Read 2
Chronicles 20-22 & John
15
To discover:
As you read note the differing
responses to the LORD.
To ponder:
The traits of the ideal king
continue to be noted, whilst the imperfections of those who display them look
us longingly for the one who will establish the enduring kingdom and reign in
untainted righteousness. So
faced with a “vast army” Jehoshaphat “resolved to enquire of the LORD” and
“proclaimed a fast.” And the people followed their ruler as those from “every
town” came to seek God. This is the nature of kingship. A faithful king leads
the people into faithfulness, and vice versa.
Jehoshaphat’s
prayer displays where Judah’s
hope is grounded. As her God is the God “of heaven” he rules the nations and
cannot be withstood, as was proved by driving out the Canaanites so his
“friend” Abraham’s descendents could populate the land. Again, the stress is on
the blessings of knowing God and so being his friend. Judah
can therefore be confident having “built a sanctuary” for God and committed
themselves to crying out to him when in need, that he will come to their aid.
Acknowledging their powerlessness against their oppressors and uncertainty as
to what to do, they therefore look to the LORD. What encouragement that as
God’s friends, even if we don’t know how to act in the face of need, we can
know a peace that “transcends” our understanding in committing the matter to
him in prayer (Phil 4v6-7).
In
response, God spoke through his prophet Jahaziel urging the king and his people
not to be afraid or discouraged as the battle is not theirs, but his. He
therefore commanded them to take up positions, but only so they see his
deliverance. The king and people therefore worshipped, the Levites praised, and
immediately – “early in the morning” – they obeyed, with Jehoshaphat urging
them to have faith in God and his word through the prophets. As we feel the
forces of secularism gaining ground, we need to hear this. We may be powerless
and uncertain about how to respond, but we need do nothing more than cry out to
God and trust and so obey his word.
It’s not clear
whether the “ambushes” the LORD set refer to the action of his heavenly army in
the spiritual realm or the infighting of the enemy. Either way, the enemy
groups destroy one-another so that Judah find only dead bodies, remove much
plunder, and therefore praise God at the temple. Moreover, they enjoy a lasting
peace as other countries then fear God. Likewise, we rejoice having witnessed
the death of death in the resurrection of Christ. But we must remain faithful. Later Jehoshaphat compromised by
allying himself with the wicked northern king in order to gain more prosperity
for his kingdom. We can ally ourselves with the unfaithful amongst God’s people
thinking this will help us build his kingdom too. But we should simply trust
him to do that, else we also find our efforts destroyed.
For
2 Chronicles 21v4-10 see notes on 2 Kings 8v16-24. Despite doing evil like Ahab
and the other kings of Israel,
Jehoram enjoyed an established rule over Judah
because of God’s promise to David. Nevertheless, because he forsook God Libnah
rose up against Judah.
Jehoram’s sin must have been great as he received a personal letter from Elijah
who was a prophet to the northern kingdom not southern one. Jehoram had not
only committed idolatry but led Judah
too also, as well as murdering his brothers. And so God punished him by having
the Philistines carry off everything from his palace together with his sons and
wives (except Ahaziah, so David’s line could continue). He also afflicted him
with a disease that eventually killed him. It’s a tragic warning against
provoking God by turning to sin, and against a legacy in which no one-regrets
our death or can speak well of anything we’ve done (21v19-20).
Ahaziah
also did evil as Ahab’s house had in Israel,
because they became his advisors. Indeed, their advice led him into a series of
events that resulted in him and his relatives being murdered (22v5-9),
threatening the kingdom itself (22v9). One thinks of how Psalm 1 promises
blessing on those who “do not walk in the counsel of the wicked” and judgement
on those who do. We need discernment on who to listen to.
Praying it home:
Praise God that because he has
appointed Christ, his kingdom can never be threatened or lost. Pray that
Christians would not be discouraged in the face of secularism but recommit
themselves to prayer and obedience, trusting God and his word.
Thinking further:
None today.
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