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 19:1-3,
"When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, 'Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you. There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.'"
Jehoshaphat was considered a good king, all in alll. We are told in 2 Chronicles 17:3-6, "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah."
But then in the next chapter we read, "Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage." Ahab was the wicked king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Jehoshaphat went to visit Ahab and offered his support and fidelity to Ahab. Ahab had asked Jehoshaphat to join with him in attacking Ramoth Gilead and his reply was, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war." 2 Chronicles 18:3.
It was upon his return from this fight (that resulted in Ahab's death) that the prophet Jehu brought the Lord's accusation against Jehoshaphat's divided heart. The core of the indictment was, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?"
How about us today? Do we have undivided hearts before the Lord? Do we claim to love the Lord on the one hand and embrace that which is otherwise on the other? May we all listen to Paul's admonition, "I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." 1 Corinthians 7:35.
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.
"When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, 'Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you. There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.'"
Jehoshaphat was considered a good king, all in alll. We are told in 2 Chronicles 17:3-6, "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah."
But then in the next chapter we read, "Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage." Ahab was the wicked king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Jehoshaphat went to visit Ahab and offered his support and fidelity to Ahab. Ahab had asked Jehoshaphat to join with him in attacking Ramoth Gilead and his reply was, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war." 2 Chronicles 18:3.
It was upon his return from this fight (that resulted in Ahab's death) that the prophet Jehu brought the Lord's accusation against Jehoshaphat's divided heart. The core of the indictment was, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?"
How about us today? Do we have undivided hearts before the Lord? Do we claim to love the Lord on the one hand and embrace that which is otherwise on the other? May we all listen to Paul's admonition, "I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." 1 Corinthians 7:35.
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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