Devotional

2Chronicles 21, a foolish king

2Ch 21:1,4, And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, … Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place…. Now when Jehoram was established over the kingdom of his father, HE STRENGTHENED HIMSELF AND KILLED ALL HIS BROTHERS WITH THE SWORD, AND ALSO OTHERS OF THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL. 

Josephus comments “HE COMMITTED THE MURDERS AT THE PROMPTING OF ATHALIAH”

Pro 13:20, HE WHO WALKS WITH WISE MEN WILL BE WISE, BUT THE COMPANION OF FOOLS WILL BE DESTROYED. 

2Ch 21:6-7, … and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. YET THE LORD WOULD NOT DESTROY THE HOUSE OF DAVID, BECAUSE OF THE COVENANT THAT HE HAD MADE WITH DAVID, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.

Jehoram was an evil king prompted by his evil wife Athaliah, but the LORD promised David that his lineage will continue

Psa 132:11, The LORD has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: “I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body. 

The LORD has promises for us as well IF we walk in HIS ways and seek HIS face!

Php 4:19, AND MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS. 

Psa 37:4, DELIGHT YOURSELF ALSO IN THE LORD, AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART. 

2Ch 21:18-19, AFTER ALL THIS THE LORD STRUCK HIM IN HIS INTESTINES WITH AN INCURABLE DISEASE…, THAT HIS INTESTINES CAME OUT BECAUSE OF HIS SICKNESS; SO HE DIED IN SEVERE PAIN…

A FOOLISH END TO A FOOLISH KING WHO SAW THE BLESSINGS HIS FATHER RECEIVED FROM GOD FOR FOLLOWING HIS WAYS, YET TOOK ANOTHER ROUTE HIMSELF!

Pro 1:7, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

2Chronicles 20, We will have trouble!

2Ch 20:1, It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, CAME TO BATTLE AGAINST JEHOSHAPHAT.

JESUS said “IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE” John 16:33. how will you react?

2Ch 20:3-4, And Jehoshaphat feared, AND SET HIMSELF TO SEEK THE LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. SO JUDAH GATHERED TOGETHER TO ASK HELP FROM THE LORD; and from all the cities of Judah THEY CAME TO SEEK THE LORD.

Often in times of trouble, when all the other options have failed, then we seek GOD! YET, the king and people of Judah immediately went to the LORD for help!

Psa 50:15, Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” 

Heb 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please Him, FOR HE WHO COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

When we see GOD at work in our lives, it builds up faith. YET, as gold is refined in fire, our faith also is refined through trouble!

1Peter 1:7, Mal 3:3

Jer 17:10, I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. 

2Ch 20:14-15, Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel … And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! THUS SAYS THE LORD TO YOU: ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID NOR DISMAYED BECAUSE OF THIS GREAT MULTITUDE, FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD’S.

BEING AT HIS FEET IN PRAYER, READING HIS WORD AND SEEKING HIS FACE DAILY IS WHERE WE FIND OUR STRENGTH IN THIS LIFE! TROUBLE WILL COME, BUT KNOW THIS! HE IS FAITHFUL AND HE IS ALWAYS WITH US!

Heb 13:6, So we may boldly say: “THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?” 

2Chronicles 19, Prepare your heart!

2Ch 19:1, Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. 

King Ahab setup Jehoshaphat to be killed, yet he cried out to the LORD and was saved!

2Ch 18:29,31, And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; BUT YOU PUT ON YOUR ROBES.” …

So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, “It is the king of Israel!” Therefore they surrounded him to attack; BUT JEHOSHAPHAT CRIED OUT, AND THE LORD HELPED HIM, AND GOD DIVERTED THEM FROM HIM. 

King Jehoshaphat almost lost his life because of the alliance he made with this evil family!

2Ch 19:2, And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “SHOULD YOU HELP THE WICKED AND LOVE THOSE WHO HATE THE LORD? … 

JESUS DIDN’T SAY TO ALLY YOURSELF WITH YOUR ENEMIES, BUT TO PRAY FOR THEM!

Mat 5:44, But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 

2Ch 19:3, Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and HAVE PREPARED YOUR HEART TO SEEK GOD.” 

His great grandfather Rehoboam didn’t prepare his heart to seek the LORD thus did evil!

2Ch 12:14, And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD. 

WE ALL HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT DON’T KNOW THE LORD, PRAY FOR THEM, DON’T PARTNER UP WITH THE UNGODLY!  PREPARE YOU HEART BY READING HIS WORD DAILY, AND SEEK HIS PRESENCE BY PRAYER!

2Chronicles 18, do not be deceived!

2Ch 18:1, JEHOSHAPHAT HAD RICHES AND HONOR IN ABUNDANCE; AND BY MARRIAGE HE ALLIED HIMSELF WITH AHAB. 

The LORD Blessed Jehoshaphat, YET he married Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel, the two most wicked ladies in all of scripture!

2Co 6:14, DO NOT BE UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 

2Ch 18:2, AFTER SOME YEARS HE WENT DOWN TO VISIT AHAB IN SAMARIA…

Ahab asked if he would fight with him against Ramoth Gilead!

2Ch 18:4-5, Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “PLEASE INQUIRE FOR THE WORD OF THE LORD TODAY.” Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, FOUR HUNDRED MEN, and said to them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “GO UP, FOR GOD WILL DELIVER IT INTO THE KING’S HAND.” 

Ahab didn’t want the truth, he wanted people to give him what he wanted to hear! Yet the king of Judah wanted to hear from GOD!

2Ch 18:6-7, …Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?” So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by WHOM WE MAY INQUIRE OF THE LORD; BUT I HATE HIM. because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. HE IS MICAIAH the son of Imla.

What Ahab hated was the truth, but his real conflict was with GOD Himself! This alliance with Ahab almost got Jehoshaphat killed, but later his wife, Athaliah, would kill almost all his grandsons (2Ki 11:1)!

1Co 15:33, DO NOT BE DECEIVED: “EVIL COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD HABITS.” 

Pro 13:20, HE WHO WALKS WITH WISE MEN WILL BE WISE, BUT THE COMPANION OF FOOLS WILL BE DESTROYED. 

Be careful who you allow in your life, and who you call friends! For you will either influence them OR THEY WILL INFLUENCE YOU!

2Chronicles 17, Trust in HIS Word!

2Ch 17:3-5, NOW THE LORD WAS WITH JEHOSHAPHAT, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; HE DID NOT SEEK THE BAALS, BUT SOUGHT THE GOD OF HIS FATHER, AND WALKED IN HIS COMMANDMENTS…. THEREFORE THE LORD ESTABLISHED THE KINGDOM IN HIS HAND; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance.

The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he sought out GOD, and because of this the LORD Blessed him! REMEMBER WE HAVE THE SAME PROMISE!

Mat 6:33, BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU.

Psa 37:4, DELIGHT YOURSELF ALSO IN THE LORD, AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART.  

2Ch 17:7,9, … HE SENT HIS LEADERS, …. TO TEACH IN THE CITIES OF JUDAH… AND HAD THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF THE LORD WITH THEM; THEY WENT THROUGHOUT ALL THE CITIES OF JUDAH AND TAUGHT THE PEOPLE. 

The king also sent teachers of the Word to teach his people! The LORD has so many promises to believers in HIS word YET, IGNORANCE OF HIS WORD CAUSES PEOPLE TO STUMBLE AND FALL SHORT OF HIS GLORY!

Hos 4:6, MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. BECAUSE YOU HAVE REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, …

HE IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES AND HIS WORD WILL NEVER FAIL! TRUST HIM!

Num 23:19, “GOD IS NOT A MAN, THAT HE SHOULD LIE, NOR A SON OF MAN, THAT HE SHOULD REPENT. HAS HE SAID, AND WILL HE NOT DO? Or HAS HE SPOKEN, AND WILL HE NOT MAKE IT GOOD?

Jos 21:45, NOT A WORD FAILED OF ANY GOOD THING WHICH THE LORD HAD SPOKEN TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. ALL CAME TO PASS. 

2Chronicles 16, Repent and move on!

2Ch 16:1-3, In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah… Then Asa brought silver and gold FROM THE TREASURIES OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD… and sent to Ben-Hadad king of SYRIA…, saying, “LET THERE BE A TREATY BETWEEN YOU AND ME, … SO THAT HE (Baasha) will withdraw from me.”

Asa’s plan worked, he made a treaty with Syria and Syria attacked Baasha’s northern cities which cause king Baasha to go back!

2Ch 16:7, … HANANI THE SEER CAME TO ASA KING OF JUDAH, and said to him: “BECAUSE YOU HAVE RELIED ON THE KING OF SYRIA, AND HAVE NOT RELIED ON THE LORD YOUR GOD, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 

Asa forgot about the LORD, he trusted in his riches and a treaty with pagan people, RATHER THAN PUTTING HIS TRUST IN THE LORD!

2Ch 16:9, FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND FRO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH, TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOSE HEART IS LOYAL TO HIM. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” 

KING ASA SHOULD HAVE REPENTED BEFORE THE LORD, YET IT HARDENED HIS HEART!

2Ch 16:10,12, THEN ASA WAS ANGRY WITH THE SEER, AND PUT HIM IN PRISON, …, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; YET IN HIS DISEASE HE DID NOT SEEK THE LORD, BUT THE PHYSICIANS. 

KING ASA STARTED OUT WITH GREAT FAITH IN THE LORD, BUT ENDED BADLY!

Pro 17:10, REBUKE IS MORE EFFECTIVE FOR A WISE MAN Than a hundred blows on a fool. 

WE ALL DO FOOLISH THINGS IN LIFE, YET WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD, REPENT AND MOVE ON!

Pro 28:13, HE WHO COVERS HIS SINS WILL NOT PROSPER, BUT WHOEVER CONFESSES AND FORSAKES THEM WILL HAVE MERCY. 

2Ti 4:7, I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. 

2Chronicles 15, SEEK HIM While!

2Ch 15:1-2, NOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD came upon Azariah the son of Oded. and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “HEAR ME, ASA, AND ALL JUDAH AND BENJAMIN. THE LORD IS WITH YOU WHILE YOU ARE WITH HIM. IF YOU SEEK HIM, HE WILL BE FOUND BY YOU; BUT IF YOU FORSAKE HIM, HE WILL FORSAKE YOU. 

Hear ME, Asa, Judah, and Benjamin, not just the king of Judah, but listen EVERYONE including US for the LORD is speaking through Azariah! THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US AND THE LORD IS DEPENDANT ON US; BUT SIN DRIVES A WEDGE BETWEEN US AND HIM!

Deu 4:29, But from there YOU WILL SEEK THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND YOU WILL FIND HIM IF YOU SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL. 

IF you seek HIM then you shall find HIM!

Isa 55:6-7, SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND, CALL UPON HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR. LET THE WICKED FORSAKE HIS WAY, AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAN HIS THOUGHTS; Let him return to the LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY ON HIM; AND TO OUR GOD, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON.

Seek HIM WHILE HE may be found! TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

Isa 38:18 NLT, For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. THOSE WHO GO DOWN TO THE GRAVE CAN NO LONGER HOPE IN YOUR FAITHFULNESS. 

For those, time ran out! HIS words of salvation through HIS SON will never be heard again!

Psa 88:11, Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? 

JESUS paid a price for you! It’s a free gift to us but it cost HIM EVERYTHING! You can’t cleanse yourself, only HIS word can do that! 

SEEK HIM! Psa 119:9, How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 

2Chronicles 14, Rest in HIM!

2Ch 14:1-2, So Abijah rested with his fathers…. THEN ASA HIS SON REIGNED IN HIS PLACE. In his days the land was quiet for ten years. ASA DID WHAT WAS GOOD AND RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD HIS GOD,

He removed perverted idol-temple prostitutes which came in during Rehoboam’s reign! He even removed his grandmother Maachah from being queen mother because she made an obscene image! (1Ki 15:13).

2Ch 14:4, HE COMMANDED JUDAH TO SEEK THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS, AND TO OBSERVE THE LAW AND THE COMMANDMENT. 

Asa commanded his people to follow the LORD, BUT HE LED BY EXAMPLE IN HIS LIFE!

1Ki 15:14, But the high places were not removed. NEVERTHELESS ASA’S HEART WAS LOYAL TO THE LORD ALL HIS DAYS. 

2Ch 14:6, … HE HAD NO WAR IN THOSE YEARS, BECAUSE THE LORD HAD GIVEN HIM REST.

Psa 46:9, He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. 

ONLY THE LORD CAN GIVE YOU TRUE REST!

Mat 11:28-30, COME TO ME, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST. Take My yoke upon you and LEARN FROM ME, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.

THIS WORLD OFFERS NOTHING BUT TROUBLE, BUT JESUS’S OFFERS YOU REST

Isa 11:10, “And in that day there shall BE A ROOT OF JESSE, WHO SHALL STAND AS A BANNER TO THE PEOPLE; FOR THE GENTILES SHALL SEEK HIM, AND HIS RESTING PLACE SHALL BE GLORIOUS.” 

SO, GIVE TO JESUS YOUR ANXIETIES, YOUR WORRIES, YOUR DAILY BATTLES, AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU REST! TRUST IN THE LORD!

2Chronicles 13, Relied on the LORD!

2Ch 13:1, In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah. 

1Ki 15:3, … HIS HEART WAS NOT LOYAL TO THE LORD HIS GOD, as was the heart of his father David. 

Abijah wasn’t loyal to the LORD and walked in the steps of Rehoboam, his father! Abijah was outnumbered by Israel, but he stood up and spoke to Jeroboam and all of Israel!

2Ch 13:5-6, Should you not know that the LORD GOD OF ISRAEL GAVE THE DOMINION OVER ISRAEL TO DAVID FOREVER, to him and his sons, BY A COVENANT OF SALT? Yet JEROBOAM .. ROSE UP AND REBELLED AGAINST HIS LORD.

A covenant of salt, salt preserves and endures, The LORD’s covenant with David also endures! YET, Abijah must be the father of “CNN”iens because Jeroboam didn’t rebel against Rehoboam, but northern kingdom was given to him by the LORD, because of Solomon’s sin! “1kings 11:11” 

2Ch 13:13-14, But Jeroboam caused an ambush to go around behind them; so they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. And when Judah looked around, to their surprise the battle line was at both front and rear; AND THEY CRIED OUT TO THE LORD, AND THE PRIESTS SOUNDED THE TRUMPETS.

2Ch 13:18, Thus the children of Israel were subdued at that time; and the children of Judah prevailed, BECAUSE THEY RELIED ON THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS. 

Nah 1:7, THE LORD IS GOOD, A STRONGHOLD IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE; AND HE KNOWS THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM. 

THE VICTORY DIDN’T COME BY ABIJAH, BUT BECAUSE THEY RELIED ON THE LORD! IN THIS LIFE WE WILL HAVE TROUBLES, BUT THE LORD CAN CHANGE ANY SITUATION! TRUST IN THE LORD!

2Chronicles 12, Judgement starts with us!

2Ch 12:1, Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and HAD STRENGTHENED HIMSELF, THAT HE FORSOOK THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND ALL ISRAEL ALONG WITH HIM. 

As Rehoboam strengthen himself, he grew confident in his preparations, (2Ch 11:11-12)!

1Ki 14:22,24, Now Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy… And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations…

Rehoboam and the rest of Judah turned their backs to GOD and worshipped idols, the work of men’s hands! 

2Ch 12:2, And it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, BECAUSE THEY HAD TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD, 

One may say that the Egyptians were worse than the people of Israel! The difference is that they are not called by HIS name! Judgement must start with HIS people, then the rest!

1Pe 4:17 NLT, For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 

2Ch 12:6,8, SO THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL AND THE KING HUMBLED THEMSELVES…. Nevertheless, they will be his servants, THAT THEY MAY DISTINGUISH MY SERVICE FROM THE SERVICE OF THE KINGDOMS OF THE NATIONS.” 

THE LORD WILL ALLOW YOU TO LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES WHEN YOU FALL INTO SIN! FOR YOU SHALL REAP WHAT YOU HAVE SOWN, BUT HIS EARS ARE ALWAYS OPENNED FOR YOUR REPENTANCE!

Psa 34:4, I SOUGHT THE LORD, AND HE HEARD ME, AND DELIVERED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS.