03.08. The Expedition against Moab: 2Ki_3:9-12
Chapter 3 The Expedition against Moab
"My tongue is the pen of a ready writer," Psalms 45:1. So speaks the royal psalmist, when about to utter glorious mysteries concerning the King, who is fairer than the children of men. David, like all the other prophets of God, was an instrument of the Holy Spirit, who spake by his tongue, and pen, and song; employing these to convey to mankind enlarged ideas of his everlasting kingdom, as also to express reproofs, corrections, and instructions.
Probably those inspired writers themselves sometimes knew but little of the import of what they uttered, though they never appear to have been entire strangers to it. David not only said, "My tongue is the pen of a ready writer;" but he introduced it by saying, "My heart is inditing a good matter," so that his heart was likewise engaged. Such Divine messengers were themselves feasted, while they administered to others. But, beyond a doubt, much passed through their hearts that was but half appreciated; much that was but darkly understood; and much that was quite enigmatical and veiled. No authors ever occupied a position so peculiar with reference to their own productions, or ever felt so deep an interest in those very productions, as did the penmen of prophecy, 1 Peter 1:10-12. Their own writings afforded them abundant matter for reflection and research. How often must they have afterwards discovered depths and wonders in their inspired songs and addresses, of which they were hardly conscious while penning them! How many unsuspected treasures of wisdom and consolation must they have met with in their own writings, as their minds became more and more enlightened for that purpose! Surely, then, the great truths which they declared should deeply interest our minds, especially as it was to us, more than to themselves, that they ministered them, 1 Peter 1:12. After the Sun of Righteousness had arisen, the shadows of the Old Testament passed away, and all its wonderful mysteries and prophecies began to receive their luminous fulfillment. Christ has the key of David, to open every mystery, having brought life and immortality to light. The lives and actions, as well as the writings, of Old Testament prophets and kings, were not infrequently full of sacred mystery.
"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. And the king of Israel said, Alas that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire 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. 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 scene is here changed to war and battle; but it presents much that is interesting and instructive. The embarrassment of the kings, and their application to Elisha, are the two subjects to which we are to direct our attention.