2 Chronicles 17:1-19
17:1-3 After Asa passed away, his son Jehoshaphat became king of Judah. Jehoshaphat had to secure the kingdom of Judah as the northern kingdom of Israel still tormented it. Jehoshaphat's endeavor of defense was successful because Jehoshaphat was with the Lord (and therefore the Lord was with Jehoshaphat).
Unlike his father, Jehoshaphat never took his relationship with God for granted; he never let it diminish. His deep and steadfast faith assured him access to God's strength and protection. As God's children, we have access to His tool shed; we open the doors of His kingdom and walk in to retrieve whatever we need for survival, protection, comfort and joy.
1:4 Jehoshaphat is described to have sought God and to have walked in His commandments. The words "sought" and "walked" tell us that Jehoshaphat put effort into his relationship with God; his heart worked to know Him, to follow His example and listen to His instruction.
Jehoshaphat rejected the corruption around him; he lived in opposition to it, even though it would have been easy to succumb to it. So many people in scripture exemplify to us that often, follow God means to go against the current. God propelled them forward, just as He does for us, but the journey is not without resistance.
In Mark 10:29-30, Jesus teaches that those who follow Him will receive abundant blessing as well as persecution. To make space for God and our faith, we have to remove certain things, people and lifestyles from our life. The removal process is not always smooth, yet Jehoshaphat decided that God was worth it.
17:6 The most beautiful element of Jehoshaphat's faith was that his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord. Rather than going through the motions and apathetically following God's instruction, Jehoshaphat delighted in obedience! It was an honor to him to serve God.
Jehoshaphat ordered the removal of the idol worship high places and images from the kingdom of Judah. It was his heart's delight to remove corruption and make space for God. Order the removal of idol worship in your life; delight in the way of the Lord. The way that challenges us to go against the current of worldly motives and selfish desire and to instead become a humble and selfless builder of God's kingdom here on earth.
17:7-8 Jehoshaphat sent a spiritual troop to inspire the philosophy of God in the families that comprised the kingdom of Judah: Leaders Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah; Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; Priests Elishama and Jehoram.
17:9 To each city these spiritual leaders brought the Book of the Law of the Lord (the Bible as it was then). God gave us these instructions as a gift, a love letter, a map. Scripture was always intended to benefit us, to set us free rather than confine or control us. God's philosophy, cherished and studied, is verse-by-verse encouragement on how to live a purposeful, joyful and fulfilled life despite the circumstances of the world.
17:10-11 It was evident even to the kingdoms around Judah that it was a kingdom protected by an extraordinary and formidable God. Even Judah's frequent enemies were wielded by God into diplomacy. The size of our faith determines the size of the blessing that can come through it; Jehoshaphat's faith was big enough to bless an entire kingdom. Every aspect of his life he entrusted to God was taken care of by God.
17:12-13 Because of God, the kingdom grew strong, powerful enough to thrive and defend itself.
Life with God is a steadily unfolded miracle. A series of dexterously distributed blessing. In tender and intricate moments, the Lord transforms and fortifies our life and spirit. His love enhances each aspect of our life. As we grow under His parenting, we become equipped with wisdom and perspective, courage and strength, an immutable sense of justice and compassion.
God could trust Jehoshaphat with power and property. He could trust Jehoshaphat with the responsibility of many people. By the way we choose to live our lives, God discerns what we can be trusted with. When we show Him that we will use any power, property or influence we have to further His kingdom (rather than selfish agenda), we receive it. As long as we are responsible with it, we retain it.
17:14-16 We are given the numbers of Judah's military might. It is not strange that Judah would have a military; we learn from scripture (Ephesians 6:12) that we are called to fight against evil. God reinforced Judah's defense by organizing a strong and faithful army. As mentioned above and in scripture, persecution would come. Though the scale of it varies from life to life, evil pushes against righteousness; God ensures that we are prepared to push back.
Of the tribe of Judah: 300,000 men under Adnah's leadership; 280,000 under Jehohanan's leadership; and 200,000 under Amasiah's leadership. It is noted that Amasiah willingly offered himself to the Lord. Amasiah submitted himself to God, dedicated himself to God's cause. It is such a blessed opportunity to be an instrument through which God delivers and implements blessing among humanity. In
Acts 5:41, the apostles rejoiced that there were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. So many in scripture were enthusiastic to serve God especially in the midst of battle and persecution - because that was when they were needed most! So many could not think of a more worthwhile purpose for their life than to align with God's.
17:17-18 Of the tribe of Benjamin (who we a part of the kingdom of Judah): 200,000 under Eliada's leadership; and 180,000 Jehozabad.
Moses' father in law Jethro, taught Moses how to delegate to trusted men, Exodus 18:13-23. As children and fellow-workers with God, we are a many-membered body, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Judah had a king faithful to God, captains faithful to God, and an army faithful to God and thus operated with divine precision. Therefore we can understand why in Joshua 24:15, Joshua proclaimed: as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. If one with God can move mountains (Mark 11:23), a whole family or nation could shake the whole earth.
Jesus also delegated, Matthew 14:19. He gave His disciples, and us, the responsibility and opportunity to produce good fruit on behalf of God in this vineyard called Earth. God distributed to each of us place and purpose in His kingdom (1 Corinthians 7:17), a responsibility for a portion of the whole. Function, as Judah under Jehoshaphat's reign, as an instrument in alignment with the authority of God!
17:19 Serve the King.
