TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37
Romans 10:14-11:12
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 20:4-6
2 Chronicles 19:2 — Yesterday we pointed out Jehoshaphat’s compromise; today he is rebuked for it. Yes, good people can do much good (2 Chronicles 19:7), but by their alliances “help the ungodly.” Dr. Peter Masters, pastor of Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle, talks about the sad state of those who are ungodly. We cannot gloss over those partnerships. The good news is that Jehoshaphat seemed to hear the seer because he instructs the Levites to warn the people about the wrath (2 Chronicles 19:10) that he was warned about (2 Chronicles 19:2). But we read that while he heard the seer, he didn’t follow the seer for he didn’t just partner with Ahab, but also with Ahab’s wicked son, Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 20:35). Again, the prophets warned him that God was judging him for an unholy alliance (2 Chronicles 20:37).
2 Chronicles 20:3 — Jehoshaphat was one of the few kings who didn’t try to solve battles on his own, but turned to the LORD and turned the whole nation to the LORD (2 Chronicles 20:4). His prayer was based on God’s past actions and promises (2 Chronicles 20:7) and the Solomonic dedication (2 Chronicles 20:9). This request was granted dramatically (2 Chronicles 20:17).
2 Chronicles 20:21 — How do you know the people really believed? They sent singers out “before the army.” That’s faith to go out armed with nothing but your vocal cords!
2 Chronicles 20:33 — This is the story of Jehoshaphat. Personally righteous, able to move the people to fear the LORD, but his desire for “unity” with the Northern Kingdom and his tolerance of the high places were the black marks on his impressive resume as a king following God. Today, many ministers are doing a great work for God, but they are allying themselves with those hostile to God. We must be willing to put faithfulness to God above “unity at any cost.”
Romans 10:14 — Yesterday we read about how salvation comes to those who believe in Jesus (that is done by calling on His name). God is sending out preachers with beautiful feet (Romans 10:15) with the Word of God (Romans 10:17); every Christian is called to go as well!
Romans 11:12 — God isn’t finished with the Israelites yet! It’s because of their rejection of Jesus that the Gentiles experience the riches of the Gospel. One day through their fulness, though, the world will be blessed even more.
Psalm 21:1 — Yes, in 2 Chronicles 20:27 we saw the king of Judah rejoicing in the salvation of God and for his answered prayers (Psalm 21:2). Never forget that the God of grace and salvation is also a God of wrath (Psalm 21:9).
Psalm 21:13 — Join with the Ambassador Baptist College Staff Quartet as they sing “Be Thou Exalted!”
Proverbs 20:6 — Phil Cooke tells of the challenge of finding faithful men (and women):
For instance, in many cases, I’ve had media people here in Hollywood tell me they’ve worked for “Fox” – with the inference that it means Fox Film Studios, or Fox Television. But with a closer look, I discovered they’d been an assistant at a local Fox TV station in a small town in the Midwest.
In another situation I had a client excitedly hire a producer from a famous church’s TV ministry, thinking that if they worked for that famous church, she had to be amazing. But I decided to make a few calls and discovered she had actually been fired from the church, and they were adamant they would never hire her again!
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