Tues.’s Devo - Jehoshaphat’s Reign

Read: 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37; Romans 10:14-11:12; Psalm 21:1-13; Provers 20:4-6 Ahab died in the war Jehoshaphat had agreed to fight in with him. They didn’t win that war and every soldier went back to his own country. When Jehoshaphat came back to Jerusalem, the seer, Hanani went to meet him. God wanted to know why he would go and fight with the ones that God called wicked and hated. He was speaking of Ahab and Israel. He did add that there was good in Jehoshaphat because he had removed the Asherah poles and had committed to seek Him. Jehoshaphat showed his allegiance to the Lord by traveling his kingdom encouraging the people to return to the Lord. He appointed good judges throughout the nation to judge fairly to please God and not be bribed by the people. In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed Levites, priests and clan leaders to serve as the judges but the high priest had the final say in all cases involving the Lord. Zebadiah, the leader of Judah would have the last say in all civil cases. The armies of Moab, Ammonites, and some of the Menuites declared war on Jehoshaphat. They came to Engedi. The people of Judah met in Jerusalem where Jehoshaphat stood before the Temple and prayed. One of the Levites spoke for the Lord and told them not to be afraid because God was going to fight this battle. They were to all march as one and meet the army where all they would need to do was to stand. God would give them the victory. They all fell on their faces to the ground and worshipped the Lord. Early the next morning they started their march. Jehoshaphat encouraged the people along the way to believe in God and the prophets. He appointed singers to walk ahead of him singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. They sang, “Give thanks to the Lord: his faithful love endures forever!” The moment they began to sing, the armies of Ammon, Moab and Mt. Seer started fighting each other. All Judah had to do was to collect the plunder which was so much it took four days. They returned singing praise with much joy. When their neighboring nations heard that they had won without a fight because God had fought for them, they were afraid to attack Judah. Jehoshaphat was 35 when he became king and reigned 25 years. He pleased the Lord but failed to remove all the pagan shrines and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the Lord. In the end of his life, Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Ahaziah, the king of Israel who was very wicked. Together they built a fleet of trading ships which the Lord destroyed and they never sailed. In Romans, Paul continues to teach that no one can believe in the Lord unless they hear about him. It is the Good News but not to everyone. People cannot hear the good news without faith. Israel had lost their faith so God raised up another people, the Gentiles and gave them the gift of faith. They will provoke the Jews to turn back to the Lord. There are still many Jews who have faith just like in the days of Elijah. He had thought he was the only one who served the Lord but God told him that there were 7,000 others who had not bowed to Baal. The Gentiles would cause the Jews to be jealous over their love for God and they would turn back to serve him with faith also. Lord, thank you for saving the Jew and the Gentile. Thank you for the great harvest of souls you have prepared for us to reap.