SHOWERS

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2 Chronicles 17-20

The kingdom of Israel split into two parts around 930 BC.  The northern kingdom was called Israel and the southern kingdom was called Judah.

Jehoshaphat was one of the kings of Judah.  He ruled in Jerusalem. His reign began around 872 BC and lasted 25 years.  The bible tells us that he was one of the few kings who followed after God.

1 Kings 22:42-43  – Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 25 years in Jerusalem.  His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.  He walked in all the way of Asa his father.  He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord�

Jehoshaphat was a successful king, who built a very strong military. He put garrisons in numerous cities and he established store cities in case of war.  1 Chronicles 17:14-19 tells us that he had over a million mighty men of valor in his service. 

Scripture also reveals that because he trusted in God and not in the might of his army, God blessed him.  The nations surrounding Judah had a fear of the Lord and they would not attack her. 

Although Judah and Israel were enemies, Jehoshaphat eventually makes peace with Israel and the two nations join forces to attack common enemies such as Syria, Ammon and Moab.

As impressive as his military was, his true strength was found in his relationship with God.  It is clear that this man served the Lord with all his might. 

2 Chronicles 17: 6 – His [Jehoshaphat's] heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.  And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

Let's talk about the high places for a minute.  In general, this refers to altars that were erected on hilltops for purposes of worship and sacrifice.  While there were instances of these altars being dedicated to Jehovah, they were usually associated with false gods and wicked practices. 

The high places were a constant source of temptation/sin to God's people.  These places of idolatry were often built up by the wicked kings and more or less tolerated by the more righteous kings; it seemed as though Judah and Israel could never fully stamp them out of existence. That is why it is so significant that Jehoshaphat was able to shut them down during his reign. 

In addition, Jehoshaphat had a great desire to teach the people of Judah about the law of God.  He sent priests and teachers throughout the nation to instruct the people in the ways of God.

2 Chronicles 17:7-9 – In the third year of his reign he sent his officials� and with them the Levites�and with the Levites the priests� and they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the Lord with them.  They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among of the people.   

He also established a court system based on the law of God, so that justice would prevail in the land.  I wish we had that today!

2 Chronicles 19:5-7 – He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.  And he said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man, but for the Lord�let the fear of the Lord be upon you.  Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes".

That is not to say that Jehoshaphat was a perfect man.  He made his share of wrong choices. 

Do you remember hearing about a very wicked king named Ahab?  Do you remember his equally wicked wife, Jezebel?  They were two of the most evil rulers in the era of the biblical monarchs.  Well, at one point Jehoshaphat had his daughter marry one of Ahab's sons to cement a political bond between Judah and Israel.   Because of this bond, he fought in a war as an ally of Ahab.  Things did not go well for them – in fact, Ahab died in that particular battle! 

Later on, he made another alliance with a wicked king named Ahaziah.  The two of them built a number of ships for trade, but a prophet foretold that the ships would be destroyed because Jehoshaphat had entered into business with an evil man. Sure enough, he lost everything he had invested in that deal.     

He excelled at leading the nation.  The Lord gave him peace with other countries.  His plans prospered.  He had a good relationship with the Lord.  He had wealth and respect.  He was making a difference in his world by establishing a fair court system.  He brought his generation closer to the Lord through a public teaching campaign. 

I imagine that most of the citizens of Judah were happy to be living in such a peaceful, prosperous, righteous time (I know I would).

Our friend the king is busy doing good, seizing the day, serving God and doing what is right.  Then, all of a sudden, this happens:  

2 Chronicles 20:1-2 – After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Menunites came against Jehoshaphat for battle.  Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and behold, they are in Hazazontamar (that is, Engedi)".

All of a sudden, the good king is facing an unexpected, unprovoked enemy attack of epic proportions. This was not just some little skirmish.  This was a full out war, with the very real possibility that Judah would cease to exist as a nation and all God's people would be destroyed.  (Not to mention the painful, humiliating death that waited specifically for Jehoshaphat).   

2 Chronicles 20:3 – Then Jehoshaphat was afraid� 

What do you think was going through the king's mind at this point? 

I bet one thing was all the horrible death and destruction that would be possible because of this attack.

I bet another thing was the universal thought 'why me' or 'why would God allow this to happen'?  These are both good questions that come to the minds of all Christians who face trying circumstances.

I bet he wondered 'what am I going to do?' 

It's time to see what is truly down in Jehoshaphat's heart of hearts� will he try to fight this battle in his own strength, trusting in his army or will he seek God for an answer?

2 Chronicles 20:3 – � and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

And so we find that Jehoshaphat does the thing that most true Christians do – he seeks the will of the Lord, believing that God will deliver him.  2 Chronicles 20:4-12 gives us the earnest, heartfelt, eloquent prayer that the Jehoshaphat prayed on behalf of the entire nation.  It is too long to quote here, but please take time to read it!

As we would expect, God answered his prayer:

2 Chronicles 20:13-15 – Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives and their children.  And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah�and he said, "Listen all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and king Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but God's�"

God reassures his people that He is right there with them.  He also gives them instructions; they are to muster the army, go out to battle, stand firm, hold their position and watch what God will do on their behalf (verses 16-17).

So, the next day the people get ready.  But there was something unusual about the way this battle was fought.  The battle was not led by the infantry or the archers or any of the trained soldiers.  The Bible tells us that men in sacred robes went before the army singing praise to God.  The Bible goes on to reveal that victory came during the praise!

2 Chronicles 20:22 – And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.

God had the enemies of Judah turn on one another, until all of them were destroyed.  Then Judah went and collected all the plunder.  Then they returned to Judah and held another giant praise session to thank God for what he had done. 

Because of this great victory, God was glorified and known to all the other nations around Judah.  What a great testimony – and what great lesson! It is a lesson, because the principles contained in this narrative still apply to us today. 

Let's switch gears for a moment and look at ourselves. 

I think that you and I are probably a lot like Jehoshaphat. If you are living in America, you can count yourself as prosperous.  You probably have a job that you like and you excel at it (if not, you at least have the opportunity to change it).  You are probably at peace with those around you.  Most likely you have the respect of your family, friends and coworkers. 

I bet you already have a personal relationship with Jesus, and you are probably doing things to influence others for Christ.  You may very well be part of an organization that is striving to bring justice to those who need it. 

Like Jehoshaphat, you may have made a bad decision or two which resulted in some hardships, but overall can you say that things are pretty good?  Can you see how blessed you are? Can you see the parallel between the ancient king and yourself?

Perhaps, like Jehoshaphat, you are facing a battle.  One day you were serving God and doing your best in life, when an unexpected, unprovoked attack comes upon you.  The attack has the potential to destroy you or someone you love.

Maybe the attack comes in the form of a sickness or a financial loss.  Perhaps it comes in the form of an addiction or maybe your house is destroyed in a flood or wild fire.  Regardless of what it is, the source of the attack is clear.

John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

• What went through your mind when the enemy attacked?  Did fear come upon you as it did the good king?
• Did you think of all the horrible consequences that would be possible because of this attack?
• Did you wonder 'why me' or 'why would God allow this to happen'?
• Did you ask yourself 'what am I going to do'?

Although your first instinct might be to try and solve this problem yourself, I suggest you follow the pattern of king Jehoshaphat.

First, seek the Lord in prayer.  Take your situation before God as the king did.  Fast if you feel it is necessary.  Create a time and an atmosphere where you can hear God speak to your heart.  Jehoshaphat took action, but only after he had a word from God.

Don't praise based on your circumstances; praise God based on His goodness and power.  Praise Him for his attributes and mercy.  Praise him for his loving protection and provision.  Praise him for all things!

The scripture tells us that God inhabits our praise.  When we praise him, it is an open door for him to come into our situation and make changes. 

In his book Destined for the Throne, author Paul Billheimer tells us "Praise and God's presence are on the same wavelength: they attract one another. Though God is everywhere at once, He is not necessarily everywhere in benign influence.  Where joyful, happy praise is expressed, God is powerfully and compassionately active."

So, let me give you some Encouragement: When you pray, God hears you. God saw the faith of Jehoshaphat and he will see your faith too. When we trust in our Heavenly Father, we are never put to shame. He is all powerful, he loves you and he has your best interest in mind.

Let me give your some Relief: The battle belongs to the Lord, not to you! The pressure is off. Jehoshaphat stood in faith, then sent mighty praises to the God of Heaven. In turn, God moved on his behalf. God defeated the enemy that the king could not. The same is true for you. Offer mighty praises to God and let him fight for you.

Let me offer you some Strength: Stand firm upon the promises of God! Find a scripture that speaks to your situation and put your faith into it. Don't give up - God wants your test to become a testimony, so stand strong. The battle may take longer than you thought, but God is working all things together for your good. You can make it through this trial victoriously, with God's help!

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I hope you are enjoying the online blog.  I trust that having this material online is giving you the flexibility to study the word whenever your busy schedule allows.  I am glad it is available for you to read and re-read as many times as you like.  If you find it beneficial, please recommend it to your friends and family.

  For a couple of weeks now, I have been in prayer regarding a name for this blog. The leadership of the church supported this online venture, someone else in the church made it technically possible, and the members of the congregation are paying for it.  Therefore, I did not feel good about naming it "Pat's blog".  It is an outreach of the entire Kipton Community Church. 

As I was praying, God led me to 1 Kings 18-19.  I am sure you remember this exciting passage, but maybe it's been a while since you looked at it, so I encourage you to stop and take a few minutes to read it. 

Here are the highlights:  Israel is being ruled by Ahab and his wife Jezebel, two of the most wicked people on the planet.  Under their rule, the northern kingdom of Israel has forsaken God and is serving Baal.  But God wants his people to return to him, and he has a plan to get their attention.  The plan involves a three year drought. 

In the third year, God sends Elijah to speak to Ahab.  He tells Ahab to summon the 450 prophets of Baal, the 400 prophets of Asherah and all the Israelites to the top of Mount Carmel.  Once there, Elijah offers a proposal:  The prophets of Baal are to be given a bull, which they will sacrifice and call upon their god.  Elijah, as a representative of Yahweh, will also be given a bull to sacrifice to the Lord.  The God that answered by fire would prove himself to be true, and that would be the God the people were to follow.

Baal's servants go first.  They sacrifice the bull and cry out to their god from morning until noon, but nothing happens.

Next up is Elijah.  He repairs the altar of the Lord, sacrifices the bull and lays it on the wood.  Next, he digs a trench around the altar and copious amounts of water are poured on top of the whole thing.  All of it is completely soaked - the bull, the wood and the stones. The trench itself is full of water. Then he calls upon God.  Immediately, fire falls from heaven and consumes the sacrifice, the wood, the water and even the stones of the altar.  What an amazing miraculous display of God's power!

Immediately, Elijah calls upon the people to seize and slay the false prophets.  Once this is accomplished, Elijah tells Ahab that rain is coming.  While Ahab feasts, Elijah goes to the top of Mount Carmel and prays.  Eventually a cloud the size of a man's hand is visible.    

Afterwards, Ahab tells Jezebel what Elijah had done (which is a whole study in and of itself, because Elijah didn't do any of that stuff� God did.  Seems that Ahab glossed over that point, possibly for the purpose of making Jezebel angry and inciting her to kill Elijah).  At any rate, she sends a threatening message to Elijah in verse 2 of chapter 19 swearing to kill him within 24 hours. 

At that point, fearing for his life, Elijah runs away.  He goes south, heading for Mount Horeb (aka Mount Sinai, where Moses got the 10 commandments).  On the way, he stops, exhausted and discouraged. 

1 Kings 19:4 – But he himself�came and sat down under a broom tree.  And he asked that he might die, saying "it is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers".

Physically speaking, where is Elijah at this point?  He left Mount Carmel and headed south.  Soon he will wind up on Mount Horeb (Sinai), so we could say that he is between mountain tops.  He is in a low place; a valley if you will. 

Spiritually speaking, 'mountain top' experiences are when we do something mighty for the kingdom of heaven; we have won a battle for the Lord.  But sometimes, in between great victories, we find ourselves in a low place, a place of fear or doubt.  This is exactly what happened to Elijah. We see from verse 4 that he is discouraged, weary and afraid.

Satan is famous for attacking God's people in the valleys, particularly on the heels of a victory.  Examine your own life – I am sure you can think of an instance from your own experience that mirrors that of Elijah.  Sometimes, even though you serve God, you get weary.  Sometimes, like the great prophet Elijah, you get discouraged and you feel 'it is enough' or 'I am no better than my fathers(ancestors)'.  

The attack usually hits you when you least expect it.  Maybe you wake up in the middle of the night and your problems seem overwhelming.  Maybe you are just driving down the street and a sense of despair hits you like a tidal wave; despite the fact that God has been faithful to you in the past, you are afraid for the present or the future.

The attack on Elijah's faith reached its peak when he was alone in the wilderness.  There were no believers around to encourage him.  There were no restaurants where he could get some much needed food. There was no fire for warmth or light.  He was very much alone with no help.  But just then, God sent an angel, a messenger, to refresh and strengthen Elijah.

1 Kings 19:5-6 – And he lay down and slept under a broom tree.  And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat".  And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water.  And he ate and drank and lay down again. 

Notice that in the midst of his lowest point, when he was the most tired and discouraged, God sent assistance to Elijah.  He gave him nourishment and comfort in the form of bread, water, light and warmth/fire.  Also, God had an angel watch over Elijah as he rested. 

In the scriptures, bread is symbolic of Jesus, who is the word.

John 6:35 – Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger and he that believes on me shall never thirst".

John 6:51 – I am the living bread which came down from heaven�

John 1:1, 14 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 7:37-39 – On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'".  Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The same truths are confirmed with light and warmth/fire.

Psalms 119:105 – Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto may path.

Acts 2:3-4 – And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit�

So, we can see that God came to Elijah in his darkest hour with the word and with the Holy Spirit, both of which brought him encouragement, relief and strength.

God wants to use this blog to do the same for you.  Through these messages, God is speaking his word, anointed with the Holy Spirit, to bring you encouragement, relief and strength for your spiritual journey.  Let's face it – Satan rarely attacks you on Sunday morning on your way to church because he knows it would be useless.  As soon as you are in the company of other believers and hear the word, his attack is repelled.  Rather, he attacks you in the night hours or when you are alone.  During those times, I trust this blog will comfort and strengthen you, just like that bread did to Elijah.

1 Kings 19: 7 – And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you".

I believe there are seasons in your life when one service on Sunday morning is just not enough.  Sometimes, like Elijah, you need a second helping.  Even though you read the word, I believe that reading the word and studying it are two separate things.  By faith, I believe this bible study blog will be your second helping of spiritual nourishment.  I believe it will be like a life giving rain shower in a season of drought.

I Kings 19:8 – And he [Elijah] arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

The food that God gave Elijah nourished him until he came to mount Horeb, the place of God's presence. Here he heard God's voice and received instructions for the remainder of his journey.

 I believe this blog will spiritually nourish you, equipping you with the Word of Truth, until your own journey is complete.

So, based on 1 Kings, this blog is hereby named:

• S = Second
• H = Helpings
• O = of the
• W = Word for
• E = Encouragement
• R = Relief and
• S = Strength

aka

S.H.O.W.E.R.S. 

I invite you to step into the SHOWERS of blessing that God has prepared for you in the midst of your dry seasons.

And I leave you with this encouraging word from our heavenly Father:

Jeremiah 1:12 – Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it".