April 27, 2025 - 2 Chronicles 17-20

The story begins to move farther and farther removed from the unified kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon.  And, even as it does, and even with all the ups and downs, the promise is never really threatened.  Oh, from our perspective as observers, sometimes it seems as if things will not go as God promised.  But that’s from our perspective.  From God’s he relentlessly pursues his aims and bring them to pass.  One of the most disconcerting matters is the hostility between Israel and Judah, so much that Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, “strengthened himself against Israel.  He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah” (17:1-2).  Jehoshaphat did eventually make “a marriage alliance with Ahab” (18:1), king of Israel, but it’s not such a good thing to make an alliance with evil.  The kings were trying to decide whether or not to go to war.  They called upon Micaiah, whom Ahab hated.  Micaiah prophesied failure and, indeed, the endeavor was a catastrophe, and Ahab was killed.  On the one hand, it seems good that feuding brothers (Israel and Judah) would align with one another; on the other, reconciliation must not come at the cost of compromise.  Though Micaiah had prophesied failure, Jehoshaphat refused his counsel, went along with Ahab, and the results were disastrous.  In the midst of so many voices, we must always listen to the voice of God, especially as he speaks to us through his spokesmen in the Word.

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us

O’er the world’s tempestuous sea;

guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,

for we have no help but thee;

yet possessing every blessing,

if our God our Father be.   --James Edmeston (1821)