Month: April 2022

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“Be Ye Steadfast”

be steadfast

2Chron 20 The Chronicler tells us in Ch. 22 “Jehoshaphat followed his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved.” What a tribute! What did he know that helped him stand apart from the world? He knew these things and applied them:  

He lives in heaven, he rules over all.
He knew that God has the strength and the power so that no one can stand against Him.
He knew and remembered that God had delivered in the past so he could trust God for the future.
He knew that before facing any enemy he needed to stand before God.
He knew that God hears the cry of his children and that God is a deliverer.
He knew he could request help from God even when he didn’t know what to do.

However, for all that he knew, in his later years, he aligned with the evil king Ahaziah king of Israel, and acted wickedly in so doing. The prophet told him because you allied with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works.

Paul was right: be ye steadfast immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord. [1Cor 15:58]

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Ahab’s Foolish Decision

Ahab foolishly ignores the prophets words

2Chron 17-19 Jehoshaphat did right because he followed David’s example. Sounds good, right?  However, he made a glaring mistake when he decided to ally with “wicked” king Ahab. What was he thinking? 🙁  1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Second mistake. Jehoshaphat listened and agreed to join Ahab in a battle. 🙁  However, before he stepped onto the battlefield, he wanted to hear from a godly prophet. So far, so good, 🙂 but now Ahab denigrates the holy prophet, Micaiah. 

Jehoshaphat reminds Ahab of a wise principle my daddy taught me: If you can’t say anything good about a person, be quiet. But, Ahab is a slow learner. He knows Micaiah is a truth-teller. Therefore when Micaiah tells him that he will lose in this battle and die he should have listened!!!!! But fools do not listen! He chooses to go into battle anyway—and yes he died—just as the prophet said. Beloved, some people refuse to believe no matter what! They are stubborn. 

End of story: Ahab sends Micaiah to the dungeon before he leaves, saying he will release him after his return. Since Ahab didn’t return, what happened to Micaiah? God has left that part of the story for eternity.

Life Lesson: Pay attention to wise counselors, or you might end up like Ahab.

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A King’s Folly

King Asa was a fool

2Chron 13-16 In the 36th year of King Asa, he made a deal with a neighboring king to come to his aid against a formidable enemy.  This deal goes down in history as Asa’s Folly.  Asa had been victorious over the Ethiopians, but now he sought help, not from God, but from his stores of wealth to buy protection.  Therefore, God sent a seer to remind him that when another enemy was on his doorstep, he sought God and saw victory.  The point of this story is that when Asa relied on God, he was victorious, but when he relied on his own endeavors, the enemy was kept at bay—for a time.  God’s prophet reminded him that reliance on human efforts is always the wrong way. Now, God would remove His hand of blessing, and from this point on, Judah would have wars and rumors of wars.

What do you rely on when an enemy comes prowling about seeking whom he can devour?  [1Pet 5:8] Do you seek God’s help or rely upon your storehouses of human wisdom or riches?  When we rely upon our resources, we may be victorious for the moment, but in the end, it always fails.  James gives us a principle: If you are wise and understanding, you will reveal it in godly wisdom instead of earthly wisdom.  [James 3:13-17]

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Rehoboam’s foolish Decision

Be wise not foolish

2Chron 10-13 and 1Kings 12 Slow learners reap enormous consequences 

God had promised Solomon that HE would keep his kingdom strong if he was obedient to Him and honored him. What happened along the way is anybody’s guess, but this we do know: Solomon’s heart was drawn away by his idol worshiping wives. He fathered Rehoboam by Naamah, and she was an Ammonite. When Solomon died, Rehoboam reigned for 17 yrs. and although much of it was reasonably good, he was not a wise king initially. He did not listen to the wise leaders but was hoodwinked by his own “buddies” who were young like him. End of story, God sent trials into his life, and he failed many of them. The ten tribes of Israel left him, and thus the kingdom was divided. What are we to learn from his life? 

First, be holy as God is holy if you want to be blessed. Secondly, be strong and courageous. Thirdly, Pro 4:27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.  

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The Danger of the Fading Memory

memories fade like film

2Chron7 -9 God Speaks to Solomon

When we are on a high celebrating, all goes well, but after the glow, the high fades from memory much like film that has been exposed to the air. Perhaps that is why God came to Solomon the second time to remind him that He is God and there is no other. God came to Solomon as he slept, and that is how God sometimes speaks to us in our deep sleep where other thoughts cannot usurp our devotion to Him. God reminded him that He was the giver of blessings of all things. He was pleased and would bless IF Solomon remained faithful. He was also the “discipliner” (said nine times in Heb 12) of those whom He has called.

We need to be reminded of this principle: God blesses obedience and disciplines disobedience.

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People who Pray

Are we people of prayer

2 Chron. 4-6 Dedication of the Temple

King David had wanted to build the house for the Lord, but because he was a man of war and had shed much blood, God allowed him to collect the materials but the actual task was given to his son Solomon. As the new king, Solomon had planned and ordered the building and the day finally arrived to dedicate it. The program included music, sacrifices without number, and a lengthy prayer by King Solomon.

In his prayer, Solomon asked God to hear from heaven over and over. Solomon knew that the presence of God was not in the Temple but in the heavens seeking God’s blessing and forgiveness for sins committed. As he closed his prayer he asked God to listen, heed and remember his people.

God loves to hear his people pray and especially when we use the ACTS way: Admit we are sinners, Believe that God hears and will forgive, Thank Him for the blessings he has bestowed, and Supplication or petitioning for others. May we be a people who pray.

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What is on your wish list?

What is on your wish list

2Chron 1-3 How would you answer God?

What is on your wish list? Is it for fame, riches, glory? Is your wish list compatible with God’s? When God asked Solomon, he said, “May your promise to my father be realized…” [2Chron 1:9]  Because he did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, God was pleased and added those besides the one thing he asked for. 

What about us? How would we answer God’s question?

We have been blessed beyond all we could ask or think. God has promised us that if we seek him, he will be found. The gospel writer Matthew wrote the words of Jesus: “Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.”[Matt 7:7] The Apostle John added that: “Now this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” [1Jn 5:14]

What is on your wish list? Will you claim the promises of God?

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Perfect Ending to Life

Prayer

1Chron 28-29 Many are the plans of the Lord…but ultimately it is ordered by God.

David wanted to build the Temple for the Lord but as he noted, God said he could not because he was a man of war. Pro 19:21 There are many plans in a person’s mind, but it is the counsel of the Lord that will stand. However, God’s plans are in place for Solomon to build it. In light of this, David has accumulated many riches for Solomon and has prepared the workforce as well.

David praised the Lord before the entire assembly. “O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You, Lord, have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all.”

David exalts God for His provision. This is a beautiful ending to his life. We should plan for our destiny and leave it with sweet words of exalting God for those who will follow us.

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You are just being pig-headed!

Listen to wise counselors

1Chron 21 Has anyone ever called you those words? David was genuinely being pig-headed as he sought, in pride, to take a census to determine how many soldiers he had. Wisely, General Joab came to remind him that this was a foolish decision and would be costly and time-consuming. But, David was determined, and he was, as we say, being pig-headed, that is being stupidly obstinate! Nevertheless, as the king, it was his decision, and Joab had better comply. So he did, but with much misgivings. End of story, David finally comes to his senses when God sent Gad, the prophet, to tell him God was most displeased. It was what we call a lightbulb moment in David’s life.

What he did, and we often do not as well, is realize the full impact of sin. God gave him three choices due to his sin: a plague, falling into the hands of his enemies, or three years of famine. He chose the plague, and 70,000 men died just because of one man’s sin. Sin exacts a heavy price.

God has the Joab’s in our life to guide us from making big mistakes. Also, not always does God reveal the consequences of our sin, but when He does, He also lovingly provides us a way to seek His face and forgiveness.

The Apostle John wrote the words of Jesus: he who has ears had better listen and that applies to us today.

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Respond with grace

Check your responses

1 Chron 17-19, Ps 35 Sometimes we have honorable motives that are misconstrued by others. In chapter 19, David wanted to honor the deceased, but the deceased son’s counselors saw it differently. They saw David’s overture as seeking information for war. Sometimes even when we do what we think is correct, it is seen as the opposite. Our words are thrown back in our face or in this case the son of the deceased responded by exhibiting an outward demonstration of shame for David’s men. “So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved their beards off. He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed and then sent them away.” David gave them permission to spend time in Jericho until their beards had grown. [1Chron 19:4]

The only way to respond when our efforts and motives are questioned is to respond with grace, not anger. Perhaps that is one reason David wrote Ps 35:4 “May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated. May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed.”

Today when your words or actions are misconstrued, know that God sees your heart,  so lay these concerns before Him and know this truth: “you will heap coals of fire on [their] head, and the Lord will reward you.” [Prov. 25:22]

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