2 Chronicles 17-19
We
are studying the Kings of
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 didnt repent but instead in his pride he didnt
receive it Angry
1) Begins to oppress pp
E) Tragic end diseased in
his feet struggles for several yrs didnt 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
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
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 didnt have those qualities but
Jesus was all over them
D) That is the idea here: Gods 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 Gods 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 Jehoshaphats 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 Gods
presence he carries his word with him
B) Gods word wasnt something
he read occasionally Wasnt 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
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 dont have place for others things hands
are full.
C) But if you are not
carrying Gods 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 Jehoshaphats
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 cant 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 dont 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 Gods 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) Dont
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:
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
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. wasnt 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 didnt
just obey
B) Took delight ! Following
God wasnt 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 havent
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
Revival
is breaking out the Word is spreading pp are changing the enemies of
A) Something is going on in
their midst Gods hand is upon them leave them alone
B) Philistines long
standing enemies brought gifts
The people that normally hassled
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
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
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
1) 400 prophets of Asherah
left
D) They give a glowing
report Go for God is with you
Jehoshaphat
says isnt 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 wasnt 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
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 doesnt 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 doesnt 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 Gods time table Chosen
us for such a time as this
1) Exciting to be living in these times -