Theological Commentary: Click Here
This is a
great chapter to study humanity.
Yesterday, the chapters spoke about Jehoshaphat and his deal with
Ahab. They went out to battle. God protected Jehoshaphat, but that doesn’t
imply God blessed the action. In fact,
God sent the prophet Micaiah to dissuade the action. Jehoshaphat didn’t listen.
As a result,
when Jehoshaphat comes home, he is greeted by Jehu the prophet. Jehu chastises Jehoshaphat. God’s wrath comes against Jehoshaphat. However, God spares Jehoshaphat from the
worst of the judgment because of his fight against the false worship
surrounding the Asherah poles.
What is
great in this chapter is what follows the pronouncement of judgment. Jehoshaphat goes out and makes sure that the
ways of the Lord are taught. Levites are
assigned. Priests are appointed to the task. Judges are selected to go among the people
and challenge them to live according to God and not their own ideals.
Jehoshaphat could
have been bitter. He could have
sulked. He could have turned against
God. He doesn’t. Jehoshaphat is glad for the second chance and
makes the most of it. This is what
repentance is all about. God knows that
we will all make mistakes. None of us
are perfect. What we can do, though, is
respond well when we do make a mistake.
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