 

Psalms 1 “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.”

 

The blessed man knows that the wicked are a dangerous influence,

And to spend too much time with them, can only lead to ruin.

 

You don’t want to be caught with the wicked

When the day of their judgment comes.

 

Proverbs 17:12 “Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.”

 

This morning let me encourage you.

Seek the Lord

Trust the Lord

Love the Lord

But also stand upon your convictions,

And refuse to allow yourself to be influenced by this wicked world.

 

• For some it is their work place…

• For some it is a friend…

• For some it is a family member…

• For some it is a television…

 

Now some influences can be escaped,

But certainly you cannot escape them all.

 

And you were not intended to live with your head in the sand.

 

1 Corinthians 5:9-10 “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.”

 

A Christian does have the responsibility

To be light in the midst of darkness.

 

JUST MAKE SURE YOU RECOGNIZE THE DARKNESS

AND REFUSE TO ALLOW IT TO INFLUENCE YOU.

 

 

 

IF EVIL CAN BE AVOIDED, THEN AVOID IT.

But if cannot be, then stand against it,

And be a man or woman of conviction.

 

Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”