Jehoshaphat – Part 9
The Valley of Blood Part i
And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. (2 Kings 3:4)
But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. (2 Kings 3:5)
And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. (2 Kings 3:6)
And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. (2 Kings 3:7)
In the days of Jehoshaphat we have the defeat of the children of Moab by the divine hand of God. This entire scene is a prophetic view of the defeat of the children of Moab in the days to come. Prophetically we see the fulfillment in Jeremiah 48:1-47, and in Zephaniah 2:8-10.
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. (Zephaniah 2:8)
Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. (Zephaniah 2:9)
This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.  (Zephaniah 2:10)
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. (Proverbs 26:11)
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8)
In our study of the Valley of Blood we will see God’s divine working, not only with Jehoshaphat and the king of Israel and Edom, but with Moab as a nation. In the word of God Moab has a past, and then a present, and then a future. In all three: past, present, and future will determine the final judgment of God upon them. For now, we are dealing with Jehoshaphat and his circumstances in the valley of blood. The recovery of Jehoshaphat was marginal at best. Jehoshaphat had acquired a crust upon his heart and soul that the Holy Ghost could not penetrate.
Once again, the call to form a military confederacy comes from the northen ten tribes of Israel. The son of Ahab, Jehoram, had a rebellion on his hands. The king of Moab was held in tribute by Jehoram’s father, Ahab. After Ahab died at Ramothgilead the king of Moab rebelled against Israel to cast off Israel’s yoke. We must remember that in the days of Asa, Jehoshaphat’s father, that Asa made war continuously against the house of Ahab. He would not make peace with the house of Ahab, or the ways of Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin; however, Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, could not shake the confederacy that he had formed with the house of Ahab. So, Jehoram, Ahab’s son called once again to Jehoshaphat, and the reply from the mouth of Jehoshaphat was a repeat of the same horrible blasphemy that he used in the presence of Ahab, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.’ (2 Kings 3:7) And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. Jehoshaphat had his lines down, his memory might have been short, but he knew his lines well. Once more he committed himself to the ungodly and to those who hated Jehovah. As he told Ahab that he would go up to Ramothgilead, so now, from his low state of soul, he will go up to help Ahab’s son — the ungodly. This double minded man was overthrown by his own heart. When he walked in the first ways of David, king of Israel, Jehovah gave Jehoshaphat peace from all the nations around him. Jehovah prospered him and his people, and placed a protective shield in His divine sovereignty over Jerusalem and Judah, but Jehoshaphat turned to the left, peace and prosperity was not good enough for him. He allowed himself to be moved from the presence of the Lord to the presence of an evil son which led to his son’s marriage to Athaliah, and Jehoshaphat’s first covenant with Ahab (the son of Omri) and the husband of Jezebel.
The First Alliance and Compromise
This first alliance almost cost Jehoshaphat’s life, for the Syrians had him surrounded, but the divine hand of God moved the Syrians away from Jehoshaphat. Although Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem in defeat God gave him peace once more. God, once more, established his kingdom and gave him peace from the nations around him. After all this, and including his alliance with Ahaziah, he continued to support the house of Ahab (those who hated the Lord) by going to war together with Jehoram, the king of Israel. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. (2 Chronicles 19:2) Could not Jehoshaphat remember the words of Jehu the prophet? Could not his conscience say to him, They have not changed. We see in Jehoshaphat’s alliance that the ungodly do not change. They do not compromise their position, and most have gone further down the track of sin till they come to a point when they sell their character and any goodness to do evil. No wonder that the church that we see around us is a church of compromise, a church of alliances with an evil world, a church that has sold itself to do evil. You would think that after 2000+ years that the church would have learned the lesson that the world is not a friend, but an enemy of the cross of Christ. What happened in the church at Ephesus is the story and history of Revelation Chapter 2 and 3. What happened in Ephesus still haunts the church today. It has been a history of evil alliances, one by one these alliances took (and continues to take) all spirituality away from the outward mega-throng church of the world. Beloved of the Lord, take comfort in this that the end of the world church will be the spewing of it out of the mouth of the Lord. It will be so vile at the end that the only resolution that the Lord will have is to spew it out of his mouth into the great tribulation.
We see so much of this in Jehoshaphat’s rejection of Jehovah by his alliance with the evil family of Ahab. Was it public opinion, was it his own pride, did he have to have the acclamations of man? Was he afraid of rejection by his son? He would turn his back on Jehovah for a league with the ungodly, for what did the ten tribes know about Jehovah? They knew absolutely nothing, for they walked in the ways of Jeroboam (who caused Israel to sin), and they walked in the ways of the house of Ahab (who sold himself to do evil), and whose life was stirred up by his wife Jezebel — the ungodly Zidonian princess.
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5)
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. (Proverbs 11:21)
Another Alliance with Evil
How could the king of Judah, who sat on the throne in Jerusalem, commit himself to the wicked? As Jehoshaphat met with Jehoram, I can almost see the hand shake at the door of evil pulling God’s man down in the mire of the swine. This is the history that the Holy Spirit is bringing before us; it is without error, and God not only exposes the evil man, but tells us the truth about His own. Although Jehoshaphat had made a minimal effort to return to his first works, and attempted to walk in the ways of David, the Holy Spirit makes sure that He exposed all the sins of Jehoshaphat.
If the news trinity of today wrote or reported on Jehoshaphat’s life we would see nothing of his mis-steps, or his mis-spoken words and sin. All of his words, acts, and writings would all be redacted, so that history would see a completely different king. The world and the media of the world have their own goals. They accomplish these goals through lies. They live in their own pre-fabricated world. The truth has been lied about and perverted so much that they believe their own lies and perversions. Truly, how dark is the darkness of both their heart and soul; willfully deceiving the people, and conspiring with financial powers, and politicians to lead the masses into greater darkness. These are the men and women who have sat down at the right hand of the throne of Satan. They have sold themselves to their own lies for popularity and position. The Lord will reward them according to their works, and will judge them according to the weight of their sin.
Jehoshaphat did not counsel with the Almighty, but he counseled with the ungodly son of Ahab. How could this be? Jehoshaphat took his army and joined with Jehoram to go out against Moab. And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. (2 Kings 3:7) In this alliance there is no concern about the will of God, or the word of God. It is merely two men relying on the strength of man and not relying on the will and wisdom of God. In 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2 we have a wonderful eye opener by the Spirit of God, we have the privilege to see the end of the wicked. The battle against evil is not ours, we are but vessels in the Lord’s hands. If He wants us to stand against the wicked He will give us the strength, and He will divinely give us the words and ways to expose the wicked. In 2 Thessalonians we see a wonderful picture of the Lord destroying the man of sin with the brightness of His coming; the Spirit of God also gives us the character of this man of sin, and the world around him.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:Â (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:10)
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:Â (2 Thessalonians 2:11)
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:12)
The Battle is not Ours
So many times we think that the battle is ours. I repeat, we are only the vessels in the hands of the Master. He might move us to write, and to speak by His Spirit, but the battle is not ours — but His. The Lord Jesus is able to defeat the enemy on our behalf, but it must be according to His will and for His glory. He will not sanction or put up with our will attempting to interfere with the course of history in the kingdoms of men. This goes contrary to the will of the natural man, for the natural man walks according to his flesh, and not according to the Spirit of God. The words of God must come from the will of His Spirit so that His will is accomplished. The king of Israel, (Jehoram), the king of Judah (Jehoshaphat), and the king of Edom began their wandering without the will of God. For seven days they journey through the wilderness of Edom, the number seven (7) is a period of time that the Holy Spirit gave to them to seek counsel of the Lord. At the conclusion of the 7th day the Holy Spirit brought them to their knees and to the point of desperation. They had wandered for 7 days and all was coming unraveled. There was no water for the kings, no water for their servants, no water for their military, no water for their horses, and there was no water for their beasts.
And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom. (2 Kings 3:8)
So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. (2 Kings 3:9) Â
We have three kings, and three kingdoms, ready to come to naught because they sought not the counsel of the Lord. Such is the heart of man — it doesn’t change. At the end of Israel and Judah’s history when they went into captivity God wrote a conclusion of their present condition in 2 Chronicles 36:15 and 16.
And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: (2 Chronicles 36:15)
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36:16)
Man Always Blames God
Let’s examine God’s mercy and grace in His dealings with man. He looked on His people, Israel, and He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place that He had proclaimed for Himself in the Temple of Solomon in the heart of Jerusalem. He sent messengers and prophets through the years so that they would return unto the Lord and have the joy of the Lord in their hearts; yet, they refused the words of the prophets. They refused the written word of God. They refused all the servants who were called by God, and all His words fell on deaf ears and the writings of the prophets fell on blind eyes; till God the Holy Spirit could say till there was no remedy. Since there was no counsel of God they were responsible for their own decisions and for their own will; yet, when things went badly and it looked like all was lost, and these three kingdoms were all about to perish — did they look within themselves? No, they blamed God. And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab! (2 Kings 3:10) How the ungodly heart turns on God. Three kings who on their own venture sought not the counsel of God; yet, when their armies and their beasts and their horses faced destruction they were about to die not by sword, nor by arrow, but by thirst. How could this be? Of course, they blamed God. Man always blames God for his own bad decisions. The ungodly king of Israel, Jehoram, could not wait to blame God. He did not look into his own heart, he did not see his own short comings and sin; he could only blame God. Has the world changed today? I think not! They travel from sin to sin, from wickedness to wickedness, and when all is crumbling around them because of their own evil hearts — they blame God and not their own evilness and wickedness that they have committed. With one breathe they say there is no God, and with the other breathe they blame God.
How are decisions made? How are decisions made even in the church? They don’t seek counsel of God, they seek counsel from men — it is the board of trustees, or a group of worldly elders, a committee of lost souls who know not the Lord Jesus Christ. The faculty of the ungodly and the wisdom of the perverted minds of man make the decisions in the outward professing world of Christendom. By their decisions they put themselves into indebtedness that causes them to make a league with the ungodly banking systems, and the ungodly nations that they dwell in. Where is the counsel of the Lord? Where is the voice of the Lord in this confused mass of society? They have cast God off, so that there is no remedy; and yet, in their folly when all becomes undone they ask, Why Lord? — as if it was His fault. In man’s folly he believes that he can bend the sovereign will of God to his own will and his own wicked ways. Whether it be the church or the ungodly leaders of this world, God’s counsel and word should be the start of every decision. It is God who moves the wheels of government and spirituality, not man. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)
How ridiculous the king of Israel sounded by saying, It is the Lord who has brought us, He has called three kings together to destroy us to die in this barren place without water. Listen, oh king, show me the word of God that sent you, or the prophet who gave God’s word? At least your father, Ahab, made an attempt with his false prophets. They put on a show for Jehoshaphat, even though they lied in the name of Jehovah. We see Adam in Jehoram, he had made one decision, and it was about to bring forth death; not only to himself, but to his whole dominion. Let us now look into the heart of Jehoshaphat — he is musing on his situation, his whole army is before him and they all are about to perish. At times like this, men tend to remember other decisions, and other circumstances that they had put themselves in. Could it be that Jehoshaphat thought of Micaiah when he asked Ahab, Is there not a prophet of the Lord here that we may ask counsel of the Lord? Why does God have to bring man to this point before man asks for God’s counsel? God is ready to give it freely at any time, and even for the simplest or most complex decision we have a God of Omnipotent power, He is Omniscient, and Omnipresent, and He desires that man would seek counsel of Him. The problem we face is the blackness and blindness of our own sin before God. Jehoshaphat now spoke up and asked, Is there a prophet of the Lord that we may enquire.
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. (2 Kings 3:11)
A Lowly Servant Knows
There is no counsel of God as leaders manipulate men into war and conflict. Only when their situation and their strength is completely overthrown do they desire to cry out to God. Tell me, why should God listen? Because He is a merciful God. It is not the king of Israel, or the king of Judah, or the king of Edom that had the answer to Jehoshaphat’s question. They looked at each other and they didn’t have a clue. It took a servant of the king of Israel to tell them that there was a prophet, and that prophet was Elisha. This servant was not the captain of a thousand, nor a captain of a hundred, or of fifty, but he was a lowly servant and in his humbleness he proclaimed to the king and revealed to them, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. I can see the looks on the faces of these three kings reflecting their thoughts, Who is this servant that knows more than we do, he has no stature among us, he is but a lowly servant. But this servant knew much more than the kings that were before him, he knew Elisha himself was but a lowly servant of God, he was in tune with God, and knew the location of God’s servant, and he knew God’s mind. He knew the servitude of Elisha that as a servant he had poured water on the hands of Elijah. Would be to God that men today would seek the servants of God. Here was one of the servants of the king of Israel, and he knew more about God’s ways than the pompous kings before him. Men tend to seek counsel of men who are established in education, who are established in politics, who are looked on and claim to be elite muses, but leaders of both the world and the church do not seek out the lowliness of God’s true servants and prophets. Like these three kings they don’t have a clue how to lead or how to counsel the people around them. There is only One Grand Counselor, and that is God. The world would say concerning Jehoshaphat’s recognizing the need to counsel God, Better late than never. When it comes to the righteousness of God man has usually been too late, and have perished in their own sin. In the scene before us their own blind decisions and willful hearts brought them to the valley of blood to wait for the judgment of the Almighty God.
Seeking in the Valley
In examining the text of 2 Kings 3:12 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. Jehoshaphat must have known the reputation of Elisha for he immediately said The word of the LORD is with him. Jehoshaphat did not say, He draws great crowds. He didn’t say, He fills huge stadiums. He declared what all men of God should seek that the word of the LORD is with him. In this verse the Holy Spirit makes sure that all three kings have to go down to Elisha. This is the Holy Spirit declaring not only the state of their souls, but stepping down from their pride and arrogance. Remember, they have come to a valley; it is not on the mountain top that God speaks the loudest, but in the valley. It is in the valley that you hear the echo of truth. Notice that Elisha’s location is not given, this is so much like God. He has a man, and that man is His servant, and His servant has no attachments to this earth. As it is required of the children of God today, Seek those things which are above.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)
We have many examples of the Lord’s servants not being attached to the things of this world, and how God moved them divinely through this world. When the Ethiopian eunuch needed someone to explain Isaiah 53, Phillip was transported to him by the Holy Spirit showing that Phillip had nothing binding him here. When Paul was forsaken by all those of Asia, he said, Nevertheless the Lord stood with me.
Elisha and Elijah
These three kings stood before the man who had poured water on the hands of Elijah. This was the work of the servant Elisha in fulfilling his servitude to his predecessor, Elijah. In analyzing the position of the two prophets: Elijah was the prophet at large, and Elisha was the prophet in waiting. Elisha was the servant of Elijah, and in complete servitude to the man of God. The prophet in waiting is revealed as the prophet of God to these three kings. Elisha’s master had risen through the skies into heaven in a fiery chariot, and Elisha now has the name — man of God. Man of God is a unique title, it shows humble servitude, and at the same time shows strength in God.
When Elijah brought the widow’s son back to life, she proclaimed, . . . Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth. (1 Kings 17:24) What honor to bear this title, but this title or position of being a man of God can only come from God. Elisha in his dedication to Elijah would not leave the senior prophet’s side. He could only be separated from him by the work of the divine God calling Elijah home in the fiery chariot.
The Water Picture
These three kings stood before this man — the man of God who poured water on the hands of Elijah. It was an honor, and a qualification. I ask this question, What water seminary did you graduate from, have you ever humbled yourself to pour water on the hands of a man of God? Onesimus while ministering to Paul in prison most likely poured water on the hands of Paul. The Lord Jesus girded himself with a towel and washed the feet of His disciples. Oh how boastful we have become; we count the numbers and prefabricate them so that the eyes of man might look up to us. We have taken our eyes off the water picture, and we have magnified ourselves to the servants of men. Would be to God that He would give each one of us the humbleness of Elisha. The God of Elijah had poured out His Spirit on the prophet Elisha; these two prophets had a profound input into the history of Israel (the ten tribes) in the days of Ahab and Ahab’s children. In our text it is the first time that Elisha dealt with a king from Judah, and it was concerning the divine deliverance that would come because of the presence of Jehoshaphat. And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. ( 2 Kings 3:14) It was because of Jehoshaphat presence that God was going to extend His mercy to all three kings. Notice how Elisha began, As the LORD of hosts liveth. Both kings will benefit from the mercy of God; their armies will benefit from the mercy of God; their horses and beasts will benefit from the mercy of God. The presence of Jehoshaphat saved the day for all who where there. God remembered those first days when Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of David. God remembered those first works, and that there was good found in this king even though he wobbled at times. Jehovah knows His own, and Jehoshaphat surely belonged to Jehovah.
Mount Carmel Revisited
When the king of Israel saw Elisha did he remember the scene at mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:18, 21) when Elijah asked the people of Israel, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. How many people have their own opinions of God? In our current age it seems like everyone that is not knowledgeable in the Scriptures think that they know who and what God should be. They are so ignorant of the God of creation and heaven that instead of having two opinions they have thousands, and their opinions will lead them into the fires of hell. If you again consider the scene at Mount Carmel when Elijah called down fire from heaven, it consumed his sacrifice and the wood of the altar, and the altar of stone, and the water that he had poured out in a ditch around the sacrifice, and the water poured on the wood of the altar, and on the sacrifice itself. But this was nothing for God, He sent down a fire so intense that it consumed all that Elijah had built including the sacrifice. When this happened the people who stood by fell to their faces and cried out in fear, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord he is the God. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. (1 Kings 18:38) And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. (1 Kings 18:39)
If Jehoram was not present at Mount Carmel he undoubtedly heard the complete story from his father and from some who had been present that day at Carmel; yet, even after everything that had transpired at Carmel the king and the kingdom remained far from Jehovah. The house of Ahab came under divine judgment, and even at the time of this conflict at the valley of blood, Jehoram was already in Jehovah’s sight concerning his future judgment that had been prophesied by Elijah, and would be fulfilled by Jehu, the son of Nimshi.
The LORD of Hosts and the Battle
God respected the presence of Jehoshaphat, notice in verse 14 that Elisha used the title the LORD of hosts. This is the military title of the Lord, as was presented to us in the Book of Joshua where the Lord is seen as the Captain of the Lord’s host. He stood with Joshua in all his great battles and victories. Elisha put himself and the king in the presence of the Captain of the LORD of hosts when Elisha stated As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10)
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Ephesians 6:14)
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:15)
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16)
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (Ephesians 6:19)
The Great Conflict
What is our position with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? We are in the midst of a great conflict. This conflict is between God and Satan, but our battle is all around us. We all could say, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. We are declaring, like Elisha, that we are standing in the presence of the Lord. Our armor consists of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. And with this armor we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places; and as Elisha, we can only endure this conflict with the Lord by our side. He must be in our presence and it will be the Lord who brings divine favor upon us. He will give us divine victory by His resources and not our own. We can say like Paul, Nevertheless the Lord stood with me, through cold, and hunger, through blessings and plenty, through pain and rejection, He has stood with me, blessed be the name of the Lord.
Jezebel – Then and Now
Elisha he chides the king of Israel in verse 13. And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. (2 Kings 3:13) Elisha stressed to the king of Israel, If you are going to blame Jehovah for your folly, then get to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother. His mother was the notorious Jezebel. I want you to understand the impact of Jezebel’s name and her character; for her name is brought into the church in Revelation 2:20-23.
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (Revelation 2:20)
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. (Revelation 2:21)
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (Revelation 2:22)
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23)
As Jezebel was a prophetess of death in her day, so we see her counterpart in the Book of the Revelation as a prophetess of death. Read the verses from Revelation very carefully, you will see that the children that she corrupted from her own seed were judged by God and put to death. So in the church, all those who become the children of Jezebel and do her works suffer death by the hand of the Lord. In the Old Testament Jezebel could not save her children. In the New Testament as she corrupts her children to her wicked and lascivious doctrines they will suffer the second death at the great white throne judgment of the Lord.
The Truth and the Men of God
I find it most interesting that these three men, Jehoram (king of Israel), Jehoshaphat (king of Judah), and the king of Edom had no desire to enquire of Jehovah at the beginning of their journey. But if one wants to know the truth, whether it is for deliverance or righteousness, only a prophet like Micaiah, or Elijah, or Elisha, or Paul and many others who are called of God can give the truth. None of these prophets asked for a pay check from the world. They never sought to be in political favor, or to have popularity. Many of them lived a life of seclusion except when God moved them to declare His truth. Many times a prophet stood in front of a king with his very life hanging in the balance, but this did not change his message. When one says, Thus saith the Lord, one can expect hatred and enmity from an unregenerate world. When we consider these prophets their faith was the possession of God Himself. Although we don’t understand all the movings of the Holy Spirit, we do understand that the prophets of God whether Old or New Testament were moved entirely by the Spirit of God, and they spoke as they were led of the Spirit. To them the only One who holds the truth is God Almighty. Every child of God who goes out into this wicked world should go with the LORD of hosts. This world is a spiritual graveyard of men’s souls. Only divine resurrection in the new birth can pluck them out of this desert of sin. This world is in spiritual conflict against God and His servants.
The Minstrel – the New Song – and the Voice of the Psalm
Jehoram in his wickedness would meet his fate and appointment with death later at the hands of God through Jehu. The divine arrow would come from the bow of Jehu in the fulfillment of God’s prophecy through Elijah. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves . . . . in verse 15 of 2 Kings, Chapter 3, we read But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. God’s prophet made a request to bring a minstrel. This minstrel is not going to play from the top 10, or some modern spiritual hymn with no truth and no spiritual content. The minstrel will play the music of heaven. This would not be the clamor that was played in the gate at Samaria before the disaster at Ramothgilead. Paul reminds us to sing in spiritual hymns to ourselves. Notice, the work of the Spirit is in the hymn, not only does the word of God refresh us, but divinely inspired hymns warm our soul and spirit, and brings forth glory for the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophet’s mind and heart was aided by the music brought down by the Spirit of God. While the minstrel played the divine hand of the Lord came upon the prophet. What a position to be in. God not only gave Elisha approval, but He gave the exact words to speak to these kings. At this point Jehoshaphat may have remembered Psalm 96, which begins with O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. In this verse we see that there is a new song, everyone who comes to the Lord Jesus Christ and is born of the Spirit of God receives a new song in the heart. This song is not to be sung before men or to great congregations, or to the world, it is to be sung unto the Lord, and Him alone. The Lord desires that the whole earth would sing unto him, and He is waiting to hear their voices, but the earth lays silent in sin. Read the entire 96th and 98th Psalm. If you read these two psalms your heart will rejoice in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. When a saint muses and sings of the Lord’s glory it is the Lord who stands before Him. Believe me, you might not see Him, but you surely will feel His Presence. We have in Psalm 98 the singing unto the Lord with the harp. It is not just the music of the harp, but the voice of the harp. The harp, in the case of Elisha, brings forth the grace of God. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. (Psalm 98:5) At the end of this verse notice that the voice of God is in the psalm. The psalm declares the voice of a psalm. The Holy Spirit shows the beauties of holiness in this voice of God’s divine writing that it is not only pen and ink, but the very voice of God given to man by God Himself. This is another proof from within the word of God that every word has the mark of God upon it. The very word is the voice of God. This simple but profound statement the voice of a psalm has God’s command behind it by the words of His prophet. Many do not see the Psalms as a prophetic book, and yet the Book of Psalms is full of divine prophecy. Each one of the psalms is given to bring the heart, the soul, and the mind closer to the Almighty God, and place one under the shadow of His wings. A simple minstrel being moved by the Holy Spirit of God brings the divine message. This message is no less than the words that were given to Moses by God, or given to Paul in the third heaven. The word of God that comes at any particular time has all the power and majesty of the God of creation; so that Elisha will hear and receive the word of God. This is Jehovah’s voice, but not only His voice for as the minstrel played the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha. But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. (2 Kings 3:15)
Prophecy
This word that came to Elisha is what I call immediate prophecy, for it is fulfilled on the next day. This word that came by the mouth of God’s prophet had just as much authority as John writing the revealed revelation of Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:21 is not designated to one particular prophet, but to holy men that were moved by the Holy Spirit and declared and wrote the Holy Word of God. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. These men were moved by the Holy Ghost word by word, line by line; therefore, there is no private interpretation of the Scripture. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2 Pe 1:20) This verse has been so corrupted by deceivers over the years. How dare man think that he can interpret the word of God? How dare man think that he has the right to stand in judgment against the word of God. There is no man on earth who is given that authority. The only authority of interpretation that we have is the Holy Ghost. He alone gives the true and only interpretation of God’s word as God has spoken. But man thinks he has the intelligence of God, we are a spiritual mess because of man’s intelligence. The wisdom of this world, and the wisdom of the intellectual is foolishness in God’s sight. The hand of the Lord came upon Elisha, and the Spirit of God gave him the exact words, and the next day those exact words were fulfilled. Only God has the authority over His written word. He will reveal truth through the Spirit of God. The Lord Jesus told His disciples that He would send His Spirit to lead them into all truth. Man is the third party, he receives the word that was given of the Lord Jesus and ministered unto Him by the Holy Spirit. Man is the vessel of service for the Lord, there is no original spiritual thought in the mind or heart of man that has not come from God Almighty. God will judge the world on the basis of the truth of His word. He will judge the quick and the dead by His interpretation of His own word given by the Holy Ghost by holy men of old. Elisha declared, Thus saith the Lord; he now has the authority of heaven. So it is to the king that this prophet speaks, Hear ye king, make this valley full of ditches, to the ear of the man of no faith this would truly be a strange directive, but standing before these three kings was a man of God. They had acknowledged him as a prophet and a man of God, they had gone to him to receive the word of God, and now outside of the natural man they heard this strange directive.
And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. (2 Kings 3:16)
For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. (2 Kings 3:17)
The Ditches
Elisha paints an oral picture of the divine miracle that will deliver these three kings. It will not be of man, nor the will of man, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts. Man will labor digging the ditches, and when he is done will he be able to drink? No, he will merely have empty ditches. This is as far as man can go, he can dig his own grave, but he cannot raise himself from the dead. Some of these men might have looked at these ditches as a vast graveyard for this dying host who had no water. Notice that with this miracle that man will not see the wind, nor see the rain, he will not hear the lightning, or the pounding of the rain upon the ground. God will deliver the water of life, God will fill the valley with water, this would not be a flood to destroy, but divine water to give life. The ditches would be filled but not overflowing; as the manna fell from heaven in the days of Moses and was enough and met the needs of the people of God; so this grand miracle would quench the thirst of every man, and every beast. They would be full of this life giving water and the water would not diminish until God’s work was done in the defeat of the Moabites.
The Voice of God Still Speaks Today
Have we not a God in heaven? He is speaking all over the world today, He is speaking through floods, through rain, through hail, through tornados, through earthquakes, through sickness, and through disease; man is being undone by his own science, and his own intelligence is putting him into financial ruin. We have man against man, sword against sword, and the stink of death is upon this world of sin. We are truly living in the days of Noah. They were being married, and given in marriage, and carrying on all their wickedness until the flood came, and they perished. As the world before the flood refused to repent, the world today also refuses to repent. O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. (Jeremiah 22:29) He has sent the Son of His love to bring reconciliation, but oh sinner, you must repent of your sin and your wickedness, or you will be damned and judged by an Almighty God. Not at my word, but by His eternal word which is settled in heaven. The sadness of this whole scene with these three kings that while the minstrel played, and the word of the Lord came by Elisha they were only looking for an earthly deliverance from their thirst. It is the soul that needs to drink from the river of God, it is the soul that needs the water of life which is in Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 55:1-3)
The Thirst of the Soul of Man and the Eternal Spring
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (Isaiah 55:2)
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:3)
Isaiah Chapter 55 is written for all men; notice the intimacy of these three verses to the individual and to the soul of man. If we were to copy these three verses into the Gospel of John, Chapter 4, we would expand the view of the eternal spring that springs forth through our Lord Jesus Christ. The water of life can only be had from the eternal spring which is God’s beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 55 was written for Jehoram, was written for Jehoshaphat, was written for the king of Edom, it was, and is, for all man to come and drink from that spiritual fountain which is Christ.
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (John 4:11)
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? (John 4:12)
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (John 4:13)
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)
Jacob’s Well – Joseph’s Parcel and The True Joseph RevealedÂ
The scene of John Chapter 4 is full of Old Testament thought. We have Jacob’s well, we have the parcel of land that was given to Joseph. Just in these two possessions we have a mountain of God’s truth. They were in the land of Samaria, the Samaritans were a mixed group of both Jew and Gentile. The Assyrians had sent Gentiles from the nations into the land of Israel to mix and dilute the seed of the Jews. So now in the days of the Lord Jesus we had a mixed race, but God declared the land for Himself. He recognized the land by declaring Jacob’s well was there, and declared that it was in the parcel of land that was given to Jacob’s son, Joseph. Joseph was the son of Jacob’s love. He was adorned by a coat of many colors. He was given a place above his brethren by the dream and prophecy of God. Joseph although despised by his brethren would one day be their savior, and feed them and nurture them in the land of Egypt. But now in Samaria a greater than Joseph was here. The Lord Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman who had no right to any inheritance in Israel, but the Lord of glory spoke to her in heavenly compassion when He said If thou knewest the gift of God. Oh down and destitute sinners, you are in a dry place, you are in the desert of sin, this evil world is all around you, and there is no water of righteousness among man to quench your soul. Only water from above, the mercies of God through Jesus Christ, will give you life, and that life has to come from a well that is greater than the earthly well of Jacob; for eternal life is in Jesus Christ. Cry out to God for this water, and your thirst will be eternally satisfied in the Son of His love. I feel that many today are sitting under the word of God, and still do not hear. They are like the Pharisees in the days of our Savior, But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. (Luke 7:30) The Pharisees had rejected the counsel of God, they had heard with their ears, but they would not hear. They would not submit to God’s goodness and grace, so the Lord Jesus gave them a parable.
And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? (Luke 7:31)
They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. (Luke 7:32)
It is quite evident that through the Old Testament the Holy Spirit has brought us to the need of  every soul. We are declaring the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to you; and you have not danced for joy. We have mourned for your soul, not knowing you, but knowing this generation, but ye have not wept over the depth of your sin. The Pharisees would not repent and be saved by the Almighty God. Don’t let the failure of an unrepentant world lead you away from the Lord of grace and mercy. Repent, and be ye saved. Know the joy of the Lord for ever more. Let the music of heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ give peace to your soul that you might enjoy the unsearchable riches of Christ beneath the veil of His blood and His love.
The Weapons of Ditches
As Elisha, the prophet of God, declared the word of God the kings obeyed and set their armies to digging ditches in the valley. This was truly a strange weapon for the Lord. It was to give life for His people, but would bring death to their enemies. The water would be to sustain the armies and the beasts, and the horses, and at the same time God would work another miracle. He would deceive the dark souls of the enemy with the brightness of His sun upon the waters. If you look at this miracle you can see the two edge sword. In Hebrews 4:12, the word of God is given as a two-edged sword. The word brings the water of life to the thirsty soul, it also brings sustaining power and deliverance for His people, but for the unrepentant that same sword becomes a sword of judgment and a sword of blood.
So now we wait through the night, and this is a light thing for the Lord. And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. ( 2 Kings 3:18) We have a contrast between God and man in this verse. The kings cannot sustain their own armies, nor their beasts or horses, but God can, and He will. But that’s not all, as God works His will and sovereignty upon His creation He will witness to man that man might see His divine authority and sovereignty over all things. Example, in the life of the Lord Jesus, He revealed that same power to His disciples when He hushed the winds and stilled the waves in the mighty storm. Peace was known by all those who were in the boat, and it was His peace, and this was a light thing for the Lord of creation.
God simply told the kings through His prophet that the ditches in the valley will be full of water, not just a little water, but full of water. I believe that the amount of water that came was the exact amount of water of their faith. God never told them how many ditches to dig; it was up to them to dig according to their need. As the parable of the cruse and the oil tomorrow there would be enough water, for God would give enough to sustain and strengthen the armies of the kings that all might drink and be ready for battle. They will not feel the wind in their faces neither will they see it, nor will they hear or see the rain. How the Holy Spirit works, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. And the ditches would be filled.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:18)
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (John 3:12)
In John Chapter 3 we see the movement of the Spirit of God that the Spirit of God moves unknown and undetected by the world around us. His work in this world is to bring us the words of Christ and to glorify the Son of God. He is to bring not only truth, but judges the world around us even now by the righteousness of God. An unrepentant world might think that God is silent; yet, His Spirit today is judging man in this world according to their sin.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8)
Of sin, because they believe not on me; (John 16:9)
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (John 16:10)
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:11)
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (John 16:12)
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:14)
Grace and God’s Judgment Â
Even though God has poured out His grace through the Lord Jesus Christ, man is still under the temporal judgment of God. It is the Holy Spirit who reproves the world of sin. He reveals their unrighteousness, and because they will not repent He brings divine judgment upon the world, upon the nations, and upon the individual. If the world thinks that they are getting a free ride under grace, they better think again. For all the problems of the world; whether it be disease or disasters are in relationship to the sin that man willfully commit in this world. We are talking about an unrepentant world. Grace does not apply to the ungodly and to those who hate the Lord. The prophet declared that the mercies of the Lord are only being given because of the presence of Jehoshaphat. He is the king of Judah, and therefore, he becomes a participant of the mercies of David. It is Jehoshaphat’s deliverance that is going to bring blessing upon the rest. To the people of this world: I speak of the real Church, those who are bought with the blood of Christ, those who have the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in their heart and soul, it is because of these that you are not destroyed. You need to think very carefully when you go in opposition and spill your hate out against God and His people.
God Gave Them Up
We are approaching this time in the history of man. This world is reeling from the weight of sin. There is truly going to be upheaval like never before. Entire nations will be changed in a moment of time. The wealth of the world will come to naught. Mountains will be torn by mighty winds. The whole planet will shake in a mighty tumult, thrashing in the death throes because of man’s sin. For even the creation groaneth and travaileth waiting for the Lord of hosts, and the manifestation of the sons of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22)
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19)
The Prophecy of Israel’s Deliverance
In these dark days we also see the deliverance of Israel when the Lord Jesus will come. All her enemies will be vanquished.
And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. (Zechariah 9:8)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9)
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:10)
As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. (Zechariah 9:11)
Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; (Zechariah 9:12)
When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man. (Zechariah 9:13)
And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. (Zechariah 9:14)
The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. (Zechariah 9:15)
And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. (Zechariah 9:16)
For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids. (Zechariah 9:17)
The Valley of Jehoshaphat in Prophecy
As was the miracle in the valley of blood so will be the miracle in the last days in the Valley of Jehoshaphat as seen in the Book of Joel.Â
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (Joel 3:2)
Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. (Joel 3:12)
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:14)
Why the Valley of Jehoshaphat in Prophecy?
In the prophecy of Joel why mention Jehoshaphat? It is because God the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus will deliver Israel from their enemies and it will be a light thing for the Lord. It will truly be a valley of blood for the enemies of Israel and the enemies of God will be totally destroyed. It was a divine deliverance for Jehoshaphat in his day; God revealed the prophecy by Elisha to the three kings, and then showed us the fulfillment of that prophecy the next day. Will He not fulfill Joel’s prophecy? I’m sure He will! It is Jehoshaphat’s name being mentioned not merely to show us the deliverance, but to confirm in our very soul that God will deliver Israel in that day when all her enemies will be totally destroyed. This is the God of heaven, and He has spoken it by His word. The three kings were told this was a light thing for the Lord in verse 18, not only were these kings delivered from their own circumstances, but on the morrow Moab would be delivered into their hands.
The Miracles of God
The miracles of God in the Old Testament all have a purpose. Some are to show us the magnitude of His Person, some are to show us that He is a God who deserves our faith, that He is a God of miracles. (Hebrews 2:4)
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Ephesians 4:11)
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:12)
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:13)
All these divine gifts are given by God the Holy Spirit. They are not given or approved of man, or sent out by man. These are all divine gifts to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 11, we have apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers. These men were sent, and are sent, by God in His divine order and will. Through the course of Church history God has provided His witness to His Church. All these gifts have been sent by God, and delivered by His Spirit for the perfecting of His saints till each one of us comes to the Perfect man, and the fullness of Christ, who is the fullness of All in All. Amen.
There will be a second article on the Valley of Blood.
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)
    Â
Â
    Â
  Â