Bring Me A Harpist
August 14, 2019·Dan Hicks
“He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord”
(2 Chronicles 12:14)
Although the news of recent days would suggest otherwise, most people are not determined to do evil. They don’t wake up in the morning seeking ways to transgress. However, people do become trapped in evil activity sometimes, because they have not prepared their hearts to seek the Lord.
This passage in 2 Chronicles 12:14 was part of our Pause Bible reading plan just over a week ago. It is speaking of Rehoboam, the king of Israel, who was the grandson of David. He inherited the throne when he was 41 years old, at the death of his father, Solomon. In the beginning of his reign, his heart was sensitive to the Lord. He turned back from battle simply because of a prophet who spoke to him in the Name of the Lord (2 Chronicles 11:1-4).
However, his seeking the Lord only lasted for three of the 17 years of his reign (2 Chronicles 11:17). Sound familiar? It certainly does to me. I have known many people who genuinely loved the Lord at one time and were excited about the things of God, yet they grew cold and ineffective. How can this be? Why does this happen? It’s because they didn’t prepare their hearts to seek the Lord. And that brings us to the focus of this week’s journal reading (2 Kings 3:14-16).
Have you ever made a hasty decision? Moved forward on a hunch without taking the time to seek the Lord on the matter, only to regret it later?
In this passage, three armies banded together to wage war against Moab, but they ran into trouble. Seven days into their pursuit of Moab they ran out of water. They were desperate and needed help. Without water for their men or their animals, they would become weakened and would likely be defeated. Desperate times called for desperate measures, so they called on God’s prophet, Elisha.
When presented with the situation, Elisha did what Rehoboam failed to do, Elisha set his heart on seeking the Lord. How he did so is the simple principle I want to leave with you from this week’s reading (2 Kings 3:15ff):
“But now bring me a harpist. While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha and he said, ‘This is what the Lord says…’”
The decision to come into the Lord’s presence in worship, whether corporately or individually, will always provide us with an occasion to hear from the Lord. I think it’s as simple as that. I make time to worship and praise Jesus, and He responds to the need of my heart.
Perhaps more simple than profound, but maybe, just maybe, this is what the Lord wants you to hear this week. Go ahead, give it a try. Pour out your heart in genuine praise and worship for a while and see what the Lord does to address your desperate situation.
Shalom,
Pastor Dan Hicks
