Journal Through the Bible: Week 95 Friday

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II Chronicles chapter 21

Even though Jehoshaphat was a good king his affiliation with the wicked ruler of Israel, Ahab, led first to intermarriage with Ahab's family and finally to the death of six of Jehoshaphat's sons and others in line to the throne at the hand of Jehoshaphat's eldest son and heir, Jehoram.

Jehoram was so evil that the prophet Elijah, who usually confined his ministry to the northern kingdom of Israel wrote a letter to the ruler of the southern kingdom. What a dark time for the nation of Judah! They did not mourn him or bury him in the tombs of the kings when he died after reigning eight years.

Does God issue any commands?

• It isn't said that God told Elijah to write a letter to Jehoram but since Elijah had a message to deliver it seems likely that God told him to write.

Does God make any promises?

• As bad as Jehoram was, God would not destroy the ruling family of David because of the promise God had made David. (Here's an interesting thought: Why not destroy this dynasty in spite of the promise? After all, David had been dead for many years and wouldn't know, would he? Well, yes, he would. As Jesus told the Sadducees, God is the God of the living, not the dead. David's body was in the grave - see verse 1 - but his soul and spirit were still alive and well in the safe keeping of his God until the time of his body's resurrection. God does keep His promises even when the person to whom He made the promise has departed this life.)
• In his letter to Jehoram, Elijah said that God would strike Jehoram with a great sickness in his bowels that would afflict him until his death. The LORD would also punish the people, and Jehoram's family because they followed Jehoram in acts of fornication.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• In spite of the wickedness of the descendants of David God kept His promise. The ultimate fulfillment of the promise is in the person of Jesus Christ.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?
Not that I identified.

TAKE TIME: March 30-April 4 Assignment

Introduction:  The story of the southern kingdom of Judah continues with the plot to remove the wicked Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel of Israel, with a rightful heir to the throne: a descendant of King David. We will read the accounts of several kings and finally be introduced to King Hezekiah. The compiler of the chronicle reached the point in his national history in which the kings were the contemporaries of the prophet Isaiah.

 Assignment:

• Monday - II Chronicles chapter 23
• Tuesday - II Chronicles chapter 24
• Wednesday -  II Chronicles chapter 25
• Thursday - II Chronicles 26:1-27:9
• Friday - II Chronicles chapter 28
• Saturday - II Chronicles chapter 29

Memory Verse

 Review previous verses.


Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God for being the Word that convicts us when we sin.
• Confession - Ask God to reveal hidden sin in your life and then confess it.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for any answers to your prayers.
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action
In this time of Judah's history kings often began well but ended badly when power went to their heads. Not only do we need to pray for anyone in authority over us, but we need to assess ourselves in the areas where we are the power in authority over others. Almost everyone of any age has someone or something, (ie. a pet) that answers to them. It's time for a heart and attitude check! Pray for those under you and ask God to help you to interact with them in justice, kindness, and respect.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 95 Thursday

Horne, Charles, and Julius Bewer.
 The Bible and Its Story: History–Poetry, II Chronicles to Psalms. Vol. 5.
New York, NY: Francis R. Niglutsch, 1909. Print.
(via Logos Bible software, print listed as being in public domain)

II Chronicles chapter 20

A large army made up from the countries descended from Lot and Esau was coming against King Jehoshaphat and Judah so Jehoshaphat led his outnumbered people to do just what they needed to do to defend themselves: fast and pray!

Does God issue any commands?

• God told the prophet Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah to tell Jehoshaphat that the shipping enterprise he had entered into with Ahaziah king of Israel would fail. This was because Jehoshaphat had once again aligned himself with a wicked king of Israel.

Does God make any promises?

• In his prayer Jehoshaphat described the promises of God made to Solomon when the Temple was built. Specifically he tells of God's promise to hear and help when the people repent of their sins and cry unto Him.
• Through Jahaziel came the Holy Spirit and he told Jehoshaphat God's answer to his prayer. The battle was to be set in array near the Cliff of Ziz but the army of Jehoshaphat would not need to fight. They only needed to stand and watch as God fought the battle for them.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• At the time prior to the Millennial reign of Christ the armies of Satan gather to war against Jesus and His army. The opposing army was killed with the sword that proceeded out of the mouth of Jesus. (This would be the Word of God which is quick, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.)
• The chapter does not tell us how God ambushed the opposing armies so that they slaughtered each other but it does say that when Jehoshaphat's troops began to sing and praise the LORD the fighting among the other armies began. In Revelation the enemy armies that surround the army of Jesus at Jerusalem are destroyed by God. In that case He sends fire out of heaven to devour them. At that time the last enemy, death, is completely and finally conquered and there is much singing and rejoicing among the righteous.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Even before the battle Jehoshaphat sang praises of victory to the LORD believing that He would triumph against His and their enemies. We do the same thing now. We believe that our God will triumph against His and our enemies and we praise Him even though the final battle has not taken place yet. We do this because we believe His Word just as Jehoshaphat did!
• Following the battle (in which the different factions turned on each other) God's people took possession of all the spoils. Following the final battle here on earth when all of God's enemies have been destroyed His people will inherit the earth which will be made new.
• It is possible that the valley where the armies turned on each other is also the valley where future judgment takes place as described in Joel 3:2. Perhaps this valley is what became known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 95 Wednesday

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II Chronicles chapter 19

Does God issue any commands?

• Following King Jehoshaphat's return from his allied battle with Ahab against the king of Syria (and in which King Ahab had been killed) God sent Jehu, the son of Hanani to rebuke him. (See 16:7-10 for the message Jehu's father delivered to Jehoshaphat's father, Asa) Thankfully for both Jehu and Jehoshaphat, the king did not react to the seer's rebuke the way his father had! The command given to Jehoshaphat was that he should not help the ungodly who openly hate the LORD.
• Through Jehoshaphat God reminded the judges of the people that their justice should be fairly given because their overseer was not a man (presumably Jehoshaphat) but God Himself. The judges were also to warn those who stood before them that they were to testify truthfully because God was watching them as well.

Does God make any promises?

• In speaking to the judges about not perverting justice Jehoshaphat reviewed standards God had given in the Pentateuch. Those who corrupted judgment would be judged by God. Those who delivered justice would be honored and esteemed by God.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the Righteous Judge.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet future events?

• Jehoshaphat installed judges and priests to rule righteously over the people in the stead of God. The Bible teaches that the righteous will rule and reign with Christ in His Kingdom.