July 28 – Jehoshaphat’s sad legacy of “unity”

July 28
2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21
Romans 11:13-36
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 20:7

2 Chronicles 21:1 – We’ve spent four chapters with Jehoshaphat – the most we’ve spent with any king since Solomon, and the most spent until Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29-32).

2 Chronicles 21:4 – How did good king Jehoshaphat’s son become known for filicide? Because of the pattern of compromise that Jehoshaphat brought in with is dealings with Ahab. Perhaps the political unity that led to joint fundraising and joint expeditions led to a joint kingdom dream? Likely Jehoram didn’t pick his bride – his dad assigned his heir (his eldest male descendant) the daughter of Ahab.

2 Chronicles 21:12 – Elijah dominated the Kings (from 1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 10) but this is the only mention of Elijah in the Chronicles, mainly because Elijah’s ministry was to the North / King Ahab, while the Chronicles focused on the South. Yet because Jehoshaphat kept intertwining himself with the North (perhaps wanting to undo Jeroboam’s split in 1 Kings 12:16 – but unity must be built on theology, not just proximity!) – Elijah intervened in Southern business.

2 Chronicles 21:19-20 – Was the worst epitaph that his bowels fell out or that he “departed without being desired.“?

2 Chronicles 22:11 – Jehoshabeath was used by God to preserve the line of the Messiah! (Matthew 1:9). By the way, who else was hidden as a small child ? (Exodus 2:3).

2 Chronicles 23:1 – The covenant was renewed, with a renewed focus on the word of the LORD (2 Chronicles 23:3), and the re-establishment of holiness (2 Chronicles 23:6). This covenant was expanded to all the people (2 Chronicles 23:16), and led to the purification of Israel (2 Chronicles 23:17).

2 Chronicles 23:19 – We had read in 1 Chronicles about the 4,000 porters (1 Chronicles 23:5), and even the lists of their service (1 Chronicles 9:17-26), but the point of listing the porters, and their reintroduction – is that the temple had porters, had porters reintroduced, and now rebuilt (at the post-Exilic time) would follow in line with Joash’s renovations.

Romans 11:26 – God isn’t thru with Israel yet! He has a plan for them but today he has extended his mercy to you! (Romans 11:30).

Psalm 22:3 – Speaking of holiness – why did God forsake his son (Psalm 22:1, Matthew 27:46)? It is because of this – God is holy, and cannot look on evil (Habakkuk 1:13), and God made Jesus to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). This chapter records the sufferings and glory of Jesus.

• First Cycle: 22:1‑2 = Complaint (to God)
  • 22:3‑5 = Confidence (in God)
• Second Cycle: 22:6‑8 = Complaint
  • 22:9‑11 = Confidence and Petition [v. 11]
• Third Cycle: 22:12‑18 = Complaint
  • 22:19‑21 = Confidence and (mostly) Petition

Proverbs 20:7 -The lapse of Jehoshaphat’s obedience led to his children losing the blessing. How will your behavior affect your descendants’ blessings?