The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Chronicles 17:7-10,
"In the third year of his [Jehoshaphat's] reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. With them were certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat."
"In the third year of his [Jehoshaphat's] reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. With them were certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat."
When Jehoshaphat succeeded his father, Asa, on the throne of Judah, he placed the importance of the Scriptures upon all the people. He sent his officials and some priests and Levites to teach the Scriptures to the people and we read that "The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah..." This was not what many of the kings of Judah experienced. Unfortunately, many of those kings rejected the Lord and suffered severely for it.
But, Jehoshaphat was blessed by the Lord as he gave himself to the Scriptures and, as king, sought to teach all the people the Scriptures. Jehoshaphat, unlike so many others, made his choice to align himself with the agenda and purposes of God.
I am reminded we can do likewise. The Lord has his agenda, his purposes. We can align oursleves with those things of the Lord and experience his blessings in both this life and the next, or we can refuse the Lord and pursue our own agenda.
I am reminded we can do likewise. The Lord has his agenda, his purposes. We can align oursleves with those things of the Lord and experience his blessings in both this life and the next, or we can refuse the Lord and pursue our own agenda.
The choice is ours. May we all emulate the wisdom of Jehoshaphat!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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