2 Kings 3:14
“And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Elisha solemnly vowed that he would not even look at or speak to Jehoram if not for his respect for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah.
Context
The prophet's oath is binding; his words carry the weight of one who stands before the Lord of hosts.
What Does 2 Kings 3:14 Mean?
And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee, Elisha's oath is an act of profound honesty. He does not soften his rejection; he sharpens it with an oath. The LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, words of a man who lives in the presence of the Almighty, who measures all earthly rank and power against that reality.
Yet within that rebuke lies the gospel: one man's righteousness can shelter another. Elisha's refusal of Jehoram is complete, total, and yet it is overcome by his regard for Jehoshaphat. Love for the righteous becomes the reason to help the unrighteous.
Application
When we align ourselves with God's righteousness, we become a refuge for others, even those we might otherwise write off.