A Message from God. II Chronicles 19

 

II Chronicles 19 – A Message from God

 

Jehoshaphat returns home, he is met by a prophet with a message from God. “Should you help the ungodly?”

God never asks us to love one who is an enemy of God. It is one thing to love a sinner. It is another thing to love his sin.

There are people who are God’s enemies, they are enemies of the Word of God, and they are enemies of Christianity. We are to love God’s people; this is His command. And we are to love the sinner in the sense that we should try to bring him to Christ. However, this does not mean that we are to compromise with sin!

God allowed Jehoshaphat to go through this experience with Ahab because God was going to teach him a lesson from this.

We fall into the error of criticizing others because they are not as separated from sin as we think they should be. You and I must give an account for our life to the Lord Jesus Christ, He is my master. You are not. In the same way, I am not your master.

Jehoshaphat appointed judges and told them to be careful in their judgments.

When a godless man sits on the judge’s bench, he does not feel a responsibility to God. He is a dangerous judge because he is subject to all the vices. He is apt to make a wrong judgement. He is also apt to show respect of persons and may be led to take a bribe.

Jehoshaphat learned his lesson and began to organize everything in his life around God.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and New King James Bible. Nelsons Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Jehoshaphat and Ahab. II Chronicles 18

 

II Chronicles 18- Jehoshaphat and Ahab

 

Jehoshaphat teamed up with Ahab. Jehoshaphat loves God, and he loves the word of God. He is what we would call a spiritually minded man. On the other hand, Ahab is as godless as they come. He hates God. He has given himself over to idolatry and immorality. What is it they have in common?

1.    There was a matrimonial alliance. Jehoram, the son of Jeshoshaphat, married Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. These two men thought they could cement relations between Judah and Israel and bring about an undivided kingdom. What they did was wrong. A believer and an unbeliever, a Christian and a non-Christian should not get married. This alliance almost exterminated the line of David.

2.    Jehoshaphat and Ahab had a market alliance. They sent ships to Tarshish. The ships were in commerce in grain and gold. There was a shipwreck, and the cargo was lost. God could not bless this alliance.

3.    Jehoshaphat and Ahab had a military alliance. What the armies of the northern kingdom could not accomplish against the southern kingdom of Judah, Ahab accomplished by involving Jehoshaphat in a war with Syria.

God had given Jehoshaphat peace. Ahab is asking him to go to war. Jehoshaphat agrees, but this situation gives him anxiety. Jehoshaphat says, “Let’s find out what God has to say.” So, Ahab brings in a whole lot of prophets of Baal. Jehoshaphat says, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord whom we can ask?” Ahab replies, “there is one man, but I hate him.” Jehoshaphat says, “surely not because he gives you the Word of God.” So, Ahab agreed to send for Micaiah. The messenger tries to encourage Micaiah to speak the same as the other prophets. Micaiah is not intimidated. He is going to speak what God says for him to say. Ahab knew the difference between truth and lies, but he didn’t want to obey the truth. There are a lot of people like that today.

Micaiah’s message is that they will lose the battle and Ahab will be killed. Ahab does not pay attention to what Micaiah says and orders Micaiah to be put in prison. It was not Jehoshaphat’s fight, but he almost got killed. The only reason he came out alive is because God intervened on his behalf.  On the Syrian side there was a soldier. He drew a bow that had Ahab’s name on it, and it got him. He died just as Micaiah said he would.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better. If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Jehoshaphat's Reign. II Chronicles 17

 

II Chronical 17- Jehoshaphat’s Reign

 

Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, was a man marvelously used by God. He strengthened the kingdom of Judah against Israel. He took precautions to protect his kingdom. He walked in the “first ways” of his father. Not in the way David walked in his old age, but when he was a young king, trusting in the Lord.

He sent out the Levites by the hundreds and maybe even the thousands. They spread throughout the entire kingdom teaching the Word of God.

There are wonderful things that are happening today. Some are inside the church; some are outside the church. If they are rooted in the Word of God, revival will be the result.

Jehoshaphat had to build great storage places to house all the gifts that were brought to him. When revival came to Judah, it had its effect upon all the nations around them. The revival spread. Even the Philistines, who were the enemies of David, became friendly and sent gifts and silver for tribute to him. The Arabs sent flocks of animals to him.

There was no war against him. Spiritual revival is a cure for war. If a nation is constantly at war, it is because that nation has turned away from God.

This was a time of peace, but Jehoshaphat kept an army for protection. He is a great ruler. He provided ample protection in case there should be an attack by the enemy, but God had given him peace.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and New King James Bible. Nelsons Quick Reference Commentary.

Asa's Lack of Faith. II Chronicles 16

 

II Chronicles 16 – Asa’s Lack of Faith

 

Israel became a formidable enemy to Asa and Judah, so Asa turned to a former Ally that he had, King Ben-hadad of Syria. It indicated a lack of faith in God. The king of Syria responded and sent in his troops. The maneuver was successful, but now the Lord was not happy with Asa. Through a prophet God tells Asa, “Wherein you have done foolishly; therefore, from henceforth thou shall have wars.” (vs. 7-9)

The third thing to do if you want a revival is to have faith in God. Not faith in methods, nor in man, nor in a church, nor in a system, nor in an organization. Revival requires faith in God.

The moment we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we are saved. We are saved by faith, and we are to live by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Heb. 11:6). Living without God means spiritual death for us. There could be no way in the world for us to be used of God.

Because of Asa’s lack of faith, God struck him with a disease which was serious and then became critical.

When you get sick, you should call upon God. The difficulty with Asa was that he called the doctor, but he didn’t call on the Lord.

This means we take our problems and our difficulties to the Lord and turn them over to Him. It is a faith that accepts whatever answer He gives us because He hears and answers our prays in His own way according to His will. God knows what is best for us.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and New King James Bible. Nelsons Quick Reference Commentary.

Revival II Chronicles 14 & 15

 

1I Chronicles 14 & 15 – Revival

 

Asa is the first of the kings in whose reign there was a revival. Solomon was his great Grandfather, Rehoboam was his grandfather, and Abijah was his father. Asa was a man of peace and a man of prayer. He said exactly what he meant, was direct and to the point.

The revival that came to the nation came because he was this kind of king. Because of this, God gave him a military victory.

To have a revival the first thing to do is have a knowledge of the Word of God. In Asa’s day they did not have a teaching priest. They were knee deep in priests and Levites, but they did not have a teaching priest. Consequently, they were without the Law, without the Word of God.

If you really want to know God’s Word, then God is ready to meet you any time you are ready.

Why is it we cannot have law and order? Why is it that we really can’t have peace? Why is there such lawlessness today? Based on the Word of God, it is because He has been left out.

Asa and his people were turning to God and seeking Him with all their heart and Soul. There was a return to the Word of God. We need more than a superficial familiarity with the Word of God. Revival does not depend on an activity, nor on a service, nor on a method. It requires a real knowledge and love of the Word of God. If you seek the Lord with your whole heart. He will be found by you.

The second thing needed is a scriptural separation. Asa’s own mother was engaged in Idolatry. This is the reason he removed her from the place of influence. He could have removed the high places, but he did not. He went only part way with God, and yet God used him. How gracious God is!

If you want revival, the place to begin is with yourself.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and New King James Bible.

 

Invasion by Egypt. II Chronicles 12

 

II Chronicles 12 – Invasion by Egypt

 

 

First, Shishak king of Egypt came up and carried away great treasures. He lugged away a great deal of gold and other wealth of that kingdom. The shields of gold that David brought, and that Solomon placed in the temple were captured. After that, they no longer had shields of gold, so they made shields of brass. The judgment of God was upon them because of their sins.

 

Rehoboam had been brought up under the influence of the reign of Solomon and had experienced the blessings that had come. He had known nothing but wealth and luxury and expected it to go on forever. He begins to realize there may be an end to the glory of the kingdom of Solomon. When Rehoboam humbles himself, God immediately withdraws judgment upon him and the people of Judah.

 

Chapter 13.

 

After Rehoboam’s death, his son, Abijah comes to the throne. Although he was considered a bad king who followed the footsteps of his father, he did make a plea to God to try to bring back the ten tribes. It was no use, since Jeroboam had made himself king and was not about to make peace. They cry out to God, and He delivers Israel into the hands of Judah. This is a great victory.  This was God’s judgment upon Jeroboam for dividing the nation.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and New King James Bible.

 

The Kingdom is Divided II Chronicles 10 & 11

 

II Chronicles 10 & 11 Israel Divides

 

 

Taxes were the problem in Rehoboam's time. This gave Jeroboam a leverage he could make a protest. He gathered with Israel and said to Rehoboam, "If you would reduce the taxes, we will go along with you." If Rehoboam had done that, there would not have been a rebellion. The wise thing would have been to reduce the taxes. He definitely showed poor judgment. He should have followed the wisdom of the older men who had been counselors during the reign of Solomon. They knew the situation. Unfortunately, he turned to the young men.

The young men advised him to raise the taxes. This was probably the most foolish thing Rehoboam could have done. 

Israel refers to the ten tribes. Judah refers to the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

King Rehoboam sent a tax collector to gather taxes and the people stoned him to death. So, Israel rebelled against the house of David.

 

II Chronicles 11

Earlier in Rehoboam's reign, he attempted warfare among his brothers. God intervened her and prevented it from happening.

The Levites have all left their cities in the Northern kingdom. and all the priests and Levites move south to Judah and Jerusalem. then Jeroboam institutes demon worship. He made two calves of gold and said to them, "It is too much for you to go to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, which brought you out of the land of Egypt." I Kings 12:27-29. The people worshiped the golden calves. Behind all of this idolatry is Satan. This is Satan worship. 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and New King James Bible.