2. That evil was most likely his refusal to change what Jeraboam did. Jeraboam had set up alternate places of worship in Israel (10 northern tribes) so that the children of Israel living there would not go to Jerusalem to worship. Jehoram had not changed that practice.

1. Jehoram, even though he had put away the prophet Baal from out of the land, he had never really turned to the LORD. As a result he was guilty by association.

2. Jehoram had apparently never taken the next vital step after removing Baal, pointing people to the LORD and worship in Jerusalem. The power of his position prevented him from taking that step. He would lose his power structure and probably his life at the hands of those who would have also lost power.

God is not pleased with a half way job of revival in our heart and life. It is either all for Him or it is not accepted.

1. Jehoram first of all tells Elisha - “No”. I don’t think that was a wise thing to tell the prophet of God to whom you have come to seek the mind of the LORD. If God has spoken then that needs to be accepted rather than telling God He is not right.

2. On the other hand, Jehoram knew that he had gotten the other two kings involved in his own affairs and this now troubling to them and their troops as well.

3. Jehoram repeats what he told Jehoshaphat in verse 10. To his credit he implies the name of the LORD when things got tough, but that sounds like a fox hole statement of a man with his back up against the wall - literally.

4. Also, as a man who had not really had much time for the LORD until now - how is it that he suddenly seems to know that it is the LORD that has called these three kings together to slay them? Just because they had not found water after going seven days into the wilderness does not necessarily mean that God was trying to kill them all. It could mean that they had not sent scouts out ahead of time to make sure their supply route was secure. He was the one who decided they needed to go over to Moab by way of the wilderness of Edom.

5. I wonder how many times we have made a decision of what needed to be done before bringing it to the Lord first, and then when it all started falling apart stated that God must be trying to such and such? Would it not have been easier if we had first brought it to the Lord and sought His leading and direction and then set out? I know that sometimes even the steps that the Lord gives us may at times appear to fail, but in the end we learn that they have been for good.

2. I wonder how many of uwould get offended if somebody talked to us this way?

1. We know that King Jehoshaphat was a godly king, but has his times of not looking to the Lord in the way he should.

2. I think I can say this is the case in point where the unrighteous are blessed because the righteous are among them, even when they maybe shouldn’t be. Even as in a marriage where a Christian is married to an unsaved person - there is a blessing toward that unsaved spouse and the children of that marriage if the Christian remains with the unsaved spouse, if they will have them.

3. It is important to see that Jehoshaphat apparently had not sought the leading of the LORD, as well, before starting out on this venture of war. It was only when things got bad that he realized they should seek the LORD’S mind about all this. That is good and fine but it should have come a long time before - before he ever said yes to King Jehoram.

4. God was gracious only because Jehoshaphat had a proven track record of walking with God and loving the LORD with all his heart and leading his people in such.

2. I think Elisha wanted the music played to sooth his spirit so that he could be in the right frame of mind to listen to the LORD directions on this matter.

3. Music has a calming affect upon us, and Elisha knew that as well. I don’t believe Elisha had an evil spirit like King Saul had, but the result was the same - a calmed and prepared spirit.

4. There is much that could be said at this point about the place of music in our worship of God at church and in our private times with God. This is why the right kind of music must be listened to if you wish to draw nigh to God. Some music is designed to draw people away from God, not toward God. The driving beat of rock music and some other forms of music just does not drive people to an attitude of worship and praise of God, even though the CMM people claim it does. Well written music which comes to a climax and a conclusion with words written in praise and adoration of God can draw us toward God.

5. I know appreciation of music is different for different people, but there are forms of music that were designed and written for the express purpose of praising God and lifting up those that sing it or hear it to great heights of worship.

1. God gave the man of God an answer for the three kings that stood before him. We will examine his answer more next Wednesday PM.

2. Again, there is a point to made here for the place of good music to prepare our heart for listening to God and then responding appropriately to what we learn from God’s Word. It can also be a time that the Holy Spirit is allowed to fill us and guide us to do great things for God.

4. Music is powerful for good as we have just seen in the passage of scripture I just read. Good music was good for Elisha as he sought the Lord’s leading on the situation before him. I believe good music is still good for God’s people.