Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Picture-Perfect.

Reverend Anthony gave us a profound insight this past Sunday. Usually when people preach on Second Chronicles 20, they focus on that chapter as a single unit. However, Reverend Anthony observed that the previous chapters (17 through 19) demonstrate a marvelous picture of obedience to God, evidenced by King Jehoshaphat's mandates.

"Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought the LORD God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand..." (17:3-5a).

"...he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah. Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah" (17:6b-7).

"...he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah" (17:12b).

"Then he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, 'Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgement'." (19:5-6)

Jehoshaphat inaugurated his kingly reign with clear evidence of submission and obedience to God. I pray that, at whatever place we are working, we can achieve the same testimony: clear evidence of submission and obedience to the Lord God.

When our story is told, what will people say?

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