Hezekiah‘s Restoration of Hope

2 Chronicles 29:1-19

    1 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.

   3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them. 4 Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, 5 and said to them: "Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the LORD our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him. 7 They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the LORD fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes. 9 For indeed, because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity.

    10 "Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense."  12 Then these Levites arose: Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; 13 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

    15 And they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. 16 Then the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and brought out all the debris that they found in the temple of the LORD to the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it out and carried it to the Brook Kidron.

    17 Now they began to sanctify on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD. So they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.  18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, "We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offerings with all its articles, and the table of the showbread with all its articles. 19 Moreover all the articles which King Ahaz in his reign had cast aside in his transgression we have prepared and sanctified; and there they are, before the altar of the LORD."

Hezekiah Restored the house of the LORD, the temple of worship and sacrifice which had been defiled and nearly destroyed by his predecessor, Ahaz.  For this new king Hezekiah was one who did what was right by God’s standards and not anyone else’s, not even his own.  He imitated the life example of king David in following God by heart and not by anyone or any reasoning apart from God’s word.  He was faithful to trust and obey.  He began by opening up the shuttered doors of God’s house, tasking the priests to clean up the desecrated mess and to sanctify it and its contents again to their LORD.  He acknowledged the sins of their fathers and how they had turned their backs on their God, ceasing the required worship, sacrifices, and ceremonies which pleased God and atoned for those very same sins.  He was restoring hope.  The defeat of God’s people by their enemies was the just due for their rejection, while that dereliction of Him was forgetting their only hope of reconciliation.  Hezekiah therefore made a new covenant with the LORD to set themselves apart to God to serve and minister to Him again, and they began by cleaning the idolatrous mess and restoring the right and holy worship with sacrifice.  The team of Levites finished the task of clearing and cleansing to sanctify, to make holy and set aside for the LORD, preparing again the articles cast aside by the blasphemous king Ahaz before Hezekiah came to set things back in place.  They prepared the altar of sacrifice and for worship of the one true God once more.  We see this in a similar manner to the reformers of the church which culminated in the stand against the idolatry and false worship of the established and corrupted Roman church in Luther’s time.  They went back to God’s word and wanted to clean out all that was not holy in displeasing God.  Unfortunately, it did not reform that corrupt institution with its idolatry, but ended up creating a separate group of churches who sought to clean the church as the temple so long before them was by Hezekiah.  May we not ever wander so far away again in our New Covenant in Christ’s blood that we forget true worship, but that we continually reform our wandering ways in alignment back to the straight path of His word, restoring hope and pleasing God.  Amen. 

Moral Decline to Apostasy

2 Chronicles 28:16-27

   16 At the same time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come, attacked Judah, and carried away captives. 18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Sochoh with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they dwelt there. 19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the LORD. 20 Also Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist him. 21 For Ahaz took part of the treasures from the house of the LORD, from the house of the king, and from the leaders, and he gave it to the king of Assyria; but he did not help him.

   22 Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the LORD. This is that King Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 24 So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 And in every single city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.

    26 Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 So Ahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem; but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

Assyria refused to listen to the pleading for help from king Ahaz to protect against the continuing attacks of the Edomites and Philistines.  This was God’s work against Judah because of the support for immortality of the people by Ahaz, as well as his continuing unfaithfulness to the LORD God of His people.  Ahaz even dishonored God No desecrated His house by attempting to use the holy utensils as payment for Assyrian mercenaries to help.  The king of Assyria took the valuables, but did not help because the LORD had arranged the defeat of Judah for their worship of other gods which their king began worshiping when the LORD no longer answered him.  Instead of seeing his sin and repenting, he turned further from God to idolatry, bringing down all Israel with him.  He went so far as to destroy the articles of God’s house which he had not given away, then sealing it up to keep others from worshiping as well.  This led to him erecting many high places of idol worship all throughout Jerusalem to provoke God’s wrath and retribution.  He eventually died without hope or even a distinguished burial with the kings of Israel.  He was dishonored for dishonoring the LORD (1 Samuel 2:30).  We can learn from this negative example to always trust in the Lord for deliverance and not to turn elsewhere for help.  Faith relies on the only God who delivers from the wrath to come, and does not allow immortality and unfaithfulness to enter into our lives through cracks in our trust in Him.  We find confession and repentance of sin to be essential (1 John 1:9) to avoid such an ignominious end; such shame does not bode well for eternal rewards (1 Corinthians 3:14-15, 2 John 1:8), only regret for dishonoring the Lord Jesus Christ who bought us at at such a price (1 Corinthians 6:20), suffering humiliation and death in our stead.  How can we not then be singleminded in worship to honor Him alone?  Disobedience and trusting in ourselves or society’s sources of wisdom and strength, and encouraging moral decline by not standing for the right ways of God according to His word - these ways only lead to ruin (Romans 1:32) and apostasy.  Do we trust God and rely on Him or on ourselves, and do we encourage or tacitly agree with immortality to His dishonor?   Remember Ahaz. 

Delivered to and From Destruction

2 Chronicles 28:1-15

   1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD, as his father David had done. 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals. 3 He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

   5 Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter. 6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 7 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam the officer over the house, and Elkanah who was second to the king. 8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

    9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: "Look, because the LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. 10 And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the LORD your God? 11 Now hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you."

    12 Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, 13 and said to them, "You shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended the LORD. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel." 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the leaders and all the assembly. 15 Then the men who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

Evil king Ahaz led to Syria and Israel defeating Judah.  By not seeking the LORD and living according to His word to honor and please Him, Ahaz’s idolatry and wickedness condemned Judah to judgment as they followed him.  Bad leaders lead the people astray, but the people are also accountable; they were therefore all delivered first to Syria, and then to brothers Israel.  They were taken into captivity to Damascus because they had taken themselves captive by idolatrous sin in all their pursuits apart from the LORD (Revelation 13:10).  After the Syrian defeat, Israel slaughtered the forces of Judah and took captives to Samaria.  At that capital city was a prophet of the LORD God, Obed (meaning “the restorer”), who communicated God’s grace and mercy which Israel was to give to their brethren of captive Judah.  The word of the LORD made it clear that God was angry with Judah for their sin, but that He also was extremely displeased up to heaven that they wanted to enslave their brothers, for they were also guilty before Him.  The men of Judah heeded the message and released their fellow people of God with not only physical necessities, but also a blessing of anointing.  They brought them to the city of Palms by Jericho and returned to Samaria.  We learn that fighting each other as God’s people as to judge them only points out our own condemnation of deserved judgment, for we as sinners all fall short of His glory (Romans 3:12, 19-20).  Only mercy grace can save us all (Romans 3:23-24, 26), no matter how wicked we see another to be; God alone is the judge (Romans 2:3), and he delivers us into destruction or from it accordingly (Romans 9:22-23).  May we not condemn as we judge right and wrong among our brethren, but pray for and anoint them in prayers and supplications for deliverance from wrath as He delivers us daily, and plead with each other daily to follow Him according to His word (Hebrews 3:13) and for mercy in grace. 

Honoring God Even When Few Follow

2 Chronicles 27:1-9 

    1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the LORD). But still the people acted corruptly.

    3 He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel. 4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers. 5 He also fought with the king of the Ammonites and defeated them. And the people of Ammon gave him in that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. The people of Ammon paid this to him in the second and third years also. 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.

    7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 So Jotham rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

Jotham ascended to the throne of Judah after his father Uzziah died, the king who started well until pride led to disobedience in entering the temple to make his own sacrifice in place of the priests.  This son of that king imitated the good of his father and not the evil of that pride of his father to enter the temple to atone for himself.  Unfortunately, the people of God in Judah followed after their predecessors and after reprobate Israel.  The good examples no longer influenced the sinful patterns learned from the evil examples set for them by the others, and the good which Jotham patterned seemed to only drive himself to build up the infrastructure of Judah and not the people because of their spiritual corruption.  He prepared his heart for God and his ways to that end, driven with a desire to obediently honor and please the LORD his God, most likely with some remembrance of his forefather King David who had a heart set in the direction of God and His ways according to His word.  This is our example as well, to imitate the good examples, even when they are not perfect or even consistent, and even when few or seemingly none follow the Lord with us.  We ought to follow the good in the examples as far as they imitate Christ (Hebrews 13:7, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Corinthians 11:1), keeping faithful in our labor for the Lord Jesus Christ no matter what example others choose to pursue in the direction of their lives.  Our labor is never in vain when honoring the Lord God in Christ, even when few follow Christ in us.

The Penalty of Disobedient Pride

2 Chronicles 26:1-23 

   1 Now all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.  3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

    6 Now he went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and against the Meunites. 8 Also the Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah. His fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he became exceedingly strong.

    9 And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress of the wall; then he fortified them. 10 Also he built towers in the desert. He dug many wells, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains; he also had farmers and vinedressers in the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved the soil.

    11 Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war by companies, according to the number on their roll as prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. 12 The total number of chief officers of the mighty men of valor was two thousand six hundred. 13 And under their authority was an army of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 Then Uzziah prepared for them, for the entire army, shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings to cast stones. 15 And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.

    16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the LORD—valiant men. 18 And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the LORD God."

    19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the LORD had struck him.

    21 King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD. Then Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.  22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz wrote. 23 So Uzziah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, "He is a leper." Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Uzziah followed the LORD along the same pattern as his father and king Amaziah.  He started out doing what was right and pleasing to God, but ended up falling away in the end.  He began well, reigning fifty-two years in Jerusalem, prosperous as long as he listened to the prophet Zechariah who brought God's word to be followed.  He had great victories, loved farming and raising livestock, and in battle invented what seems to have been a catapult; war machines from which men hurled projectiles in defense of the city. According to the ESV commentary, there were murals found from the siege of Lachish in 701 B.C. showing defenders on the city walls shooting arrows and hurling stones from behind wooden frames armored with shields.  God gave him wisdom and success as he listened and followed His word.  Uzziah was well known far and wide as he increased in strength, but then the pride seemed to make him reason that all this was somehow his own accomplishment instead of the LORD’s grace.  This culminated in the arrogance of assuming the work of the priests by going to the temple of God to burn incense with his own hand, a responsibility only assigned by the LORD to His chosen priests.  This pride and sin did not honor God and took away any honor which God had given him.  His heart was lifted up and he fell, just as the Deceiver led Eve and Adam astray, and just as the Adversary himself was leveled by the pride of self importance and self worship (Isaiah 14:12-14, Luke 10:18, 1 Timothy 3:6).  Because Uzziah refused to repent and was angry at the priests who stood against him and for the LORD, he was made a leper by God as punishment.  He ended badly after beginning well because of pride overwhelming his sinful disobedience.   This is a lesson for us as well, not to allow our pride to keep us from repentance and following the Lord with a humble heart in the bounds of His word, both as the role and callings we have, as well as in the submission to the Lord and those He puts over us accordingly to His word.  Remember the disobedient pride of Uzziah, the other flawed kings of old, and the Devil himself, and rather submit humbly and obediently to God’s hand (1 Peter 5:6-8) in following the principles, commands, and good examples in the scriptures. 

Idolatry, Pride, and Defeat

2 Chronicles 25:17-28

    17 Now Amaziah king of Judah asked advice and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us face one another in battle."

    18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as wife'; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle. 19 Indeed you say that you have defeated the Edomites, and your heart is lifted up to boast. Stay at home now; why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall—you and Judah with you?"

    20 But Amaziah would not heed, for it came from God, that He might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash king of Israel went out; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent. 23 Then Joash the king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh; and he brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—four hundred cubits. 24 And he took all the gold and silver, all the articles that were found in the house of God with Obed-Edom, the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

    25 Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, indeed are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 After the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. 28 Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of Judah.

Amaziah, the king of Judah, was led away from God by his idolatry and pride after defeating the Edomites.  His trust was in the illusion of his own strength instead of the reality and confession that all strength is from the LORD.  He called out Israel to do battle, presumably because the mercenaries he hired and fired to the battle with Edom at Seir led to their looting Judean cities on the way home.  No matter the rationale, Amaziah was set on attacking Joash and the Israelites to face the defeat prophesied about when he turned to the idols of Edom and threatened to kill the messenger of God sent to warn him.  He wanted to shoot the messenger because God had hardened his heart and sealed his fate in this time now with the mind set on warfare against God’s people.  Even Joash then warned him not to meddle with trouble because it would only lead to failure, to defeat.  Amaziah’s pride and God’s sentence married up and led to his demise.  The army of Israel under Joash captured the king, broke the walls of Jerusalem, and pillaged the valuables of God’s house of worship and sacrifice.  Though Amaziah outlived Joash, he eventually was conspired against and killed him for turning against the LORD.  We learn first of all that the first commandment is tantamount for worship and honor of a loyal heart of faithfulness.  We also see that the end of those who refuse God’s call to trust His message and messengers with repentance and obedience as a result, these will meet a tragic end of His judgment.  The work we are to do is to believe whom He sent, Jesus Christ, and not our own efforts or reasoning.  Repentance and faith like Abraham who believed God for righteousness to be reckoned to his account (Romans 4:3, James 2:23, Galatians 3:9), this is the call to all in rebellion and idolatry of self and other gods.  It was true for Amaziah, and just as true for us today, the difference being the clarity provided by the warning and hope of the gospel of Jesus the Christ in the message of the ultimate Messenger sent to us as Hebrews 1:1-2 reminds us.  Idolatry and pride against the Lord and His anointed (the Messiah, the Christ) only ends in eternal defeat after death; life, hope, and peace with God are found in hearing, actively believing, trusting in the work of Christ, and being reconciled by faith because we heed the Messenger. 

A Disloyal Heart Problem

2 Chronicles 25:1-16

    1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.

    3 Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established for him, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king. 4 However he did not execute their children, but did as it is written in the Law in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall die for his own sin."

    5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, according to their fathers' houses, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield. 6 He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him, saying, "O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the children of Ephraim. 8 But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help and to overthrow."

    9 Then Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?"  And the man of God answered, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this." 10 So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.

    11 Then Amaziah strengthened himself, and leading his people, he went to the Valley of Salt and killed ten thousand of the people of Seir. 12 Also the children of Judah took captive ten thousand alive, brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were dashed in pieces.  13 But as for the soldiers of the army which Amaziah had discharged, so that they would not go with him to battle, they raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon, killed three thousand in them, and took much spoil.

   14 Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them. 15 Therefore the anger of the LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, "Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?"

    16 So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, "Have we made you the king's counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?"  Then the prophet ceased, and said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice."

Amaziah did not follow God with a faithful heart.  He had a disloyal heart problem.  He began with mixed approaches to justice, executing the murderers of his father Joash, who was killed for murdering the faithful priest and mentor Jehoiada.  But Amaziah drew the line at killing their children, understanding that each should be accountable for their own sin, not for those of their fathers (Deuteronomy 24:16).  He went further from the LORD when setting Judah against the Edomites in war and hiring Israel to assist his Judean forces, but was warned by a prophet to not do such a thing to fight his own and God’s people; if he did, victory would be on the opposing side.  He relented and paid back the mercenary fee to the Israel mercenaries, but they raided cities of Judah on their way home for being snubbed by them.  Then Amaziah committed the final sinful rebellion against the LORD by taking the idols of the Edomites back from the slaughter and worshiping them and their false and dead gods instead of the one God of the first commandment.  When a prophet questioned the king as to why and how he could trust in a false god which could not save those who did and died, Amaziah threatened to kill him.  The prophet knew then that the LORD had determined to end the king, destroying him and his evil reign of sin.  We learn then that the problem of a disloyal heart must be cured with a new heart made loyal and faithful to the Lord to avoid destruction.  In Christ we are reborn and given that new heart to desire following Christ and keeping His word, the loyalty of a willing disciple changed from false worship of our own imagination to true worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).  Truly there is no other way to trust and obey but in a regenerated rebirth with a new heart and mind able to follow and worship our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ! 

Following Bad Examples to Apostasy

2 Chronicles 24:15-27

   15 But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. 16 And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.

    17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. 18 Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. 19 Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the LORD; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.

    20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.'" 21 So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, "The LORD look on it, and repay!"

    23 So it happened in the spring of the year that the army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. 25 And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died. And they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

    26 These are the ones who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons, and the many oracles about him, and the repairing of the house of God, indeed they are written in the annals of the book of the kings. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

The once good king Joash had the priest Jehoiada as mentor and guide, a godly influencer until he died.  Then the king listened to the ungodly leaders among Judah and led him away from the LORD to serve self and idols instead.  Many prophets were sent to warn Joash, but he refused to listen and repent from his evil ways of the rebellion of breaking the first commandment.  He did not have ears to hear.  Finally, Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest confronted Joash, and he was murdered by stoning for the message of God leaving the king because he had left Him.  As Matthew 23:35 tells us, the prophet was murdered between the temple and the altar in front of the house of the LORD where He should have been worshiped and sacrifices should have been made to Him for such sin.  As Zechariah the mouthpiece of God died, he prayed for God to take notice of the murder and apostasy, and to enact vengeance (Revelation 6:10) on that rebellion against the only God, the one to whom worship is due.  The LORD answered with the Syrian army destroying the leaders who led Joash into apostasy with a much smaller army, for the LORD had forsaken them for following a sinful leader contrary to God’s written and spoken word calling for righteousness and repentance for reconciliation.  They did not prosper because they rejected Him and His word, and the abject apostasy resulted in ruin.  In the end, Joash was simply buried apart from the other kings and his son Amaziah took to the throne.  The lesson for us is to find a spiritual mentor to come alongside us for discipleship, but not to fall away and not listen to God’s word if that one is no longer with us; we all are accountable to God and His word foremost, and are to live accordingly to avoid even the edges of apostasy in serving our self or other idols in place of the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father by the enabling and guidance of His Spirit living within us.  Remember the examples of those who followed bad examples (1 Corinthians 10:11) and follow good examples and according to His word (1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Timothy 3:16-17) written and lived out when Emmanuel walked among us and imitated by other faithful ones who have gone before us.  May we not follow bad examples of apostasy, but good examples of faithfulness, righteousness, and humility, those running the race to the goal of the upward call of God in Christ (Philippians 3:13-14, 17-18).  May we follow Christ and imitate those who imitate Him according to His word.  Amen!

Dragging Sandals

2 Chronicles 24:1-14

    1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.

    4 Now it happened after this that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD. 5 Then he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you do it quickly."
However the Levites did not do it quickly. 6 So the king called Jehoiada the chief priest, and said to him, "Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD and of the assembly of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?" 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD to the Baals.

    8 Then at the king's command they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9 And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God had imposed on Israel in the wilderness. 10 Then all the leaders and all the people rejoiced, brought their contributions, and put them into the chest until all had given. 11 So it was, at that time, when the chest was brought to the king's official by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, that the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it and returned it to its place. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

    12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD; and they hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also those who worked in iron and bronze to restore the house of the LORD. 13 So the workmen labored, and the work was completed by them; they restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it. 14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; they made from it articles for the house of the LORD, articles for serving and offering, spoons and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

Joash began well as a child king, doing what pleased God for the time in which the priest Jehoiada still lived and guided him; unfortunately, afterwards he would fall away.  Here we see the burning desire in Joash to restore the house of God which the wicked woman Athaliah had desecrated with idols and unholy use of the dedicated things of God’s tabernacle.  She had rededicated the things of the LORD to false gods in rebellion against the only real and living Lord God of Israel and Judah, and now the godly king Joash set about to restore and reform the worship back to the purity commanded and prescribed by the LORD.  He tasked the priests and Levites to go to each city and gather contributions for the work, but they dragged their sandals and moved ever so slowly.  Therefore, the king then used godly wisdom to make a collection box outside the temple of God at its gate and directed all the people of God to put their contributions for the work of God’s house in it as they entered, just as Moses had first ordained (Exodus 30:16) as they wandered before entering the promised land.  The people gave willingly and abundantly (2 Corinthians 8:3), and those in charge daily brought the chest to the king to collect the funds to be dispersed to the workers by the priest Jehoiada and Joash for supplies and labor in restoring the temple.  These workmen were worthy of their hire, completing the work with the finished temple as it once was once more.  They even made it reinforced, stronger and sturdier that previously.  The leftover funds were used to make serving and offering vessels for God’s house; none went to waste or was misused in any way, for the people had a mind to honor God and not seek their own gain.  Such it should be with God’s people in Christ today, giving willingly to meet the needs of the temple which is us, His people, as well as the place we worship in.  We should not drag our sandals when we hear of the needs and are asked to gather what is required for the work of the gospel.  Where our treasure sits is where our hearts are, so we need to fill the box for God’s work.

Coup de Grace

2 Chronicles 23:1-21 

   1 In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. 2 And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the chief fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

    3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, "Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD has said of the sons of David. 4 This is what you shall do: One-third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, shall be keeping watch over the doors; 5 one-third shall be at the king's house; and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation. All the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD. 6 But let no one come into the house of the LORD except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. 7 And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out."

    8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each man took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed the divisions. 9 And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of God. 10 Then he set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and by the temple, all around the king. 11 And they brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, gave him the Testimony, and made him king. Then Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, "Long live the king!"

   12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people in the temple of the LORD. 13 When she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, also the singers with musical instruments, and those who led in praise. So Athaliah tore her clothes and said, "Treason! Treason!"

    14 And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, "Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not kill her in the house of the LORD."  15 So they seized her; and she went by way of the entrance of the Horse Gate into the king's house, and they killed her there.

    16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the LORD's people. 17 And all the people went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the LORD to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David. 19 And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter.

    20 Then he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the LORD; and they went through the Upper Gate to the king's house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom. 21 So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

Joash was made king in a coup de grace; it was God’s good favor to arrange a takeover of the throne from Athaliah, who had killed all the Royal heirs but Joash after Ahaziah saw that her son was killed and had taken the throne herself.  Jehoiada the priest (whose name means "Jehovah knows") had gained power in secret, rallying the army and priests and together making a covenant promise to the LORD to put His chosen on the throne, the king’s son Joash.  This was dangerous because Athaliah would have their heads if caught, but they valued the LORD’s will in His promise of a ruling lineage from David to be worth the cost of caught.  Jehoiada the faithful had guards set around the temple as the priest anointed Joash king, then celebrating with trumpet sound to commemorate the crowning.  The cheering crowd and celebratory music brought the angry Athaliah running to the temple crying “treason,” but they took her back outside the temple and killed her to avoid desecrating that holy place.  Then Jehoiada covenanted with the people and the new king to be devoted to the LORD alone, and subsequently destroyed the pagan places of corrupt worship and set the temple of God back in order according to the commands and directions given to Moses long ago.  They kept the unclean from reentering that holy place as well.  After this, they escorted king Joash from the house of the LORD to place him on the throne, bringing peace and quiet to the land again after slaying the corrupt evil hanging over Judah for the past six years.  We learn that God has the final say in who rules His people, even allowing a coup to overthrow evil and bring grace to rule.  He did this on the cross, eliminating the rule of the adversary (John 12:31, Acts 26:18, Hebrews 2:14-15) and setting His people free in Christ, bringing peace in our souls (Romans 5:1) by that coup of grace upon the cross (Colossians 1:20, 2:15). God’s grace brought a coup to overthrow an evil and idolatrous usurper and restore a righteous rule over His people.  Long live the King of kings!

Reflecting on God’s Sovereign Grace

2 Chronicles 22:1-12 

    1 Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place, for the raiders who came with the Arabians into the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, reigned. 2 Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother advised him to do wickedly. 4 Therefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD, like the house of Ahab; for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction. 5 He also followed their advice, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth Gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram. 6 Then he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which he had received at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

    7 His going to Joram was God's occasion for Ahaziah's downfall; for when he arrived, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. 8 And it happened, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who served Ahaziah, that he killed them. 9 Then he searched for Ahaziah; and they caught him (he was hiding in Samaria), and brought him to Jehu. When they had killed him, they buried him, "because," they said, "he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart."

    So the house of Ahaziah had no one to assume power over the kingdom.

    10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. 12 And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Ahaziah was the youngest son of Jehoram the evildoer who was the son of Jehoshaphat who did both good and evil.  The other male siblings of Ahaziah had been killed by Arabian raiders, and the people kept the successor in the family by making this unfit man who took after evil Ahab their king.  The hunter after the line of Ahab, Jehu, found Ahaziah while killing Ahab’s descendants and killed him also because of his wickedness and idolatry.  There was nobody to succeed him, so Athaliah his mother took the throne of Judah after first killing off any potential royal heirs.  She missed Joash the son of Ahaziah because his sister Jehoshabeath hid him from the murdereress.  God was preserving the bloodline for king David’s sake according to His promise that it would endure until the Messiah was born of that line.  God keeps His promises.  We see this here where Joash was saved and hidden away for six years as the cruel mother of Ahaziah reigned until the time was ripe for him to step forward and assume the rule over God’s people (2 Chronicles 23:11).  The most important lesson here seems to be that God’s sovereign will and promises are difficult to divine at the time situations are unfolding, but can often be seen and understood in light of His word afterwards.  This is clear as we read through the scriptures, but is more difficult in the present time in our own lives as He works all things for good and His glory (Romans 8:28).  We truly do not see in the mirror clearly yet (1 Corinthians 13:12).  Let us then rest in His sovereign grace with absolute trust in His working. We reflect on God’s sovereign grace with a certain hope (Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 1:11-12, Hebrews 6:11-12) in His working through the kings and situations of His Providence, just as He did through history to bring our Messiah, the Christ, to deliver us from sin’s judgment and preserve us as the called in Christ to that day (2 Thessalonians 1:10, 2 Timothy 1:12, 1 John 4:17).

Consequences of Following Evil Examples

2 Chronicles 21:1-20 

    1 And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place. 2 He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 3 Their father gave them great gifts of silver and gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.  4 Now when Jehoram was established over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also others of the princes of Israel.

    5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had the daughter of Ahab as a wife; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. 7 Yet the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.

    8 In his days Edom revolted against Judah's authority, and made a king over themselves. 9 So Jehoram went out with his officers, and all his chariots with him. And he rose by night and attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots. 10 Thus Edom has been in revolt against Judah's authority to this day. At that time Libnah revolted against his rule, because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers. 11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit harlotry, and led Judah astray.

    12 And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,

Thus says the LORD God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father's household, who were better than yourself, 14 behold, the LORD will strike your people with a serious affliction—your children, your wives, and all your possessions; 15 and you will become very sick with a disease of your intestines, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day.

    16 Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians who were near the Ethiopians. 17 And they came up into Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king's house, and also his sons and his wives, so that there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

    18 After all this the LORD struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease. 19 Then it happened in the course of time, after the end of two years, that his intestines came out because of his sickness; so he died in severe pain. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning for his fathers.

    20 He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one's sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Jehoram succeeded his father Jehoshaphat as king because he was the firstborn, but he only ruled for eight years over Judah.  He was so cruel as to kill his own brothers after getting established on his throne, in order to guarantee no opposition or coup due to his evil rule.  He did not stop there, but also killed other princes of Israel who could be contenders to stop him.  Unfortunately, Jehoram imitated the wrong example again, Ahab the evil, even marrying a daughter of that bad man to add to the darkness of his rule.  The grace seen in this time was God’s promise to king David for his descendants to rule until the eternal Ruler would come through his descendants, so the LORD did not immediately smite the wicked rulers of his lineage like Jehoram in order to keep the kingdom intact until all was set in motion for that time in the far future (Galatians 4:4).  Still, Jehoram led God’s people away from following Him, leading them into renewed idolatry and overall wickedness in opposition to the word of the LORD.  Finally Elijah the prophet sent him word of impending judgment for his murder, evil idolatrous actions, and imitating the wrong examples of past rulers.  God would strike down him and his family with a slow and painful sickness until they died, much like the slow spiritual death spread among God’s people by Jehoram.  Furthermore, He brought the Philistines and Arabians to loot and pillage the king’s house in Judah and all but his youngest son, Jehoahaz to succeed Jehoram soon.  It took two years for Jehoram the evil to painfully die, and when he did, nobody mourned his passing as they did for his ancestors.  They were overjoyed to be rid of him.  They did not even bury him alongside the past rulers out of respect for them and disrespect for him.  We learn then that a life of following evil examples only leads the follower and his followers away from God’s favor and into rebellious sin with dire consequences.  How much better to follow godly examples like Paul followed that of Christ (John 13:15, Philippians 3:17, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 11:1) and be honored by the Lord in pleasing Him (Deuteronomy 4:40) by trusting obedience out of the love He first showed us (1 John 4:10, 19)? 

Consequence of an Evil Influencer

2 Chronicles 20:22-37

    22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.  24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.

    25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

   31 So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD. 33 Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.  34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

    35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted very wickedly. 36 And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion Geber. 37 But Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works." Then the ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

God’s victory given to Jehoshaphat and Judah was by having the overwhelming forces attack and devour each other for empty gain.  Jehoshaphat found their bodies strewn about the quiet battlefield and his army stripped the dead of so much that the jewelry and other valuables took three days of trips back and forth to carry it all away.  They all followed Jehoshaphat back into Jerusalem with merrymaking in songs of joy with musical accompaniment.  Then peace and tranquillity followed for a while because the testimony of how it was the LORD who fought their battles to such unimaginable victory put the fear of God in all their adversaries.  The sad part after all this glory in following God according to His word, doing what God said was right, ended with a bad alliance.  Jehoshaphat came alongside corrupt Ahaziah of Israel and was led astray by that wicked example.  Bad company corrupted the good of all Jehoshaphat had done and lived for (1 Corinthians 5:6, 13, 15:33).  The LORD brought his efforts to ruin after that as a consequence of an evil influencer.  The life of Jehoshaphat is then both an example to follow and a warning to stay the course in our associations for serving the Lord Christ in the gospel for His church.  Aligning with those who do evil in God’s name corrupts us in that association over time, so our actions should be instead to call such to repentance and reconciliation or restoration, otherwise to disassociate when the others do not follow Christ by living according to sound doctrine (1 Corinthians 5:9-10, 12-13).  Let us not participate in evil by continuing association for the Lord’s work with those opposed to God by their doctrine, actions, and opposition to the truth in their refusal of accountability to the Lord according to the scriptures.  Remember the example of Jehoshaphat and the consequence of an evil influencer.  May we wisely choose who to align with, especially in the work of the Lord and His gospel. 

Put Your Eyes on God for Deliverance

2 Chronicles 20:1-21

   1 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar" (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

    5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9 If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.' 10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."

    13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD.

    14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."

    18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.

    20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

    "Praise the LORD,
    For His mercy endures forever."

Jehoshaphat faced old enemies whom the LORD previously prohibited His people from attacking, but who had now turned against them.  He cried out to the LORD to remind Him of His word and faithfulness of promises through Abraham to keep His children safe when they relied on and cried out for deliverance.  This was the trust, the faith, of Abraham who believed God and that absolute trust was imputed as righteousness (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23).  They trusted God to judge and defeat the enemy who opposed His people and against whom they in their own power were truly unable to defeat.  They put their eyes upon God alone for deliverance, just as we put our trust focused on Christ alone for His grace alone in His power of righteousness alone to save us.  The people all stood before the LORD therefore in expectation, as Jehoshaphat reminded them not to fear or be downcast in their souls (Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:9, 10:25).  The LORD would fight the battle for them, so they believed and worshiped Him.  They then would witness their God fight for them as the enemies defeated themselves without God’s people having to lift a sword or bow.  For now before that battle, the people believed God and His word through His messengers to be established in the LORD.  Jehoshaphat set the praise team in motion, singing in the beauty of holiness (Psalm 29:2, 90:17) for His righteousness in their midst, for His great and unending mercy.  We can learn to rely on the Lord by faith in His word and promises to establish and keep us for eternity in Christ alone, not our effort or wisdom or righteousness apart from His in whom we love and move and have our existence (Acts 17:28, 30-31).  Praise Him because His mercy for deliverance from His wrath and judgment on our sin has been covered as Adam and Eve were covered with the sacrifice made by God in the Garden for us (Genesis 3:21).  We put our eyes upon Jesus for His wonderful grace! 

Motivation for Reforms

2 Chronicles 19:1-11 

    1 Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you. 3 Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God."

    4 So Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the mountains of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD God of their fathers. 5 Then he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, "Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. 7 Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes."

    8 Moreover in Jerusalem, for the judgment of the LORD and for controversies, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the chief fathers of Israel, when they returned to Jerusalem. 9 And he commanded them, saying, "Thus you shall act in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and with a loyal heart: 10 Whatever case comes to you from your brethren who dwell in their cities, whether of bloodshed or offenses against law or commandment, against statutes or ordinances, you shall warn them, lest they trespass against the LORD and wrath come upon you and your brethren. Do this, and you will not be guilty. 11 And take notice: Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters; also the Levites will be officials before you. Behave courageously, and the LORD will be with the good."

Jehoshaphat reformed worship in spite of being warned by God concerning his helping the wrong people and loving the haters of the LORD in that.  He was moved by that warning and had already been lauded by the LORD for having a heart for Him, prepared to follow and actively destroying the places of idol worship.  He was not perfect.  Therefore, he put judges in place to enforce God’s word impartially across the nation, with fear of the LORD and honest dealing.  He reminded those put in such positions that they should imitate God with no such unrighteousness in thinking or rulings of action.  He also commanded the priests and Levites to “act in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and with a loyal heart.”  They were also to warn offenders with an aim to reconciliation with God and man, just as we are still to do within the church to this day.  The will and word of God does not change in these important matters of love for the Lord and our neighbors (Mark 12:30-31, Romans 13:10).  Doing otherwise brought guilt on them and on us.  We do well to heed the warning of Jehoshaphat to act courageously and do what God lays out in His word to live accordingly and with accountability.  Here then are motivations for reform in word and deed (1 John 3:18, Colossians 3:17).  The church must be continuously reformed one individual at a time to keep in step with His word and Spirit. 

Speaking Inconvenient Truth

2 Chronicles 18:1-34 

    1 Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab. 2 After some years he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria; and Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead. 3 So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?"  And he answered him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war."

    4 Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire for the word of the LORD today."  5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?"  So they said, "Go up, for God will deliver it into the king's hand."

    6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?"  7 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla."  And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!"

    8 Then the king of Israel called one of his officers and said, "Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly!"  9 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, clothed in their robes, sat each on his throne; and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 10 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.'"  11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king's hand."

    12 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement."  13 And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak."  14 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?"  And he said, "Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand!"  15 So the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"

    16 Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.'"  17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"

    18 Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left. 19 And the LORD said, 'Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?' So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will persuade him.' The LORD said to him, 'In what way?' 21 So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the LORD said, 'You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.' 22 Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you."

    23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you?"  24 And Micaiah said, "Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!”  25 Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son; 26 and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I return in peace."'"  27 But Micaiah said, "If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Take heed, all you people!"

    28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.  30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, "Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel."

    31 So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they surrounded him to attack; but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God diverted them from him. 32 For so it was, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 33 Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded." 34 The battle increased that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening; and about the time of sunset he died.

Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, allied himself with Ahab the king of Israel, and one day Ahab asked for Judah’s forces to join him in taking Ramoth Gilead from Syria.  Jehoshaphat was wise enough to first have Ahab gather the prophets to inquire an answer from the LORD to be certain it was in His will to fight, and not to assume the battle would be won apart from the word of the LORD.  Ahab gathered the Yes men together who quickly nodded in agreement to please the kings, but the king of Judah was again wise enough to ask if there was a true spokesman left to inquire God’s will from.  Micaiah was sought out, one known to not dodge from speaking difficult truth; the one sent to bring him tried to influence him to go along with the false narrative of positive thinking instead.  He first mocked the king by repeating the false encouragement of victory, even after telling the messenger sent to get him, “whatever my God says, that I will speak.”  Ahab knew it was not true and commanded Micaiah to speak truth.  The prophet spoke of Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd, itself a prophetic message for God’s people much later (Matthew 9:36, John 10:11, 14).  He spoke of seeing the LORD high and lifted up on His throne and directing a lying spirit to persuade the king to follow the false prophets’ direction to destruction instead of the truth of Micaiah the bold.  This was God’s predetermined plan, and so they ignored the true message and ran to the planned defeat and destruction, similar to how in the latter days people choose to have their ears tickled as they deny the truth of the word of the Lord spoken clearly to them that the final judgment leads to God’s glory being seen by all.  The message of the gospel is not that everyone is saved, but that there literally is Hell to pay to satisfy God’s wrath on our sin, and that the good news is that Christ took that wrath of punishment on Himself that those who believe in that work instead of their own would be delivered from the wrath to come in the final judgment (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:14, John 6:29).  Jehoshaphat went into battle with Ahab, but Ahab of Israel was killed by a seemingly random arrow, one finding its deadly mark according to the divine plan.  Even so, those who are not His sheep will refuse to come to Christ to be delivered from certain planned judgment (John 6:44, 65, 10:26-27) in the final day.  We therefore find a powerful example of the sovereign judgment and grace of God in this passage, and with it the need to speak inconvenient truths of Hell and judgment with a desperate need of repentance and faith in Christ’s work alone for deliverance from the just and due wrath to come upon the whole world.  There is no time for messages of false peace to bring empty encouragement, only peace with God through trust in and submission to the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).  This lesson directly applies to the gospel - good news of forgiveness and reconciliation with God in Christ and His work as we face the bad news of Hell and certain judgment apart from Him.  May all who hear the call of the good Shepherd be so reconciled to God by the truth which sets us free indeed!