Sermon Notes + 10.5.2025
Sermon Notes
What Have I to Do With You?
2 Kings 3
Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor
Overview: The death of King Ahab and the departure of the prophet Elijah shift the focus of attention to Jehoram and Elisha. When Ahab dies, the king of Moab sees an opportunity to rebel against the king of Israel by refusing to pay tribute, thus prompting Jehoram to form a coalition with Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom. As they march toward Moab, their water supply runs low, whereupon Jehoshaphat convinces the two kings to inquire of Elisha for a word from the Lord. Elisha expresses his reluctance to help Jehoram due to his idolatrous practices, but is willing to do so for the sake of Jehoshaphat. He requests the assistance of a musician, which leads him to prophesy victory on behalf of the three kings. Elisha’s message comes to pass as predicted, and yet the episode closes on a somber note: the king of Moab offers his son as a burnt offering, which results in the departure of the kings without fully achieving their stated aims. The movement of this chapter from moral compromise to pure evil reminds us of the need for the gospel to go forth to all people.
01. What have we to do with the Jehorams of the world? We recognize that partial reform does not result in truly knowing the Lord; therefore, we direct them to the Lord.
02. What have we to do with the Jehoshaphats of the world? We recognize that God hears when His people pray; therefore, we remind them of what God can do.
03. What have we to do with the Mesha’s of the world? We recognize that pure evil does exist; therefore, we take the gospel into difficult places.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY
1. What characterizes the reign of Jehoram according to verses 1-3? How did his reign differ from that of Ahab? Does the word “nevertheless” point to a positive or negative assessment of Jehoram’s reign? Is there a “nevertheless” in your life as it relates to walking with the Lord?
2. What unforeseen incident occurred to the three kings and their armies in verse 9? What did Jehoram conclude regarding this incident? How often do we suspect the Lord is to blame for the decisions we have made? What is the solution for our mistaken beliefs about how the Lord works in our lives?
3. How do you assess Elisha’s response to the king of Israel in verse 13? Was it wrong for him to challenge Jehoram at a weak moment? What reason does Elisha give for responding to Jehoram? What reasons do we have to share the truth of God’s Word with those who have a marginal understanding of God? Is there a point where people need to find out how their misguided beliefs cannot sustain them?
4. Consider Elisha’s words in verse 18, “This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord.” What are you currently facing that brings fear into your life? Are you encouraged by knowing that, however difficult the path is before you, it is not too difficult for the Lord to accomplish His purposes?
5. Why does Mesha sacrifice his oldest son in verse 27? What effect did that have on the outcome of the battle? Does anyone come out victorious in this passage? How does this chapter remind us of the need to bring the gospel into difficult places? Pray that the Lord will send more workers into the harvest.
For Further Reading: Timothy George, Faithful Witness: The Life & Mission of William Carey (New Hope, 1991)