Ditches in the Desert (9 of 13)
Bailey Smith
I would now like for us to examine the richness of 2 Kings 3. At the time of this passage, Mesha, the king of Moab was trying to outwit Jehoram, king of Israel. Israel, Judah, and Edom were upset because Mesha was not fulfilling his agreement to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. Mesha had promised this to the former king of Israel, Ahab, before he died. But when Ahab died, Mesha backed out on the agreement. Because of this, Jehoram and the people were upset. They said, "We've been 'Christian' about this long enough! Now, we're going to fight. If he won't give us what we have coming . . . if he'll not give us what he agreed to, then we'll make war against him."
When they started doing this, they ran into an extremely interesting problem. I want us to see "floods of blessing in new ditches." Some of the experiences these people had would challenge the understanding of the so-called Sunday-morning crowd. However, there is also a deep message for those who are really up to date scripturally and spiritually. We will see some interesting facts about this story as the Israelites went to make war against the king of Moab.
If there is any passage in the Bible that excites me and helps me see what the church I pastor ought to be, and, if there is any passage in the Bible that is a reflecting mirror held up to my personal life, it is this one.
Notice, first of all, an urgent need that came to light. The army was arrayed in full armor. From the tips of their toes to the tops of their heads, they were ready for war. Their swords were in hand, their tempers were flaring, their minds were made up, and they had their sense of direction. They had everything necessary to be victorious. One cannot imagine a people better organized, more militaristic, or more determined to be victorious than these people of Israel. And yet, as they started out into the battle, all of a sudden, they said, "Uh, o ...
Bailey Smith
I would now like for us to examine the richness of 2 Kings 3. At the time of this passage, Mesha, the king of Moab was trying to outwit Jehoram, king of Israel. Israel, Judah, and Edom were upset because Mesha was not fulfilling his agreement to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. Mesha had promised this to the former king of Israel, Ahab, before he died. But when Ahab died, Mesha backed out on the agreement. Because of this, Jehoram and the people were upset. They said, "We've been 'Christian' about this long enough! Now, we're going to fight. If he won't give us what we have coming . . . if he'll not give us what he agreed to, then we'll make war against him."
When they started doing this, they ran into an extremely interesting problem. I want us to see "floods of blessing in new ditches." Some of the experiences these people had would challenge the understanding of the so-called Sunday-morning crowd. However, there is also a deep message for those who are really up to date scripturally and spiritually. We will see some interesting facts about this story as the Israelites went to make war against the king of Moab.
If there is any passage in the Bible that excites me and helps me see what the church I pastor ought to be, and, if there is any passage in the Bible that is a reflecting mirror held up to my personal life, it is this one.
Notice, first of all, an urgent need that came to light. The army was arrayed in full armor. From the tips of their toes to the tops of their heads, they were ready for war. Their swords were in hand, their tempers were flaring, their minds were made up, and they had their sense of direction. They had everything necessary to be victorious. One cannot imagine a people better organized, more militaristic, or more determined to be victorious than these people of Israel. And yet, as they started out into the battle, all of a sudden, they said, "Uh, o ...
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