A PROPHETIC WORD FOR THE OFFSPRING OF AHAB AND JEZEBEL
February 20, 2005-A Prophetic Word
The chapter of 2 Kings, opens with the rule of Jehoram, the son of Ahab, now reigning in his stead. Ahab had his successes militarily and politically. His marriage to Jezebel sealed a treaty with Tyre. But his wife was an ardent worshipper of Baal, with a murderous hatred for God's prophets.
Now following his father's death, Jehoram, the son, found himself in serious trouble. His mother was attempting to exercize power through her royal sons, and she continued to for about 10 years after her husbands death. (1 Kings 22:52) Domineering and arrogant, she feared no prophet! Elijah the Prophet, now gone away into heaven, predicted her violent end, referring to her as refuse or garbage to the point that so one would even identify her with her name. (1 Kings 21:23, 2 Kings 9:37) She is symbolically identified with the Church of Thyratira for their involvement in idolatry and immorality. (Rev. 2:20) She typifies those who are self righteous, overly confident, assertive people, insensitive to others, and to God, careless in following the biblical mandates of scripture.
GOD WILL SHOW MERCY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT OBTAINED MERCY
Because of his background and the religious compromise Jehoram entered into, in spite of the fact that he was a leader that should have known better, there was no earthly reason why he should expect God to help him out! His sin was the sin of Jereboam, the rebel who founded the northern kingdom, and set up a counterfeit religious system. Jereboam had fortified his borders against the righteous rule of the kingdom of God.
God had spoken through the mouth of Elijah the Prophet promising because Ahab humbled himself, the full extent of the judgment pronounced following the murder of Naboth, would not occur in Ahab's life time. It would be reserved for his sons reign. However, now in Ahab's son Jehoram's sons reign, we yet see God's hand of mercy, as God finds himself a prophet and an intercessor so that he will not have to bring forth the judgments spoken at this particular time, and yet allowing space for Jehoram to repent.
Jehoram thinks things over and decides that his best move is to contact Jehoshaphat, King of the southern kingdom of Judah. Jehoshaphat was a holy man of God, with godly men in his court who strongly believe that a word from the Lord can be obtained from the prophets. A servant suggests that Elisha the Prophet was a man through whom a credible prophetic word would surely come.
God has found that intercessor in Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ, who was wounded for your transgressions and bruised for your iniquities. The chastisement of your peace was laid on him. (Isaiah 53) Don't think that because God renders help to you, that this validates everything you do. Don't think that because a prophet gives you a prophecy that promises victory that this means every area of your life lines up with God's word. Study God's word to show yourself approved unto God.
YOU CAN KNOW THE LORD IN SPITE OF IT ALL
You grew up in a religious system that you now feel for good reason is false, or you have seen certain aspects of it exposed as invalid. You were ignorant concerning the scriptures. In many ways you now feel that your religious life or your lack of training in the things of God has been a big loss, and this is somewhat of an embarrassment to you.
Outwardly, you know that you have a certain credibility in your community. As far as the status quo goes, you are where they expect you to be. But your heart says that God is calling you into a placew where you have never been before. You've compared what you've believed in the past with scripture and you see some discrepancies. This alarms you, and you wish to make this right before God. Don't hide behind a mask of pretence. Let the Lord have His way. The best is yet to be for you, as you respond to the dealings of His Spirit with you, through faith in Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ.
In religious circles, you heard diverse oppinions from those who sought to validate that which they perceived as a threat to their alternative religion. This one would exact themselves and their spiritual knowledge, saying that that ones family was such a mess and there was no hope for those kids! For years they've said your name like it's something they'd like to rid themselves of. It's a by-word. Your whole family has borne the shame, sometimes for what one man or one woman thoughtlessly did. They are so angry that they don't feel there's a place for them in the church. Or you've heard people say that that one's doctrine is so screwed up, that they couldn't possibly be saved! If Christians are to be known by their love, you'd like to see a sample of it. You have said to yourself: I don't want any of it! Yet your heart has hungered for the Living God. Deep down, you know that God is real. You just don't know how or where to find Him! But you've been looking...You think about God alot of the time. You imagine Him as the most Awesome Father that a person could ever have! Everything about Him is kind and good. You see it in His eyes. There's nothing perverse or cloudy. And you wonder if He loves and thinks about you.
OPEN YOUR HEART
In your battles --those trials of your life, the Lord is going to do some marvellous things, if you will open your heart to Him. Jehoram obtained mercy where he deserved none. He had a name that means "Yahweh is Exalted," but he was not exalting the Lord in his life. He is going to do good to individuals, and families. Some of these have been greatly despised by the church. Picture even those church leaders and their wives and families, that are not respected. Yet Jehoram had seen his father Ahab humble himself before the Lord. God wanted to still appeal to this young man. But God is showing signs and wonders. He is giving space to repent. The church is a prophetic people, to whom God daily discloses things to come. (John 16:13) There are those like Elisha in the land, and in the world who in themselves have hated the evil. Yet for the sake of Righteous Jehoshaphat whose very heart towards God has made him one to stand in the gap, so the Lord has and will for a time postpone judgments spoken, and will not destroy the land.
THOSE PRESUMPTUOUS ACTS
The spiritual warfare has been great. There have been presumptuous decisions made without the counsel of the Lord. You have not prayed like David: Lord shall I go up! You have done what seemed practical, to protect your own interests. There are those who yet hope for God's seal of approval. It is time to lift up the voice! Is not God's prophetic Spirit with us? Are there not those who were discipled by prophetic ministers in time past? It is time to make a place for the prophetic if this is not in your midst. Make a place in your own lives. Let there be an accomodation of God's prophetic spirit. Let God arise! Believe for those specific propetic words, that divine guidance for your situation.
RECEIVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS FOR THAT SINFUL PAST
If you have been like Jehoram, who didn't deserve God's mercy because of the wickness of his parents past, and your own wicked present deeds, don't stand afar off! Draw near to God. God is giving you space to repent. I see many of you in the church. But for the presence of Yeshua/Jesus, our "Righteous Jehoshaphat" (meaning God Has (Already) Judged) there would be no mercy shown! God wants to save you. He desires to heal all your diseases. You are not unaware that God's prophetic Spirit knows your condition. Yet God's hand is stretched out to you still! There will be enemies defeated in your lives that will never rise again. Your own children won't have to fight those same old things in their generation, because God will utterly route them and defeat them, if you will hearken to the word of the Lord.
2 KINGS 3:1-27
1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
2 And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.
He did evil in the sight of the Lord. All evil is before the eyes of God whose eyes are as a flame of fire, to search out the hidden things. (Rev. 1) It was Jehoram's desire to elevate an alternative form of the worship of Yahweh under the form of calf (ox) worship, at Dan and Bethel. In this way he cleaved to the sin of Jereboam son of Nebat. He abolished the image of Baal that his father made. But was unsuccessful in totally exterminating the worship of Baal. Not surprising, since his mother Jezebel was living throughout his entire reign. (IX:30)
3 Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
4 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.
Mesha was the vassal king of Moab, possessor of flocks, and from these flocks he'd paid "protection money" or tribute to Israel, following the death of Ahab. This tribute consisted of wool (animal fleeces) of 100,000 lambs and 100,000 rams.
The original text signifies a shepherd, or keeper of flocks - one who marks or brands sheep.
5 But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
6 And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.
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.
8 And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
9 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.
10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
He supposed that a divine judgment had been spoken, prophetically.
11 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.
The kings of Judah still acknowledged the true God alone. (1 Kings 22:7) One of the servants answered that Elisha was a prophet who had been with Elijah the Prophet daily, as his servant. Therefore he could probably be relied upon to obtain revelation from God.
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.
The word of the Lord was in the mouth of the Prophet Elisha.
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.
Why come to me? Go to the Baal prophets of your father and mother.
14 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.
Elisha speaks to Jehoram with a solomn oath, basing any dealings in the situation solely on thefact that Jehoshaphat worshipped the true and living God. He was not an idolator like Jehoram.
15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
A person skilled in playing on the harp.
16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
The word nachal can be translated "brook." There was probably a river located here, which was now dry. The prophet seems to want to enlarge this channel or to cut various tributaries, channels or reservoirs. As Elisha commands by the word of the Lord: "Make this valley full of ditches," nobody leans on their intellect and says: Well that doesn't sound like it will work! We all start digging. This takes a lot of hard work! But as we work together to get the job done! Nobody says "We were the first ones to get a shoval in the ground." he meetings should be held in our denomination headquarters! Hallelujah! The river belongs to us! You'll be refreshed and strengthened, for the battles ahead.
17 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.
Without wind, no vapors would collect in the heavens. God purposes to send times of refreshing and this is coming as such a miracle that you won't see the direction that it's coming from! This will help to hide the work from the pride of man!
18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
God has not changed His mind. He gave the word that a great company shall be obedient and preach: Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. O-h-h-h....This one says: Well I don't think it's necessary to be uh "baptized" to be saved! "I don't think a person has to talk in tongues..."
19 And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.
Every place where man-made tradition and doctrines of devils have elevated a highway for the demonic king, Satan and his hoards, is an enemy of the cross of Christ. You shall smite every fenced city! And every choice city! It doesn't matter how good they look! It doesn't matter that they have been there from antiquity! Do not spare them! Root them out! Pull them down, and destroy them. God is about to build and plant on the foundation of His unchanging Word!
Stop their wells! Plug up their water source. God's word makes a great cork for that mouth that is sending forth that which God has not ordained. In the heat of the climate, this will serve to greatly reduce the enemy.
20 And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
Water from Edom? That's a strange source. Yes, God promised this refreshing prophetically.
21 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.
The work will not go uncontested. So be prepared! How many times God's people pray for stupendous miracles, but fail to adequately prepare by faith for that which is miraculous.
22 And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
As the enemy rose up, things looked different. They didn't seem quite right, according to enemy standards. God's miracle preceeded them...They begin to analyze that has happened. What is it? They weren't discouraged. They hoped for the best! We've got it all figured out! That's it! The battle-field is literally soaked with blood! Let's go check this thing out!
23 And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
The enemy who thinks he's won hands down without a fight, will move forward to take the spoil. Here they come, their curiousity is whetted by the sight of this thing, so be ready.
24 And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.
25 And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
Press that battle to the gate! Don't be discouraged! Wait on the Lord and renew your strength, so you do not grow weary! The victory is at hand! But it'll come as you are obedient to God's word.
Kir-haraseth was the royal city of the Moabites. (Is. 16:7) Slingers went abround the wall, and smote the men that appeared on it. The good trees were the fruit trees, providing food. According to Deut. 20:19-20, the Israelites were to spare the fruit trees when Canaan was taken. This rule did not apply to Moab.
On all cultivated land, especially fields that were sown.
26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.
27 Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
The phrase "upon the wall," is the Hebrew (al hachamah)