Doing Things the Right Way

2 Kings 3 (ESV)

1 In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twelve years. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made. 3 Nevertheless, he clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it. 4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he had to deliver to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 5 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 So King Jehoram marched out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel. 7 And he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moab?” And he said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 8 Then he said, “By which way shall we march?” Jehoram answered, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.” 9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. 10 Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 11 And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” Then one of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” 12 And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. 13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 14 And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. 15 But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’ 17 For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’ 18 This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand, 19 and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.” 20 The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water. 21 When all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to put on armor, from the youngest to the oldest, were called out and were drawn up at the border. 22 And when they rose early in the morning and the sun shone on the water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood. 23 And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely fought together and struck one another down. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!” 24 But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose and struck the Moabites, till they fled before them. And they went forward, striking the Moabites as they went. 25 And they overthrew the cities, and on every good piece of land every man threw a stone until it was covered. They stopped every spring of water and felled all the good trees, till only its stones were left in Kir-hareseth, and the slingers surrounded and attacked it. 26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he took with him 700 swordsmen to break through, opposite the king of Edom, but they could not. 27 Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel. And they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.

DT: When we seek God’s Will in each of our endeavors, God will empower us to achieve it.

Introduction:

Transition: There are a few actions we must consider when we face obstacles and desire to overcome them successfully. The first action is to Evaluate your Relationships.

Evaluate Your Relationships (vv. 1-3)

2 Kings 3:1–3 “1 In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twelve years. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made. 3 Nevertheless, he clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it.”

The text calls us to notice the differences in the Kings who are intending to invade Moab. They are contrasting figures. Jehoshaphat was really a good King who ruled over Judah. Jehoram is an evil King who ruled over Israel and then there is the King of Edom who is a pagan and knows nothing of God.

Jehoram wants the tribute owed to him and seems willing to do whatever it takes to get it even if it means dragging his friends into it with him.

Application: Who is in your circles? What are their motives and objectives for success? Is God in your circle? Are you a leader or a follower in your circle? I realize that we all cannot be leaders at the same time but ever Christian ought be leading others to Christ and to a relationship with God!

Transition: Another action we must consider when we are facing difficulties is to Evaluate Your Circumstances.

Evaluate Your Circumstances Honestly (vv. 4-8)

2 Kings 3:4–10 “4 Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he had to deliver to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. 5 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 So King Jehoram marched out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel. 7 And he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to battle against Moab?” And he said, “I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 8 Then he said, “By which way shall we march?” Jehoram answered, “By the way of the wilderness of Edom.” 9 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. 10 Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”

The problem with Jehoram is that he feels insulted and wants the tribute that is owed him from the king of Moab. In all actuality Mesha the king of Moab decided that since Jehoram’s father Ahab is dead he is not going to pay anything . Jehoram is seeking the aid of everyone except God. He is calling up his buddies and he is ready to fight.

They plot their course and devise their plan for what they believe will be a victory and are hindered because they have no water.

These guys just knew they were going to win but realize they are in trouble because they planned without asking God to guide them and lead them.

Jehoram has the audacity to blame God for their mistake.

Transition: Let me suggest today that if you have made up your mind and plotted your course in life without God in it you are headed for disaster.

Application: What are some situations you are in right now that you have invited everyone in to help you except God? Don’t blame God for problems you create.

Transition: Here is another action needed to be successful when you are facing conflict. Seek God’s Will

Seek God’s Will (vv. 9-19)

2 Kings 3:11–19 (ESV)

11 And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” Then one of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” 12 And Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. 13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” But the king of Israel said to him, “No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” 14 And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. 15 But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’ 17 For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’ 18 This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord. He will also give the Moabites into your hand, 19 and you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree and stop up all springs of water and ruin every good piece of land with stones.”

After they have found themselves in a mess, Jehoshaphat speaks up and suggest that there be prayer about this movement. Of course as we have previously stated Jehoram blames it on God rather than upon his own overzealous ambition. He thought he and his ride or dies could handle it alone. They found out that nothing can be done without the help of the Lord.

Elisha, explains to them that God is regarding this matter only because of Jehoshaphat, otherwise He would not see them. Let me just say right here that it pays to have a relationship with God. It pays to know how to pray and praise God. It pays to favor God because when you do God will favor you.

Elisha tells them that the victory will be theirs and that God will provide water for their armies and their animals.

See, had not they decided to seek God’s Will and continue to do what they wanted to do they would have lost this battle and their lives.

Illustration: Story is told of a man who died and met St. Peter and St. Peter gave him a tour of heaven . . . Those are the things God had for you but you wanted something different and didn’t pray for God’s will to be done.

Application: God wants to give you some victories but you have to be willing to seek Him. Ask God for direction and what His will is for your life right now. Maybe you are failing because you have not included God in it.

God wants to deliver you but you have to be willing to serve Him. You must make God the priority in your life, not people, friends, family, work, money, house, cars, drinking, smoking, texting, traveling, or any other thing. God must be if you are going to be favored by God.

Trust God’s Word (vv.20-27)

2 Kings 3:20–27 (ESV)

20 The next morning, about the time of offering the sacrifice, behold, water came from the direction of Edom, till the country was filled with water. 21 When all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to put on armor, from the youngest to the oldest, were called out and were drawn up at the border. 22 And when they rose early in the morning and the sun shone on the water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood. 23 And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely fought together and struck one another down. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!” 24 But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose and struck the Moabites, till they fled before them. And they went forward, striking the Moabites as they went. 25 And they overthrew the cities, and on every good piece of land every man threw a stone until it was covered. They stopped every spring of water and felled all the good trees, till only its stones were left in Kir-hareseth, and the slingers surrounded and attacked it. 26 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he took with him 700 swordsmen to break through, opposite the king of Edom, but they could not. 27 Then he took his oldest son who was to reign in his place and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. And there came great wrath against Israel. And they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.

Everything God said would happen occurred. These men did not doubt God they moved according to what God said. in fact the Moabites thought it was going to be an easy battle but what they did not know is that God had empowered Israel for the victory.

Application: you and I can experience this same power in our lives when we trust God regardless of whom our enemies are.