April 17 - II Chronicles 17-20
Jehoshaphat walked with the Lord, and he did many things well. He followed the ways of David. He removed the high places and the idols from Judah. He organized the Levites to teach God's Word in each town and village. He organized the men for battle under qualified leaders. However, with all of these good things there was one problem. He made an alliance with the wicked king Ahab of Israel. This almost cost him his life in battle. When he returned from the battle, Jehu, the prophet, made sure he knew that it was not right to help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord. This did not mean that he should not love everyone like God does, but it does mean that he should not put the ungodly before the Lord. It is not right to have fellowship with those who hate the Lord, so that it causes us to disobey God. We can be a positive influence and witness without going that far.
After almost being killed Jehoshaphat turns to the Lord and leads the people to the Lord even more. Then, when a huge enemy comes against them, he leads the people to cry out to God. God listens to their prayers, and he tells them that He will fight for them in this battle, so that they do not even have to fight at all. Jehoshaphat believes the Lord so completely that he puts the choir in the front of the army. The enemy kills themselves, and all the army of Judah has to do is to walk in and pick up the spoil. It is a great story of trusting God. However, it does not mean that we will always win every battle without fighting if we will praise the Lord. This was one battle that worked that way, but in other battles the people had to fight. We must listen to the Lord in each instance, and He will show us what to do to win the victory.
At the end of his life Jehoshaphat went back to making treaties with Israel, so God destroyed his ships. It is sad to think that he did not learn his lesson once and for all. However, I have seen this in my life before. God will teach me something, but later I will forget, or I will neglect to do what He taught me, so that I will fail Him. It is a danger of the flesh. We must not go against what God has clearly shown us. If we do, He will have to punish us. It is much better to find ourselves in the valley of blessing instead of the valley of punishment.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 21-24.
After almost being killed Jehoshaphat turns to the Lord and leads the people to the Lord even more. Then, when a huge enemy comes against them, he leads the people to cry out to God. God listens to their prayers, and he tells them that He will fight for them in this battle, so that they do not even have to fight at all. Jehoshaphat believes the Lord so completely that he puts the choir in the front of the army. The enemy kills themselves, and all the army of Judah has to do is to walk in and pick up the spoil. It is a great story of trusting God. However, it does not mean that we will always win every battle without fighting if we will praise the Lord. This was one battle that worked that way, but in other battles the people had to fight. We must listen to the Lord in each instance, and He will show us what to do to win the victory.
At the end of his life Jehoshaphat went back to making treaties with Israel, so God destroyed his ships. It is sad to think that he did not learn his lesson once and for all. However, I have seen this in my life before. God will teach me something, but later I will forget, or I will neglect to do what He taught me, so that I will fail Him. It is a danger of the flesh. We must not go against what God has clearly shown us. If we do, He will have to punish us. It is much better to find ourselves in the valley of blessing instead of the valley of punishment.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 21-24.