2 Chronicles 17-19

 

We are studying the Kings of Judah – Left off with Asa – Great reformer { Inherited kingdom….. mess

A) 35 yrs Asa sought the Lord – tore down high places { removed the nation of idolatrous practices

 

B) Lead the pp in passionately seeking God - Thru his leadership and example – Revival

 

C) Sad thing is in his final yrs Asa – it seems got a little too comfortable in his success

1) Time when he should have sought God, he looked for his help in man - 

 

D) When confronted – He didn’t repent – but instead in his pride he didn’t receive it – Angry

1) Begins to oppress pp

 

E) Tragic end – diseased in his feet – struggles for several yrs didn’t finish well – sad end to a great life

 

When we come to Ch.17 His son Jehoshaphat becomes king –

A) Like his dad in the early yrs Jehoshaphat is a great king – Godly King

 

B) 3 Chapters given to his father – 4 are given to Jehoshaphat-  

 

 

Jehoshaphat- takes over a kingdom that was doing great – focus on the Lord –

A) Experienced revival – He is able to charge –

                                    2 Chron 17:1-6

 

Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 And he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken. 3 Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. 5 Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.6 And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; moreover he removed the high places & wooden images from Judah.

 

A great foundation had been laid and Jehoshaphat- is going to build on it – several things to see in these opening verses  

#1 V.3  The Lord was with Jehoshaphat! –

                                  What a headline

 

A) Great description – God was with him – the idea is here in a Unique and noticeable way.

 

B) God is with all of us as believers- HS in hearts

1) Jesus said – Never leave you nor forsake you.

 

C) God is with all of us in a very real sense – Theological sense – body is temple of HS

1) But this is different

 

I think what you are saying is when you were around Jehoshaphat- something was evident God was with him

A) Now I have been around some great leaders – men very Charismatic – draw pp – electric – magnetic

 

B) That is Good – God can use that – but sometimes it is hard to decipher what is God and what is that person

 

C) But I have also been around pp – who – maybe didn’t have those qualities – but Jesus was all over them

 

D) That is the idea here: God’s hand was on Jehoshaphat- in a special way

1) His presence was with him

 

V.3 tells us why , because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals,

A) David is the measuring stick – ways of David

 

B) What are the ways of David? Pretty simple

1) David was called a man after God’s own heart

 

C) After God – early days – shepherd boy – longed for God/ loved God

D) David loved one God, pursued, fought for, failed before and was forgiven by – ONE GOD

 

E) The ways of David could be summed up in one simple word – RELATIONSHIP

1) Not religion  - tell pp not religious - 

2) David was all about relationship with God

 

 

Jehoshaphat- followed that example – notice v.4 He sought God and walked in the commandments

A) Beautiful Hebrew words here –

 

B) This word sought God means to frequent his presence.

 

C) It implies to follow – frequently pursue someone as to become a follower of them.

1) Now 7 times in 2 Chronicles it tells us that Jehoshaphat sought the Lord -

 

D) The word “sought” appeared more times in Jehoshaphat’s case and in his favor than all other kings noted together

 

Dd) So He spent time with God – he frequented the presence of the Lord

 

E) How God makes his servants – those he will use

   Men/ women who frequent his presence.

 

The phrase walked in commandments is powerful as well – because the word walked = carried.

A) Great picture here: Jehoshaphat- frequenting the presence of the Lord – and when he leaves God’s presence he carries his word with him

 

B) God’s word wasn’t something he read occasionally – Wasn’t a Sunday thing

1) He carried it with him in his heart

 

C) You want God to use you – Carry His word wherever you go! – Wherever you go – it goes

 

Notice the end of V.4 and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel.

A) I think that last statement is a huge statement – Carried God word – which kept him from following the ways of the world

 

B) Listen: If you carry the word – you don’t have place for others things – hands are full.

 

C) But if you are not carrying God’s word – guess what you are going to pick up – everything else that is out there.

 

Picture every Christian life like we see Jehoshaphat-here { We are pp on a Journey

A) Now Jehoshaphat’s starting point was the presence of the Lord

 

B) When he got up and walked out he carried with him the word of God – the commandments

 

C) Picture we have here is when pp tried to fill his arms with things – arms were already full

1) Sorry I can’t take that – because I am carrying this

 

Contrast – if your starting pt is talk radio – GMA – Oprah – RUSH L –

A) Spiritually you are heading out into the world with empty arms –

 

B) All day long pp are saying – here take this – carry this – everyone needs this

 

C) By the end of the day you are wondering – why am I so weary – beaten down burdened

 

When you don’t frequent the presence of the Lord – and carry his word – you begin to look at life the way the world does.

A) Their perspective – Instead of God’s perspective

 

B) Begin to deal with stuff the way the world does not the way that Jesus does.

 

C) Begin to view pp the way the world does no the way Jesus does

 

D) Begin to view yourself and size yourself up the way the world does not the way the Bible tells us to see ourselves in Christ

 

E) Don’t carry the word – begin to have a value system that is after the ways of the world – and not what God says we are to value.

 

Remember Paul said: Romans 12 Do not be conformed to this world – don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold – but be transformed by the renewing of your mind

 

E) How is our mind renewed? – The Word

 

So Jehoshaphat-Sought the Lord frequented his presence and left carrying his word

A) Here is the result: V.5 Therefore – idea is because He did those things - the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

 

B) Listen you want to be established – Stable – grounded – not easily moved! - 

1) Frequent the presence of the Lord – carry his word

 

C) Part of his being established was God also blessed him with riches and honor in abundance.

1) That is what being established meant for Jehoshaphat as King

 

D) Might mean something completely different for you { You blessed marriage { rich friendships

1) Fruit in your ministry!

And what we need to understand is that Jehoshaphat. wasn’t seeking those things – those things were just the natural by product of his seeking the Lord

A) They were the natural by product of his relationship with the Lord

 

V.6 Jehoshaphat took delight in the ways of the Lord

A) Took delight – didn’t just obey

 

B) Took delight ! Following God wasn’t a Job to him it was a Joy

 

C) KJV – His heart was lifted up and proud of the ways of the Lord

1) Proud to be a follower of God!

 

D) The result of that was that He was blessed.

 

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 

Idea

 You are going to have exactly what God wants you to have and your going to be satisfied in that – because you are delighting yourself in Him

 

In fact I think we could take it one step further and say – if I am not satisfied it is probably a could indication I am not delighting in the Lord

 

Delighting in something else- craving something else – not satisfied because I haven’t experienced it yet

 

Jehoshaphat took  great pleasure in the Lord and the ways of the Lord – He was blessed and satisfied  

 

God wants us to Delight ourselves in Him

A) Following Jesus is to be a Joy filled experience

 

B) Thankful – Grace / Salvation / Forgiven

Heaven / Usefulness / Family {Mike / Jamie

 

C) Never to be a Drudgery – Yes battles trials

1) But the end of the day – Delighting in the Lord

 

D) That was Jehoshaphat

 

RD V.7-9

A) Sent them out to teach the word –

 

B) been teaching him – this is good stuff – get this out to others

 

10 And the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.

 

Revival is breaking out the Word is spreading – pp are changing – the enemies of Judah notice

A) Something is going on in their midst – God’s hand is upon them – leave them alone

 

B) Philistines – long standing enemies brought gifts

Prov 16:7  When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.   

 

The people that normally hassled Judah are actually sending tribute and presents.

 

Quote  “By this little band of princes, Levites and priests, sixteen in all, Jehoshaphat did more toward impressing the surrounding nations with a sense of his power than the largest and best-equipped standing army could have secured to him.” (Knapp)

 

C) The Spirit of God was upon them ! – True of us

 

 “Thus the nation became thoroughly instructed in their duty to God, to the king, and to each other. They became, therefore, as one man; and against a people thus united, on such principles, no enemy could be successful.” (Clarke)

 

RD V.12-19

God grows the army – 1 million 160,000 mighty men of valor –

 

One guy stands out – V. 16 Amasiah who willingly offered himself to the Lord:

God is not looking for ABILITY but AVAILABILITY!

He can use ability – but not necessary

 

God is great at supplying what we lack!

 

Amasiah willingly offered himself to God !

No one had to press him into service.

No one had to seek him out for service.

No one had to look after him once he had begun serving.

No one had to lead him.

 

He was just a guy who willingly gave himself to the Lord and God used him.

 

Time when I thought – You have to be smart – have to be articulate / charismatic / bold

 

God said – Just bring your heart – that is good – I will used it

 

Now Ch.18 is a repeat of 1 Kings 22 – we looked at not long ago

A) Give you the high points – King Baasha is dead – the one who gave King Asa such fits

 

B) Several other kings succeeded – Now it is Ahab – Jezebel -  wicked as can be

 

C) Jehoshaphat enters into an alliance thru marriage – for some reason – Unequally yoked big time

Ch.18 Ahab says come into battle with me against Syria – to take back Ramoth Gilead

A) Here is what Jehoshaphat does – He says ok – and then he says lets seek the Lord

 

B) Always looking for trouble and disaster – when you make plans first and seek God 2nd

 

C) So Ahab calls for his prophets – now remember the 450 prophets of Baal slaughter Mt carmel

1) 400 prophets of Asherah left

 

D) They give a glowing report – Go for God is with you

 

Jehoshaphat says isn’t there a prophet of God here somewhere – Yes Micaiah – bad news

A) Calls him – Micaiah pretends – tell the truth

 

B) Ok – Disaster and defeat You will be killed – Jehoshaphat – high tales it out of there  - NO

 

C) Ok – Yes I am still in – Ahab – I am going to dress normal – you like a King – Jehoshaphat get a clue

1) Still goes { Brain freeze or something

 

D) Trying to impress the ungodly – you will do the stupidest things – TRUE by experience

 

E) Random Arrow – Ahab killed – Jehoshaphat. Escapes

1) that is how Ch.18 ends  Rd 19:1-4

Now here we see Jehoshaphat sin – It wasn’t idolatry it was adultery or murder – none of those things

A) His sin is compromise  and in his compromise he buddies up with people who hate the Lord

 

B) In his compromise – He defends the compromise – but the Lord spares him graciously

1) Send a prophet to rebuke him – it seems he receives this rebuke

 

C) Unlike his father – Asa - Jehoshaphat

 Repents – further reforms

 

D) Look at the end of v.4 Brought them back to the Lord God

1) Implication – backsliding had occurred –

 

E) Maybe it was brought on by his backsliding – He went and brought them back

 

V5-11 Set up Judges  Rd

 

How Judges should serve!

1. Fear of the Lord v.6

 

2. Faithfully – v.9

 

3. With a loyal or whole heart

 

Listen Exciting times are reserved for this nation

A) God doesn’t owe us a revival – but if it comes

    EXCITING { Begins my heart – your heart

 

B) Some of us are praying – Lord send revival here

Start in us – our hearts – this place

1) God so graciously pours out His Spirit we can partake of that movement

 

C) If God doesn’t bring a revival that means it has already set its course for Judgment

1) That will be exciting too

 

D) Listen we could have lived at any time in God’s time table – Chosen us for such a time as this

1) Exciting to be living in these times -