What Regard Hath God for a Man?

Introduction

We are going to begin this evening in Matthew Chapter 1 and then we will go to 2 Kings 3. So if you would open your Bible this evening to Matthew Chapter 1 we will read verse 1-17.

As you turn to Mathew Chapter 1, the question for us this evening is what regard has God for a man. The scriptures clearly teach that God “shows no partiality.” (Ro 2:11, ESV). All that sinned are judged according to their sin. So when three kings approach Elisha and God says, I regard Jehoshaphat we have to ask, what does that mean, why Jehoshaphat.

Lets Read Matthew Chapter 1 verse 1-17

Matthew 1:1–17 ESV

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

Go a head and turn to 2 Kings 3. 2 Kings Chapter 3.

We have the advantage of seeing the completed revelation of God.

Hebrews 1, how he has spoke though his son.

Because Jehoshaphat, we have one Direct link between the text in 2nd Kings and Christ in our mind.

Lets read 2nd Kings 3:9-20

2 Kings 3:9–20 ESV

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.

May God Bless the reading of Him Holy and Infallible Word.

Let us Pray.

Transition

I want to draw our attention in starting at verse 13 today. The kings have made their battle plans and they have marched out to put the rebellious Moabites down, find no water and knowing that dehydrated men will not have the strength need to win the battle coming they turn to Elisha, asking for God’s input.

The why do you come to God now?

"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.” (2 King 3:13-14, ESV)

Verse 13\

Why come to the Lord now?

Go to your prophets and your gods.

Jehoram knows only God can save and that he is dead,

Notice Jehorm said No, the Lord did this.

He know Baal cannot save.

We know that God saves, this is the without an excuse that Paul talks about in Romans 1.

Verse 14

Elisha is not impressed with the piety of Jehorem

Elisha swears by the Lord here, we should not take the lightly.

Why is Elisha regard with Jehoshaphat

The same promise that Guys made, we can ask this question going back to the beginning,

why Noah,

why Abraham

why Judah,

Why David

All a long we have seen God providentially hand working, even when Judah has relations with his daughter in-law, God’s hand is providing.

Jehoshaphat, was a good king, why, what is it?

The Lord work in us to will and to do his good pleasure.

LBC 1689 “God has decreed in Himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor has fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.[1]

He has told you to man what though must do,

Do you lake strength run to Christ

Would you server him for more then Jehorem, run to Christ

Do you desire his kingdom come? Thank God for changing your heart and run to Christ.

This text is a wonderful example of pointing directly to Christ and indirectly.

Jehoshaphat is directly in the line of Christ, there is a direct connection there

But these two men, Jehoshaphat and Jehorem, we see the election of God’s people in Christ, we see the preserving power of God and the passing over.

Transition

The man of God says, God is with his people and because God’s people are here, I will answer. Take a look at verse 15 -20.

Does God answer?

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. (2 Kings 3:15-20, ESV)

Verse 15

Musician? why not a still small voice?

God ordains the ends and the means.

Verse 16-17

Benediction

John 14:27 ESV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

[1]R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2480.