Never Changing

1 Kings 21 & 22, 2 Chronicles 18, 19 and 20

God doesn’t change someone once told me. 

He is unchanging.

His love for people is so great.

So great that He sent His One and Only Son.

That is a true fact.

And it never fails to move me.

God of all time and all the earth.

LORD over all the stars and the sun and the moon.

He knows all their names and ours too.

God of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and today.

Today we meet up with the Chronicler again, who has little use for wicked kings. We read about Jehoshaphat and his approach to battle and we read about Ahab’s demise.  Disaster finally comes and the hammer falls, as Ahab and Jesoshaphat go into battle together to fight the king of Aram for Ramoth Gilead. 

Ahab and Jehoshaphat.  A study in contrasts. 

It is Jehoshaphat who seeks Godly counsel before determining whether to even go to war.  Jehoshaphat who asks Ahab for a true prophet of God.  And Ahab says: 2 Chron 18:7 “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad.  He is Michaiah, son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that.” says Jehoshaphat.

This is what Michaiah said in 2 Chron 18:22 “’The LORD has decreed disaster for you.’ 33 Someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor.  The king told the chariot driver, ‘Wheel around and get me out of the fighting.  I’ve been wounded.’ 34 All day long the battle raged and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameas until evening.  Then at sunset he died.”

No M*A*S*H unit.

No trip to the ER. 

Ahab just bled out and died. 

Hit by a stray arrow.

Thinking ahead of time that if he dressed like a regular soldier that no one would target him. That he could avoid prophesy. 

Jehoshaphat did incur God’s wrath for working with Ahab.  But he also did great good and holy work, leading the people well. 2 Chron 19: 4 “Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.  5 He appointed judges. “

I love his words of instruction to the elders/judges which ring with the sound of Moses and of Joshua and David and Solomon.

Vs 6 “Consider carefully what you do,

Because you are not judging for man

But for the LORD

Who is with you

Whenever you give a verdict.

7 Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you.

Judge carefully

For with the LORD our God

There is no injustice or partiality or bribery.

9 You must serve faithfully

And wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD. 

11 Act with courage

And may the LORD be with those who do well.”

In chapter 20 war looms and Jehoshaphat is alarmed.  

In 2 Chron 20:3 “He resolved to inquire of the LORD and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; Indeed; they came from every town in Judah to seek him.”

And Jehoshaphat prays a beautiful earnest prayer for God’s help and deliverance ending with “We do not know what to do but our eyes are on you.” (vs 12)

Vs 14 “Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, a Levite…

15 Listen, King Jehoshaphat

And all who live in Judah and Jerusalem!

This is what the LORD says to you:

‘Do not be afraid

Or discouraged

Because of this vast army.

For the battle is not yours

But God’s.

17 You will not have to fight this battle.

Take up your positions

Stand firm

And see the deliverance

The LORD will give you,

O Judah and Jerusalem.

Do not be afraid

Do not be discouraged.

Go out and face them tomorrow

And the LORD will be with you.’”

18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 19 Then some Levites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel with a very loud voice.  Praise Him for the splendour of His Holiness. “

So typical of the Chronicler that the bad guy gets punished and the good guy comes out on top.   

Jehoshaphat leading Judah.

Teaching them to listen to God’s voice.

“While Israel is scattered on the hills

Like sheep without a shepherd.” 2 Chron 18:16

These wild and crazy stories.  Of leading well and following well.