Every Word

It’s Not Your Battle

He was overwhelmed and overmatched.

 

“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.’”

- 2 Chronicles 20:15 NKJV

Ever Make a Dumb Mistake?

It could have defined his legacy.

 

“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.”

- 2 Chronicles 18:31 NKJV

He Wasn’t a Sycophant

Here’s an example worth imitating.

 

“Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, ‘Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.’ And Micaiah said, ‘As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak.’”

- 2 Chronicles 18:12-13 NKJV

Don’t Be Mad With the Messenger

The truth can be a challenge.

 

“There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil.”

- 2 Chronicles 18:7 KJV

That’s the Recipe for Success

It was a difficult time to be alive.

 

“They taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.”

- 2 Chronicles 17:9-10 KJV

Being Pigheaded Won’t Help!

The best thing is to reverse course.

 

“Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.”

- 2 Chronicles 16:10 KJV

After Faithfulness, Failure

It can happen.

“Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus.”
- 2 Chronicles 16:2 KJV

Faith Is Not a Popularity Contest

She could no longer be queen.

“And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.”
- 2 Chronicles 15:16 KJV

Some People Are Confused By That

God points out reality.

“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.”
- 2 Chronicles 15:2 NKJV

You Don’t Have to Be Ruled by Your DNA

A continual surrendering of the heart to God...

“[Asa] commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.”
- 2 Chronicles 14:4 KJV