Scripture Reference 2 Kings 3 : 11-15

¹¹ But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.

¹² 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 Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Why do you want to involve me? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” “No,” the king of Israel answered, “because it was the Lord who called us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of Moab.” ¹⁴ Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you. ¹⁵ But now bring me a harpist.” While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha.

In today’s text we see the kings of Israel, Judah and Edom joined together in an effort to fight against the nation of Moab. This was an unholy alliance in the eyes of the Lord due to the terrible sins of Israel, an apostate nation.  King Jehoshaphat of Judah however agreed to help Israel in their quest to go to war against Moab. Jehoshaphat should have known better than to aid Israel because previously he had involved himself and his army in assisting Ahab in a battle against Aram 2 Chron. 18 and was almost killed in that battle but for the intervention of the Lord. After returning he heard this message from the Lord, 2 Chron. 19:² Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you. ³ There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.”  

When we align ourselves with the wicked we are in fact placing ourselves under judgment, no matter how good our intentions might be in doing so. This is a lesson many believers refuse to accept and like Jehoshaphat or Lot’s wife, place themselves intentionally in a position of judgment disregarding the word of the Lord. It was at Jehoshaphat’s behest that the kings went to enquire of the Lord through Elisha. King Joram of Israel wanted no more to do with Elisha than Elisha wanted anything to do with him. He was a wicked king and the progeny of a grossly wicked leader.  However, due to Jehoshaphat’s godly leadership over Judah, God led Elisha to intercede for them. 

Church, although ungodly and even wicked leadership abounds in these last days we must listen to God’s Word and pray for our leaders but we must not support them in their agendas. I want you to note how Elisha required the quieting effect of soothing music to release his anger so that he could hear from the Lord in this context. Worship music can be a tremendous instrument to quiet our hearts, soothe our fears, and focus our minds on the Lord.   

In order for us to persevere in faith we must rid ourselves of those feelings and emotions that cloud our judgment, deafen our ears, and blind our eyes to the presence and counsel of God. God has a word for us in very season of life and especially in those times of great frustration and conflict. Elisha did not allow his feelings to get in the way of hearing from the Lord, 2 kings 3:15-19. By faith Elisha persevered through his feelings and he received a message from God.