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 18:3-4,
"Jehoshaphat replied, 'I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.' But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, 'First seek the counsel of the Lord.'"
When the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, went down to visit the king of the northern ten tribes, Ahab, Ahab asked him to join with him in attacking Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat's response to him is contained in our verses above. Jehoshaphat assured Ahab of his fidelity toward him but wanted to "seek the counsel of the Lord" before engaging his military.
The Scriptures tell us Jehoshaphat was a good king in the eyes of the Lord, whereas Ahab was wicked. To satisfy Jehoshaphat's desire for the Lord's counsel on it, Ahab had four hundred of his fake prophets come in with their baloney (we still have a lot of that type around today). Jehoshaphat objected and so Ahab reluctantly had a real prophet, Micaiah brought in. Ahab resented the counsel of the Lord provided through Micaiah because it was not in line with what he wanted to do. Ahab was eventually killed in the fray at Ramoth Gilead.
This account speaks to the need we all have in seeking the counsel of the Lord, and accepting that counsel. I question whether we need cousel on every last mundane thing in life (which chair should you sit in for dinner? - I think the Lord expects us to make many decisions without his regulating our every activity - he created us with a will and the ability to make many good decisions that do not require counsel).
However, I also recognize that wise people know when it is best to seek the Lord's counsel, his will in matters that require it. In Jehoshaphat's case, it was to bring in a prophet known to speak for the Lord. In our case, we do the same thing, but use the writings of prophets contained in the Scriptures to provide us guidance - the only difference is it is written, not verbal. Since we do not have a Micaiah in our hip pocket as Ahab did (more of a thorn in his side from his perspective), our pursuit of knowing God's will in a matter requires prayer and an understanding of the Scriptures. As such, the counsel we recieve today is often not as customized for a given matter, but the counsel we receive from that quarter is derived from priciples contained in the pages of Scripture.
There may be intervention in our lives with direct counsel from the Lord, but, at least in my case, I have found that to be a rare exception. Our God is in heaven and he does whatever it is he wants, and he isn't checking in with me first!
There are passages of Scripture that speak to this issue of seeking the counsel of the Lord - providing us counsel on how to get the cousel we need, for instance, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2. Also, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." Ephesians 5:15-17.
I'm sure you can find many more of these kind of verses. How wonderful the Lord provides us wisdom through the agency of hs will as contained in the Scriptures!
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.
"Jehoshaphat replied, 'I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.' But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, 'First seek the counsel of the Lord.'"
When the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, went down to visit the king of the northern ten tribes, Ahab, Ahab asked him to join with him in attacking Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat's response to him is contained in our verses above. Jehoshaphat assured Ahab of his fidelity toward him but wanted to "seek the counsel of the Lord" before engaging his military.
The Scriptures tell us Jehoshaphat was a good king in the eyes of the Lord, whereas Ahab was wicked. To satisfy Jehoshaphat's desire for the Lord's counsel on it, Ahab had four hundred of his fake prophets come in with their baloney (we still have a lot of that type around today). Jehoshaphat objected and so Ahab reluctantly had a real prophet, Micaiah brought in. Ahab resented the counsel of the Lord provided through Micaiah because it was not in line with what he wanted to do. Ahab was eventually killed in the fray at Ramoth Gilead.
This account speaks to the need we all have in seeking the counsel of the Lord, and accepting that counsel. I question whether we need cousel on every last mundane thing in life (which chair should you sit in for dinner? - I think the Lord expects us to make many decisions without his regulating our every activity - he created us with a will and the ability to make many good decisions that do not require counsel).
However, I also recognize that wise people know when it is best to seek the Lord's counsel, his will in matters that require it. In Jehoshaphat's case, it was to bring in a prophet known to speak for the Lord. In our case, we do the same thing, but use the writings of prophets contained in the Scriptures to provide us guidance - the only difference is it is written, not verbal. Since we do not have a Micaiah in our hip pocket as Ahab did (more of a thorn in his side from his perspective), our pursuit of knowing God's will in a matter requires prayer and an understanding of the Scriptures. As such, the counsel we recieve today is often not as customized for a given matter, but the counsel we receive from that quarter is derived from priciples contained in the pages of Scripture.
There may be intervention in our lives with direct counsel from the Lord, but, at least in my case, I have found that to be a rare exception. Our God is in heaven and he does whatever it is he wants, and he isn't checking in with me first!
There are passages of Scripture that speak to this issue of seeking the counsel of the Lord - providing us counsel on how to get the cousel we need, for instance, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2. Also, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." Ephesians 5:15-17.
I'm sure you can find many more of these kind of verses. How wonderful the Lord provides us wisdom through the agency of hs will as contained in the Scriptures!
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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