Two Kings: Father and Son

II Chron. 20:12

O our God, will You not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.

 

Jehoshaphat Seeks the Lord

 

A great horde from Moab and Ammon was coming against Jehoshaphat. He was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord. After proclaiming a fast throughout Judah, all assembled to seek help from the Lord. He stood in the assembly and prayed aloud, In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand. Did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel...O God will You no execute judgment on them?  For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.

 

The prophet, Jahaziel (son of Zechariah) spoke the word of the Lord. The Lord said, Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but Gods...You will not need to fight this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf...The Lord will be with you. All who were gathered bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord.

 

The next day they went to the battle field. Soon they came to the watchtower of the wilderness to look for the horde. What did they find? Dead bodies lying on the ground. None of the enemy had escaped.  Jehoshaphat and the people came and took the spoil for 3 days. On the 4th day, they blessed the Lord in the Valley of Beracah. So the reign of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for His God gave him rest all around. 

 

How wonderful to see God's provision when a heart seeks Him! Jehoshaphat's words are such an example to me. When I am in a tight spot, I don't need to figure out a plan. I need to pray saying, I am powerless and do not know what to do, but my eyes are on You. Then I need to wait and let the Lord work without fear. He doesn't need my help. I need His! I need to stand firm and hold my position and trust the Lord, my salvation to work as He always has in the past.

 

Jehoram Seeks Evil

 

Jehoram was the firstborn son of Jehoshaphat and took the throne when his father died. He immediately killed all his brothers and some of the princes in the land. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and as the house of Ahab. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the covenant He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever. He made high places in the hill country and led Jerusalem into whoredom and made Judah go astray.

 

Elijah sent him a letter that said, because you have killed your brothers, walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and enticed Judah into whoredom,  you will have a plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions, and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the disease, day to day. [Rough stuff!] And in the course of time (2 years), his bowels came out and he died in great agony. He was 32 when he began to reign, and he reigned 8 years in Jerusalem,. And he departed with no one's regret.

 

How tragic is that story! He was the son of the king who loved and worshiped the Lord. As a boy, he saw the great things that they Lord had done, yet he turned away and put Judah and Israel into a hopeless situation and led them away from God.

• Jehoshaphat had military victories without fighting at all and Jehoram had defeat.
• Jehoshaphat's eyes were on the Lord while Jehoram's were on himself.
• Health and rest were Jehoshaphat's while Jehoram endured great pain and death.

Not really a choice! Health and peace or pain, agony and death... How sad to die to depart with no one's regret...

Father,
Teach me daily to keep my eyes on You and to realize that I am helpless to function without You. Give me a heart that has eyes only for You. Thank You Lord for Your great love and salvation.
In His name,
Amen