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Review: With both David and Solomon dead, the kingdom they held together by prayer and battle, political savvy and above all, God's intervention, splits apart and becomes Israel (northern 10 tribes) and Judah (southern 2 tribes). The first kings are Rehoboam, son of Solomon in Judah, and Jeroboam, a former official in one of Solomon's building project, rules in Israel. And while there were hints in Chronicles of Solomon's falling away at the end of his reign, the sinful nature of the kings who succeed him emerges quickly. Jeroboam, to encourage Israelites to stay in Israel (rather than going back to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple), builds two new worship sites in Dan and Bethel, and in them, puts golden calves (and goats, according to the Chronicler). He lets anyone who wants to be a priest be one. Meanwhile, the faithful migrate to Judah to be nearer the Temple and true worship. And that is the theme of the Chronicler: true worship is in the Temple; it centers on One God, THE God who said "I am that I am" to Moses. The God who gave his word to Abraham that he would make of him a great nation, and who kept his covenant down through the generations. He gave the law and a system of worship to enable the people to become a "holy nation and a kingdom of priests." We've seen endless cycles of obedience and faithfulness - and true worship - followed by apostasy, idol worship, disobedience, even blatant rebellion against God. But God has been faithful. As we read in I and II Kings, God's patience is tested by the kings who succeed Solomon. Asa, on the whole a good king, failed God at the end of his life. We begin with Asa's son tonight, a good king named Jehoshaphat, and in his story, we briefly meet Ahab (but not Jezebel booooo!) because Jehoshaphat married Athaliah, Ahab's daughter.
II Chronicles 17: We've read fairly consistently that during the reigns of the kings of Judah, one of their first tasks is to rebuild or shore up the fortified cities on the country's borders. There have been battles with Israel and Egypt; in fact, we're told that Abijah, Rehoboam's son and Jeroboam were at war. The Chronicler keeps his focus on the Temple and on the kings who institute reform by tearing down the pagan altars and Asherah poles (Jehoshaphat is one of them); nevertheless, war is a constant threat as we'll see in this and the next few chapters. Early in Jehoshaphat's reign, we read that "his heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord," and this is what counts. David, the man after God's own heart, failed in one way or another, but he always came back to God, and his heart was always "devoted to the ways of the Lord." We see that part of Jehoshaphat's reform was to send the priests to teach the law to the people - a move essential if the next generation is to continue faithful to the Lord. He was powerful, rich, and had a great standing army - because God blessed him.
II Chronicles 18: Jehoshaphat visits his father-in-law Ahab and the two discuss a common enemy, Aram (now Syria), who controlled Ramoth Gilead (east of the Jordan on the edge of the land inherited by Gad). The two kings decide that united, they might be able to get this territory back. Before they go to war, however Jehoshaphat wants to consult God. He asks for a prophet, but Ahab brings in his prophets of Baal, the yes men he liked. Jehoshaphat asks "is there no prophet of the Lord here?" In answer, Ahab says there is, but he doesn't like him because he never tells him anything he likes. No surprise since Ahab was a wicked king who never worshiped God. Jehoshaphat insists, so Micaiah is brought to the king, and on the way, he's told that he should agree with the prophets who've said "go ahead; God will give you the victory." Micaiah says he can only tell the king what God tells him to say. He sarcastically tells Ahab and Jehoshaphat "go ahead and attack; you'll win," but Ahab hears the opposite in his voice. Ahab tells him to say what God has said, and Micaiah does.
II Chronicles 18:16: Micaiah tells of a vision he had of all Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Ahab doesn't want to hear this. Micaiah adds that he saw the Lord, high and lifted up (much like Isaiah's vision recorded in Isa. 6), and around him were the host of heaven. God asked "Who will entice Ahab into going to war with Gilead and there meeting his death?" God listened to several ideas and then a spirit said "I'll do it by putting a lying spirit in the mouths of his prophets." Ahab wanted to believe that he'd have success against the enemy; whatever a prophet said - go or stay - he would have followed his own course. He was not dedicated to God or the truth; it's hard to believe he knew the truth. Zedekiah, one of Ahab's prophets who'd worn horns and predicted a victory, now accused Micaiah of lying. Micaiah was put in prison "until I return," Ahab said. But Micaiah, predicting Ahab's death, replied "you won't be back; I'm telling the truth."
II Chronicles 18:28: The two kings went into battle with Ahab disguised and Jehoshaphat dressed in royal robes. The enemy went for Jehoshaphat because Aram's king had said "kill Ahab, king of Israel." But when Jehoshaphat spoke, they understood he was not Ahab and left him alone. A soldier fired an arrow at "random" (God never does anything randomly) and it struck between the sections of Ahab's armor, and by the end of the day, he was dead from loss of blood.
II Chronicles 19: Jehoshaphat went home and Jehu the prophet/seer (not the Jehu who becomes king in Israel) said "should you help the wicked?" questioning Jehoshaphat's decision to go into battle with Ahab. We have to question his judgment, too. Yes, he was a son-in-law, but it didn't mean he had to ally himself with a godless man. And Ahab set him up by going into battle in disguise while allowing Jehoshaphat to go in royal dress, a shining target for the enemy. Only God kept Jehoshaphat safe. Jehu added "because of this the wrath of the Lord is upon you." There will be consequences. However, God sees "some good" in Jehoshaphat because he had his heart on doing God's work and tearing down the pagan places. And so we see Jehoshaphat "doing God's work" by going out into the countryside and urging the people to become faithful to God and God alone. It must have been impressive: a king of Judah, appearing in small villages and cities, talking with the people about God. We can see a modern politician on a barnstorming tour asking for votes; Jehoshaphat wasn't worried about loyalty to HIM but to God. He also appointed good judges and required that they fear God. Other judges from among the Levites and priests judged in Jerusalem. Up till this time, the king was the final court of appeal; now he's delegating this job to the priestly tribe with Amariah, the high priest, as the man in charge. And he exhorts them to judge fairly and to warn those appearing before them "not to sin." Jehoshaphat is adhering to the Law as THE law in all his efforts both to reform the nation's worship, and in settling disputes (all this material, incidentally, is unique to Chronicles; it does not appear in Kings).
II Chronicles 20: This chapter is one of the highlights of the Old Testament, and points to a feature common to these two books: prayer and song are prominent, and are shown here to be instrumental in giving Judah a victory. God responds to the prayers and worship of his people! Traditional enemies of Judah, Moab and Amon, are threatening the eastern border of Judah, along with the Meunites, pagan tribes who lived around Gedor at the time descendants of Simeon settled and conquered the territory (later we're told they're from Mount Seir). David had put garrisons in Moab and Ammon, and they were paying tribute. Now they've rebelled and they are threatening Jehoshaphat, moving toward Jerusalem. Note what Jehoshaphat does: he calls for a national fast with prayer. "The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord," we're told, and Jehoshaphat spoke to God before the assembly. As David and Solomon had done, he reminded God of the way he'd saved Israel in the past, and asks that God honor his name by saving his people once again. God had promised Solomon in II Chronicles 7:14 that "if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land." Following God's promise, the people, led by Jehoshaphat, are doing just that: seeking God and praying for his help. Jehoshaphat ends his prayer humbly: "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." God, the maker of the universe, the one who delivered Israel from slavery, the God who has repeatedly defeated his people's enemies in miraculous ways, is the source of their help; they look to him. Recall Peter when walking on the water toward Jesus sinks when he takes his eyes OFF Jesus and focuses on the wind and waves. Just so for Jehoshaphat and Judah: when they look at the enemies and their threat, they quake in fear. When they look to God, they're looking to the solution to the situation.
II Chronicles 20:14: The spirit of the Lord then spoke through one of the descendants of Asaph, the musician David appointed to lead the Levite choir. Jahaziel said "don't be afraid or discouraged for the battle is not yours but God's." This is one of the most wonderful promises in the entire OT. He tells them what will happen. They'll march toward the battle field the next day, and "you will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you." Moses had told the ancestors of this group the same thing at the Red Sea when Egypt and its armies were pursuing them, and they had no bridge across to the other side. (Ex. 14:13-14). God provided the way through the wilderness, destroying Egypt's army, and he'll destroy this army, too. This word from Jahaziel is spoken with such authority that the people fall down in worship, praising God - they know God has spoken.
II Chronicles 20:20: The next morning, still firmly believing in God's promise, the people got up to march to the battlefield. Jehoshaphat encourages them to believe in God because it is God who will give them success. In front of the armies marched the Temple musicians singing "give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever," the theme song of Judah all through the Chronicler's account. And note this verse: "As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah and they were defeated" (v. 22). What a great picture this is: When we sing and praise God, our enemies are defeated!! Our faith may be small, but it's in a BIG God, a God of unlimited power and might, wisdom and love. So sing, praise God when things look bleak. Do it when things are bright, too. The Psalmist said of God, "yet you are holy one, enthroned upon the praises of Israel" (Ps. 22:3).
II Chronicles 20:24-30: We're shown in these verses that the victory was complete leaving Judah nothing but plunder to claim. In the Valley of Berecah (which means Valley of Praise) they praised God for their victory. It took 3 days to get all the spoils of war back to Jerusalem, and when they returned, they went "joyfully" singing their thanks to God. At the Temple, they celebrated the victory, and God gave them peace because "the fear of God came upon on the kingdoms" around them who'd heard what God had done for his people.
II Chronicles 20:31: A summary of the rest of Jehoshaphat's reign follows. He reigned for 25 years, and in the main, did what was pleasing to God. He made another alliance with a wicked king of Israel to commission sailing ships to facilitate trade much as Solomon had. But God was not pleased with this alliance and the fleet was wrecked before it sailed.
II Chronicles 21: When Jehoshaphat died, Jehoram, his firstborn son, succeeded him as king. Other sons of Jehoshaphat were given fortified cities and wealth, but Jehoram was the next king. To defend his throne, he killed his brothers. And his mother Athaliah killed all the children (except one, Joash) and eventually made herself queen. Jehoram was married to a daughter of Ahab and "he did evil in God's eyes." The influence of Ahab and Ahab's daughters was greater than his father's godly influence. Edom rebelled against him, but he was able to get away from their armies by night. It didn't end the threat of Edom, however. Jehoram re-established all the high places and pagan altars, and Elijah, the prophet in Israel sent him a letter of warning. God struck him with a disease that caused a slow painful death, and God wiped out his entire household in judgment for his sin. In addition to disease, the judgment came at the hands of the Philistines and Egyptians who invaded and took his family members captive. They took his treasures, too. He was left with only one son. He was king for 8 years, and we read "he passed away to no one's regret." What a sad epitaph.
Homework for those who want to go deeper:
1. Review the various prayers of David (I Chron. 17, 29), Solomon (II Chron 6), and Jehoshaphat (II Chron 20) found so far in these two books. What is their common denominator?
2. Read II Timothy 1 and note what Paul says of Timothy's mother and grandmother. Where should a child receive his/her first instruction in God's word?
3. In what ways could kings and the people have avoided punishment by God? In what ways do we ignore God - to our cost?
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Let's close in prayer.
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