Today's Scripture
Jehoshaphat sends out the Teachers
2 Chronicles 17:7-10 7 In the third year of his [Jehoshaphat’s] reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; 8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 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 the people.
10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE:
What does this passage mean to me/us
In Chapter 17, the Chronicler summarizes Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah, “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his [ancestral] father David…sought the God of his father and walked in His commandments…His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord…” (verses 3,4,6)
Wow, what a summary! Jehoshaphat sought God, walked with God and acted courageously in God’s ways! Not much left to say after that!
But Chapter 17 also gives us an example of how Jehoshaphat acted courageously. He sent out his leading officials, along with the Levites and priests, equipped with the Book of the Law, to teach the people in every city and town. Jehoshaphat was not satisfied that he was following God’s Law, he wanted each person in the nation to know the Law, so all the people could faithfully follow too!
The result of Jehoshaphat’s action was a special blessing from God…a time of peace on all sides because their enemies became fearful of attacking them. For a short time, it was as if God had built a protective shield around His people as they studied and learned His Law, so they could follow His ways.
In John 14:23 Jesus tells His disciples, “If anyone loves me, they will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with them.” For me it seems that the more I invest in understanding God’s Word, the Bible, the more I love Jesus and the easier it is to follow His ways. And I have to say that my understanding has been strengthened for many years by being part of our Bible Fellowship small groups, wrestling with God’s Word in the company of other faithful seekers! If you are not part of such a small group, I want to invite you to do so soon and discover the joy of loving Jesus and allowing Him to make His home with you!
- Contributed by Larry Dickenson
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Teach me Your Word and Your Ways! I want to be a loving disciple of Jesus and have Him make His home with me. Strengthen me by Your Holy Spirit to receive Your full measure of grace and then share it with those around me.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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