2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 19:1-3

The battle was pre-determined by God as the place where Ahab would die. He was warned by the prophet but ignored the warning. Jehoshaphat also saw his part in this. He was experiencing war because of his unbelief. He was probably glad to get back home in Jerusalem. Yet he was met by Jehu and rebuked for his alliance with Israel. Because of this God's wrath was to be on him. However, he was praised and upheld for preparing his heart to seek God.

Was the guilt of Jehoshaphat washed away by God because his heart was prepared? Did Jehoshaphat prepare to meet God by humbling him self, offering a sacrifice, seeking fellowship with God and obying His commandments? We don't know about Jehoshaphat, but we do know about our self. Our sins are forgiven, the wrath paid, when we submit to Jesus and trust in the work done on the cross. We can receive new life which moves us to a sacrifice of praise, submission, obedience and worship.

2 Chronicles 19:4-7

Jehoshaphat gets back to the business of leading people. He continues his teaching ministry among the people (17:7). He set judges in the land who feared the Lord and judged by His standards. He warned them to 'take heed' to not be drawn away to other ways; they sat in the place of God and were called to judge in His ways.

2 Chronicles 19:8-11

In spite of Jehoshaphat's previous failure, the leadership shown here in outstanding. He is setting men in place to lead and setting expectations for them. It courage to lead in this way. There would be hard decisions. There would be temptations to bend the laws, to compromise and play favorites. The Lord would be with the good. He would stand with those who stood with Him and carried His ways to the people. The standard was to fear God, act faithfully and with a loyal heart. To do these things requires men to deny themselves, their ways and their desires.

©2017 Doug Ford