Month: February 2024

2 Chronicles 22:11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

Athaliah, the wicked queen, usurped the throne of Judah and murdered all the king’s sons, the royal seed of the line of David. But Jehoshabeath took her infant nephew, Joash, and hid him from Athaliah, so that she did not murder at least that one. Jehoshabeath raised the boy for six years. When Joash was seven, Jehoiada the faithful priest anointed him king. Under Jehoiada’s tutelage Joash turned out to be one of the good kings.

These two people, husband and wife, responded by faith in God’s covenant promise of the Messiah by keeping alive the seed of David so that the promise could be fulfilled in Christ. They may not have known the eternal significance and worldwide ramifications of their actions, but they acted in faith. She saved alive the one remaining seed of the promise. Because of Jehoshabeath’s brave response we today have the Savior of the world born of David’s line according to God’s promise.

We don’t always know the beneficial results and consequences of our faithful responses to the Word of God, but we live by faith and so do according to His faithful word and promise. God has a purpose and a plan, and He is always looking for trusting people to carry out His will, with or without knowing how it will all work out for good. God knows, and He guides and directs us to accomplish his will. We simply trust and obey.

2 Chronicles 21:11, 13 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto….But thou hast walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy fathers house, which were better than thyself.

Jehoram was the son of a good and godly king, but he was one of the most evil of the kings of Judah. He married a daughter of Ahab, Israel’s most evil king. Instead of being grateful for a godly father, he walked in the ways of his spouse. His response to God’s goodness was horrific. He killed his brothers and caused Judah to worship idols, that is, commit fornication against the Lord.

It is bad enough to sin and boldly break the First Commandment, but to cause others to sin and reject God is even more heinous. It is better that a millstone be hung around his neck and cast into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to sin.

Jehoram’s reign was marked by sin and cruelty. He married an idol-worshipper, killed his six brothers, and promoted idol worship. Yet he was not killed in battle or by treachery. He died of a painful bowel disease. If we ignore God’s laws. We will eventually suffer the consequences of our sin.

Still, instead of being destroyed, the kingdom continued. God was faithful to His covenant promise to David. Thank God, He is more faithful to His Promise than we are to ours. We will fail, but Jesus never fails.

2 Chronicles 20:26-27 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for they blessed the Lord: therefore the name of the same place was called, The Valley Berachah, unto this day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord made them to rejoice over their enemies.

After the great victory over the enemy in a battle in which the Lord fought alone without the army’s help, Judah spent three days gathering up the spoil. After that the people gathered themselves together to bless the Lord. To bless is to thank and praise the Lord and say good things about Him. Everyone was excited about what the Lord had done for them, and so praise and blessing was a natural response.

Jehoshaphat praised the Lord in song before the battle because of who he is, good and merciful and His love lasts forever. Then they blessed God after the battle because of what He did for them. And so it is with us: we are always in danger because of spiritual enemies and so we praise God; at the same time we are always being delivered from evil because of what Jesus has done and is still doing. The Gospel is always effective. Therefore, our daily life is continuously filled with prayer, praise and blessing. He is with us always as go from one problem to the next, and we March from victory unto victory. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Rejoice in the Lord always!

2 Chronicles 20:19-21 And the Levites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, hr appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.

In the face of a battle against a massive enemy army, Jehoshaphat believed in the Lord and in His Word. And he encouraged the people to believe God and His prophets. If they do, then they will be established and prosper. Because of his faith he sent ahead singers to praise the Lord. He sent the singers into battle ahead of the army, for the battle belonged to the Lord. Jehoshaphat did not know ahead of time what God was going to do, but he praised God anyway simply because He is good and His steadfast love endures.

The slaughter that followed was so complete that it took Judah three days to gather the spoil. Jehoshaphat heard the Word, believed it, then praised the Lord, and after that saw what God had done. This sequence happens to us in the same way daily: we hear the Gospel, we believe it for the Spirit plants faith in the hearing, then we respond with continual praise and thanksgiving, and after that we see the finished work of Christ (sin, death, and the devil are utterly destroyed). This experience is not a one-time event, but it is weekly and daily for us. Our whole life is filled with praise.

2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed, tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

The Word of God was spoken in prophecy with a promise to Jehoshaphat before facing battle with a great enemy: “You do nothing; just stand still and watch. The Lord will be with you and He fights for you. So fear not.” This would take a strong faith on Jehoshaphat’s part, for man’s natural response is to do something. But he had the faith to believe God. He stood still and watched God’s salvation. And the Lord gave a decisive victory without the army participating.

It’s not natural to believe that Jesus did everything necessary to gain the victory and earn salvation for us. All we do is watch: we hear the Gospel. That’s all. The Holy Spirit plants the faith in the heart so that we may receive what Christ has done. We hear the Gospel. By faith we see the cross. And we are saved. Stand still!

2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

While Jehoshaphat and Judah were threatened by a great enemy, Jehoshaphat prayed. The Lord responded by sending Jehaziel to come in the Spirit the Lord to speak for the Lord to the king and all Judah. The Lord said, Be not afraid nor dismayed because of this big problem you see before you. Jehoshaphat responded to God’s word and promise with hope and courage. He listened and was not afraid. He learned to look to the Lord and not at what his eyes saw in the world. He believed God’s Word: “This is My problem, not yours. The battle belongs to Me, just as you belong to Me.” The battle went forward, and the Lord sent ambushments and produced a great victory, while the army did nothing but watch.

Let this story be an encouraging example to us when a multitude of enemy problems overwhelms us. When we look at world around us and the sin within us we will become frightened and discouraged, but when our eyes are on Him we are not afraid nor dismayed. When we pray and trust the Lord Jesus Christ instead of looking at the problem we take heart and are not afraid. We believe that, since Jesus came into our life, we have a big God who is on our side fighting the battles, trials, struggles, problems, and obstacles that the Enemy throws at us, and behold, we are longer afraid, worried, troubled, defeated, depressed, or discouraged. Jesus utterly defeated the Enemy. When He says, “Fear not,” we don’t.

2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon you.

Jehoshaphat was confronted with a massive army arrayed against him. He felt weak and helpless before it; he had no might nor great numbers to defend themselves. His situation was so dire that he did not know what to do. But instead of crying and complaining he prayed. He turned his eyes upon the Lord. He “looked not on the things that are seen,” but he looked to the Lord. He had the faith to trust God in the midst of overwhelming fear. And God delivered them from the intimidating enemy against impossible odds.

Often we find ourselves facing fearful foes, whether they come in the form of ill health, no money, broken relationships, or emotional distress. At times the enemy can feel overwhelming, and we don’t know where to turn or what to do. Then we turn our eyes upon Jesus. We respond to impending trouble by praying in time of need and we trust in the love and power of God. And He comes through and lifts us up in ways we wouldn’t think of. When the enemy comes in like a flood He raises up a standard (Jesus) for us.

We would never have thought of the solution that God came up with to solve our basic problem, Sin: God became man and died for us to save us. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on Jesus.

2 Chronicles 20:3-4 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

A great multitude of the enemy was coming against Judah and Jehoshaphat, so much so that he was afraid of the approaching large army. His response to this serious threat was to set himself to seek the Lord. Fear of the great multitude against him moved him to seek the Lord and ask for the Lord’s help. His faithful leadership was so strong that he led all of the kingdom to pray and seek the Lord for help. He did not just wring his hands in despair and defeat; instead, he prayed.

In response to his believing prayer, the Lord fought the battle while Judah’s army saw the dead bodies of the enemy army. The Lord gave a great victory after the prayers and praises of Jehoshaphat and the people.

There are times in our life when it feels like a great enemy army is against us and the world threatens to crush us. Then we respond by turning to the Lord and seeking His presence and help in time of need. “Ask, seek, and knock.” Seek first the kingdom.” We are tempted to seek answers to our problems from others sources, but the first place we turn to is to the Lord. The devil, the world, and our flesh are always against us, and when it seems overwhelming we set ourselves to seek the Lord.

2 Chronicles 19:6-7 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

Jehoshaphat set up judges in all the towns and villages of the kingdom, and spoke to them about their duties. You shall judge according to the Laws of God, for you answer to Him and not to any man. Bribery, corruption, and partiality are common among government officials throughout the world. But it shall not be so among you; your authority comes from the Lord. You shall not play favorites to any human or human group, no matter their wealth or politics. You, judge for the Lord.

Human government is instituted by God, and the believer in any governmental position responds by judging with trustworthiness and integrity. The key to honest and faithful governance is remembering that you are to be faithful to Him, and not to any kind of human influence.

This kind of integrity is the ideal for justice and peace in the land. Human government is meant to be under God, fair and impartial. Of course, it doesn’t work out that way because all governments are run by sinners. But the Christian responds to the Gospel by ruling his area of influence for God and not for man or for self. And all of us have responsibility for someone according to our vocation, whether in the family, at work, in the community, or as a citizen. We judge responsibly in whatever position we are placed.

2 Chronicles 19:3-4 Nevertheless there are good things to be found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek the Lord. And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beer-Sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers.

Jehoshaphat, the good king, was not perfect before the Lord, but the prophet here tells him he did many good things for which he is to be commended. But the first and most important thing he did was prepare his heart to seek the Lord. This led him to get rid of the pagan idol worship sites. Then he went out among the people of the kingdom to spread the faith and bring them back to the Lord.

Jehoshaphat got his heart right with God first and then he took action against false gods, and then he went out among the people to preach Law and Gospel to bring the people back to God. The result of his faithful heart and leadership was a time of peace and prosperity in the kingdom of Judah.

God blesses the heart and the life of those who prepare their heart to seek the Lord and put Him first. Out of a good heart that has responded by faith in the gospel comes a good life and a positive influence. Seed down on prepared soil yields abundant fruit.