163 - Jehoshaphat and his faith in the Lord.

Kathleen's thoughts

2 Chronicles 20:1-4 Judah invaded 5-13 Jehoshaphat prays Then in the Psalms 83: 1-18 A prayer for the defeat of enemies.
2 Chronicles 20: 14-19 Jahaziel's prophecy then in Psalm 46:1-11 God is with us 2 Chronicles 20: 20-21 Singers appointed 22-26 The enemy is destroyed 27-28 Judah rejoices.
Psalm 48: 1-14 The city of God
2 Chronicles 20: 19-30 Judah's victory causes fear.
1 Kings 22: 51-53 Ahaziah son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Judah's King Jehoshaphat; he reigned over Israel two years He served Baal and worshiped him. But when Ahab died the kingof Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
Ahaziah fell from a lattice window and asked someone to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of  Ekron if I will recover from this injury
2 Chronicles 20:35-37 There is a brief alliance between Jehoshaphat  and the king of Israel's Ahaziah and here we see that the Lord is not happy with Jehoshaphat.

During this reading we can see that the strength of the Lord was on Jehoshaphat and that he constantly seeking the Lord and standing on His word for guidance. It's proof to one that when you call upon the Lord He shall be found. Walk in His statues and everything in your life will succeed. Your anchor will hold on solid rock.

Blessings
Kathleen.

163 - Stand Still and See

Triump of Jehoshaphat

Chareen's Thoughts

• Then Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself [determinedly, as his vital need] to seek the Lord; he proclaimed a fast in all Judah. And Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord [yearning for Him with all their desire]. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4
• Jehoshaphat stood in front of all the people and prayed to the Lord.  In his prayer he spoke of who God is and what He the Lord had done in the past and then he brought his petition to the Lord.
• He then prayed the words of Psalm 83:1-18 This Psalm chronicles the works of the Lord and Israel's request for help.
• The Spirit of the Lord came on Hahaziel and the Lord answered Jehoshaphat and Israel. 2 Chronicles 20:15 & 17 (Amplified Bible) 15 He said, Hearken, all Judah, you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.17 You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you
• Then the Levites and the Korahites stood up and praised the LORD God of Israel. Psalm 46
• 1 God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations and wonders in the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two; He burns the chariots in the fire. 10 Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!
• 2 Chronicles 20:20-21 (21) ...he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy [priestly] garments as they went out before the army, saying, Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! 
• The enemy was overcome by the Lord.  The Lord blessed Israel abundantly. It took them three days to carry away the plunder each person carrying as much as they could.
• Then they returned triuphantly to Jerusalem and rejoiced with harps, lyres and trumpets all the way to the Lords temple. Psalm 48
• Psalm 48:9 We have thought of Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple. 
• 2 Chronicles 20: 29-30 And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest round about. 
• Jehoshaphat then made an alliance with the King of Israel and built ships.  The Lord destroyed what they made.

Felt so encouraged and inspired by the life of King Jehoshaphat.

Found it interresting that it took them three days to hall the plunder.  Made me think of the three days Jesus was in the tomb.

Blessings
Chareen

162 - our God loves mercy

King Jehoshaphat cir 1700
Photo taken by David Castor

Chareen's Thoughts

• Jehoshaphat insists on asking a prophet of Yahweh regardless of what King Ahab and his prophets say.  
• The prophet Micaiah is brought before the kings and brings some positive and some negative words from the Lord.  
• King Ahab pitches a fit and has him put in jail and fed bread and water.
• King Ahab disguises himself and joins Jehoshaphat in battle.
• In battle King Ahab is wounded and dies.  He is buried in Samaria and his chariot is washed out there where the prophecy of the Lord is fulfilled.
• On his way back to Jerusalem the Lord rebukes Jehoshaphat for standing and supporting an evil king.
• The Lord shows him mercy for taking down the Asherah poles from the land.
• Jehoshaphat then appoints judges in all the fortified cities and encourages them to do right and blesses them with the terror of the Lord.  He reminds them that there is no injustice or partiality or taking bribes with the LORD their God.
• He returned to Jerusalem and restored order in the House of the Lord and appointed Levites and priests.

 It is so encouraging reading how our God loves mercy and does justly to His people.
Blessings
Chareen

161 - Jehoshaphat and Ahab.

Kathleen's thoughts

1 Kings 20:22-43,21:1-29,22:1-12
2 Chronicles 18: 2-3

The Syrians again are defeated - The man of God approached and said to the king of Israel, This is what the Lord says; Because the Arameans have said: The Lord is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys, I will hand over this entire immense horde to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Ahab makes peace with Ben-hadad.

Ahabs Sentence... The prophet said to him. This is what the Lord says; Because you released from you hand the man I had devoted to destruction, it will be your life in place of his life and your people in place of his people. The king of Israel left for home resentful and angry and he entered Samaria.

Ahab and Naboth... Ahab wants the vineyard which is Naboth's inheritance and he refuses Ahab. Ahab's wife Jezebel organizes the death  of Naboth by getting two wicked men opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, "You have cursed God and king!" then take him out and stone him to death. This is what happened to Naboth.

Jezebel tells Ahab and Ahab goes to the vineyard of Naboth

Elijah announces doom...The Lord speaks to Elijah and tells him to go to Naboths vineyard and he will find Ahab there. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Elijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin. The Lord also speaks of Jezebel; The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land at Jezreel;
He who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city the dogs will eat. and he who dies in the field the birds of the sky will eat.
Ahab repents , the word of the Lord came to Elijah Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime because he has humbled himself before Me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his sons' lifetime.
Jehoshaphat joins Ahab to war against king of Aram but before this takes place Jehoshaphat wants assurance from the Yahweh!. You can see here that Jehoshaphat walks in righteousness and keeps his eyes on the Lord and not on man.

Blessings
Kathleen.