Second Chronicles 18:23

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 18:23-27, “Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?[24] And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.[25] Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;[26] And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.[27] And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.” What happened to Micaiah reminds us a little bit of what happened to Jesus. Because we are Jesus’ representatives on the earth, people will treat us the way they treated Him. That is the reason that there are horrible persecutions that some Christians are called to suffer. The servant is not greater than his Lord. Micaiah knew the will of God. He knew that Zedekiah was going to see the end of his life. He knew that Ahab was going to see the end of his life. Everyone’s life is in God’s hands, and the Lord decides how long each person will be alive on this earth. Get right with the Lord. The end is coming. It says in Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” That is one reason that we should never take vengeance on others. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. He has plenty of ways to bring judgement when He decides that it is time.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 18:28-34, “So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.[29] And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.[30] Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.[31] And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.[32] For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.[33] And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.[34] And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.” Ahab decided to disguise himself so that the enemy soldiers would not be able to identify him. There is only one problem: God knows, and God controls. Ahab could not hide from God, and God had already said through the prophet Micaiah that Ahab would die in this battle. Notice that it says in verse thirty-three that “a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel.” What does it mean that the man “drew a bow at a venture?” It means that he was not aiming at any particular thing. Why did that arrow hit king Ahab? Because God wanted it to do just that. God is in control. With God there are no accidents and no coincidences. Ahab died because it was God’s time for him to die.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 19:1-3, “And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.[2] And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.[3] Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.” Jehoshaphat is thinking everything is fine. He survived the battle with the Syrians, and now he is going home in peace. There is just one problem: God knows. God sees. God hears. God is holy and His holy standards are always before Him. God makes His decisions based upon His perfect standard of holiness. Verse two is a serious message from God to Jehoshaphat: “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.” It is a very good thing that God is merciful through His Son Jesus, and slow to anger. It is also a very good thing that Jehoshaphat had done some things right. Do right as much as you can because God sees and knows.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 19:4-7, “And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.[5] And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,[6] And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.[7] Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.” Jehoshaphat was one of the better kings, and these verses show us that very fact. Jehoshaphat knew that it was very important that the judges do the right thing and make the right decisions. In our country the judges have a tremendous amount of power. They are the final arbiters of so many things. How will they be able to make the correct decisions? They need to take the advice that Jehoshaphat gave to his judges in verse six, “Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD.” God puts people in places of authority, and they are responsible to God. Notice the last part of verse seven. Judges should not have “respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.” These two things have caused bad judgment far too many times. In a sense a judge should have a blindfold: equal justice no matter who is standing before that judge. Of course, it is obvious to anyone that the taking of bribes would be a terrible thing. That is corruption in the worse way.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 19:8-11, “Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.[9] And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.[10] And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.[11] And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.” Because ancient Israel was very much a religious society, the religious leaders also had responsibilities in solving controversies. Jehoshaphat told them in verse nine to fulfill such responsibilities “in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.” To be able to help others, you must be close to the Lord, you must be consistent, and you must have a great zeal to do the right thing. What is the number one thing that the religious leaders are to tell people in the midst of their problems and disagreements? Look at verse ten: “ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD” Tell people to make sure that they do not sin. Do the right thing. In a controversy, what should you do: just do what is right and fair and honest. Let that be your guide: not what you want and not what is profitable, but what is the right thing to do. And then notice the last phrase of verse eleven: “Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.” Only a brave person is going to do the right thing. Fear will cause people to do the wrong thing. Do not fear. God knows. If you do the right thing the best that you know how, God will be with you to help you.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 20:1-5, “It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.[2] Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.[3] And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.[4] And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.[5] And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,” Jehoshaphat did what all believers do who are in fellowship with the Lord. When an issue comes their way, they pray about it. This was a life-or-death issue. Some people may not realize it, but we have some life-or-death issues facing our country right now. Jehoshaphat not only prayed, but he led the nation in prayer. People came from other cities to Jerusalem and Jehoshaphat stood at the temple and looked out over the court of the temple where people were gathered. His prayer is recorded in the next verses.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 20:6-12, “And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?[7] Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?[8] And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,[9] If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.[10] And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;[11] Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.[12] O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” In verse six Jehoshaphat says to God that Jehoshaphat knows and believes that God can do anything. That is one of the reasons that we pray. We are mere humans with very limited power compared to God. We need Him. We need Him to do things that only He can do. In verses seven and eight Jehoshaphat is saying to God that Jehoshaphat is well aware of God’s plan for Israel, and Jehoshaphat is praying to God based upon what God’s plan is. Find out the way that God is going, and go with Him. Jehoshaphat knew that God’s plan for Israel extended into eternity, and therefore, when Israel was in danger, they could count on God helping them. If you are a true believer in Jesus, you can count on God helping you too because God has a plan for your life and wants to use you. As Jesus said in John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

Notice that at the end of verse nine, Jehoshaphat expressed his faith that when the people cried out to God that “then thou wilt hear and help.” Here is one prayer that God always answers: “Help.” That is the prayer of salvation when one prays to Jesus to find salvation for his or her soul. And that is also the prayer when one’s back is against the wall and there is no other solution: “Help.”

The Ammonites and the Moabites could have been destroyed by the Israelites in the past, but God let them live. And now they are going to attack Israel. That is just not right. And Jehoshaphat knew that God is always on the side of what is right. It was just another reason that Jehoshaphat had faith that the Lord would help them. And Jehoshaphat said to God at the beginning of verse twelve, “O our God, wilt thou not judge them?” yes, God is judge, and He will judge everyone eventually. Jehoshaphat was simply asking that God would judge now. We can ask whatever we want. God loves to answer the prayers of His people, and God is always protecting His believers. Much worse would happen to us all if the Lord was not watching out for us. This is a great prayer, and hopefully, it is how all of us pray when we rely upon the Lord to help us.

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