II Kings 3:1-4:7
Dear RTB’ers,
The author of II Kings does not have much good to say about the kings in the Northern Kingdom, but today we read a couple of positives. First, [Jehoram] … 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. (v. 2:3) So Jehoram did not follow Ahab and Jezebel in this one action – not putting away the pillar of Baal – but for the author, that’s a positive! Second, the author seems to have no difficulty with Jehoshaphat aligning with Jehoram in battle against Moab and marching Israel’s army through Judah. [Clarification: Moab was located directly east of the Dead Sea, south of the Transjordan tribes. Rather than confronting Moab on its northern front, the area (probably) most heavily fortified, Jehoram and Jehoshaphat decided to go south through Judah and south of the Dead Sea and attack Moab at its less heavily defended southern border.] So, today’s reading is one set of positives for the kings of the Northern Kingdom.
We saw yesterday the beginning of the Lord working through Elisha. That continues today, with water flowing into the desert from an unexpected source and oil flowing into and filling many bowls, all filled from one small container. We will continue to see the Lord working through Elisha in the next few chapters.
Blessings.
Okay, a bit late on this comment…
I was struck by a similarity in the story of the armies that needed water in II Kings 3 and the poor woman with the small jar of oil in the beginning of II Kings 4:1-7.
Elisha tells the armies to dig trenches (“Make this valley full of ditches…” II Kings 3:16 in the NIV). He tells the woman to “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few…” (II Kings 4:3)
So what if the armies hadn’t obeyed? Or had only dug a few ditches halfheartedly?
What if the woman had been embarrassed by needing to borrow jars and stopped at just a few?
God wanted to provide abundantly in both of these instances, but (like the Shunammite woman who faithfully repeated “All is well” —see John’s post for chapter 4), the coming blessing required faith and obedience first. Abundant obedience!
I underestimate God’s desire to bless, not just with material things but with his peace, joy, and glorious love. But I often respond hesitantly, even unbelievingly. I need to be like that unnamed woman, making ready with more jars of faith, empty and ready to be filled with the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit.
Amen!