v. 6 Here we see the fruits of Jehoshaphat’s marriage alliance with Ahab. It may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but the things that seem expedient now oftentimes lead to trouble later.

This also makes plain the fruit that comes from being unequally yoked. Marriage is such an intimate matter that it is impossible for one to be unaffected by the other. This act of disobedience led to many more.

v. 11 All this occurs only a few years after Jehoshaphat dies. We are wise to be diligent in raising our children. Who our posterity will be and what they will do 100 years from now, should matter to us a great deal. Indeed, we ought to so live as to impact that day.

v. 16-20 Here then is the fruit of disobedience. Why then will we dare go that way?

Notice the way in which Jehoshaphat leads the people in pursuit of the Lord. An enemy comes, an enemy too powerful for them. So rather than coming up with his plans and devises for deliverance, Jehoshaphat rightly humbles himself before the Lord in pursuit of guidance. He petitions the Lord to act for His name’s sake–essentially. While praying, He recounts the Lord’s mighty deeds of old and renews his commitment to lead the people to seek the Lord. His final words are instructive for us all: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

Those are beautiful, humble words. Jehoshaphat recognized that he needed wisdom, that he didn’t have it in himself to bring deliverance for himself. So he would guidance, wisdom, direction, understanding as he sought the Lord. We are wise to humble ourselves and to do the same.

And the Lord graciously responds with a word of encouragement and a call to action. Jehoshaphat and the people believe the Word of the Lord and rightly obey. The singers went before the army in praise of the Lord and the Lord wrought a mighty deliverance. Then the people praise Him all the more. All this is exactly how it ought to be. Man humbles himself. God acts. Man responds in praise. And this is exactly how we should want it to be–every single day.

v. 37-39 The magnitude of this statement can in no way be conveyed by me in this small space. Here we have Jesus standing up in the midst of a the great feast, pointing to one of the great symbols used in the feast (that of water, lots of water), and essentially saying that He is the fulfillment of all that that water points to. The Jews may not have understood it at the time, but this is plain enough in Jesus’ words. He is the Heavenly Spring from whom we must drink if we want to know and share life.

The fact that Jesus said this in the context He did should make us marvel at Him all the more. If we could have only been there, amidst the great celebration, to hear this Man stand up and call all the people to believe in Him so that they might overflow with rivers of living….what would we have done? Surely we would have been inclined to think that He was a little crazy. But then again, He spoke with such authority, with such power. But He isn’t overly special, nothing in Him that is overly desirable, at least on the surface. So how can we accept such a teaching? How can we embrace the saying of this man? How can He say that He is the One whom a great aspect of the feast points to?

Well, our only hope–and the Jews only hope–is that their eyes would be opened by the Spirit of God. No one can come to Jesus unless the Father enables them to. No one. It is very clear cut. So even then, when a man stood up to declare Himself the means through whom every man could find satisfaction, only the Spirit of God could humble the heart and enlighten the mind to recognize that this was and is the Truth.

v. 46 The officers themselves could not even arrest Jesus while He spoke at the feast. There was a note of such authority, of such power that they dared not approach Him. This is awesome. May we marvel all the more at our great Savior.

The only reason the Lord could clothe Joshua in these pure vestments is Jesus Christ. And this is true for all the Old Testament saints. Their righteousness was based on the same Person that our righteousness is based upon, namely, the Messiah. So it certainly makes sense that after clothing Joshua with these pure vestments, the Lord immediately predicts the coming of His Branch, His Messiah, who will wipe away all iniquity. Though Joshua surely did not understand it all during his time, Jesus Christ was his only hope, just as He is ours.

v. 1 Jehoshaphat’s marriage alliance would not serve the coming generations well. We are wise to think through how our present decisions may affect those who follow us.

v. 4-7 Notice that Jehoshaphat immediately realizes that these prophets are all fakes. He realizes this b/c he had encountered real prophets time and again in Judah. Once you have encountered the real thing, impostors are easily exposed.

Notice also that Ahab knows exactly who to turn to when asked for a prophet of the Lord. Deep down, he himself realized that Micaiah spoke on the Lord’s behalf. He just didn’t want to hear it, so he made sure to keep Micaiah away. Ahab’s spiritual dullness is obvious in the fact that though Micaiah never spoke well of him, he continued in the path of foolishness.

v. 14 What must have been Micaiah’s tone of voice when he uttered his words?! Surely there was great sarcasm that made it obvious he was mocking all the false prophets and the king himself for saying and receiving only what he (Ahab) wanted to here.

v. 16-22 Micaiah’s words are incredible. Here we have the Lord declaring disaster concerning Ahab and the means by which this disaster would come.

v. 27 Micaiah’s faithfulness is certainly something to admire. He spoke what the Lord commanded him to speak, and gave the consequences to the Lord. Indeed, he was willing to accept the consequences of faithfulness. We are all wise to follow in his steps.

v. 31 The Lord sustained Jehoshaphat even though he was not where he ought to have been.

v. 33 “at random….” We realize that ultimately nothing is ‘at random.’ Here Ahab is killed by a nameless soldier, humbled in the midst of battle, while trying to sustain himself by joining the ranks of soliders.

Note the wisdom that Jehoshaphat exercises in sending out officials and religious leaders to teach the people in the ways of the Lord. Rather than waiting for all of them to come and learn at the temple–something they could only do sparingly. He served the people by sending them teachers to teach them how to live….how to honor the Lord.

And so it is even today. Consistent teaching and exhortation is necessary. It is a must if any group of people is going to trust in the Lord. A wise leaders will find wise teachers, and then send them out to the ones under his care.

It is certainly no coincidence that a revival in teaching the law of the Lord coincided with a revival of Israel’s strength. Where the Word of God is known and obeyed, blessing is soon to follow.

Much could be said about this chapter, as is the case with every chapter of Scripture. First, note the judgments. It seems as if they encompass judgments in every age, not simply during the time of Rome or just the final days before Christ comes. We now live in the last days, no matter how long these ‘days’ continue.

Second, note the martyrs crying out for justice. Understand that they cry out not because of sinful, selfish desires, but because they see the glory of God belittled like never before. On earth, they died willingly for the Lord’s sake and in love for their neighbor. In Heaven, they cry out for the Lord to come and avenge their blood on all the wicked who belittle His glory.

Third, note the Lord’s response. He says that the martyrs should rest longer, specifically, until the time when the full number of martyrs is complete. This is amazing b/c it shows plainly that the Lord has a specific number in mind, a number of martyrs. When the final one is killed, then and only then will Jesus come and make all things right again.

Fourth, note the response of the wicked to the presence of Jesus Christ. The kings of the earth and the great ones, rather than being exposed, flee the light just like Adam and Even, while calling out for the rocks to crush them. What they fail to realize, however, is that they cannot help but be exposed. Even if the rocks crush them, they will still have to face the Holy Judge.

We all flee His presence, just as Adam and Eve did after they sinned. Even believers will do so now and again. Unbelievers, however, very obviously do so. They do not even want to speak of God oftentimes b/c they know deep down that they will have to deal with their sin. We are wise to encourage them in the path of humility and wisdom. Let us tell them (and ourselves and our children) that they cannot hide from God, that they cannot resist His presence. So they are best to face the Holy Judge and to plead with Him for mercy on the basis of Jesus Christ.

While witnessing to others concerning the Christ, let us be very forthright (and gracious) in speaking about their sin and the need to deal with their sin. That way, they will be in no way surprised when the time comes for them to really face up to it and to make the call to follow Jesus.

v. 2 Notice that Asa did not consult the Lord. Surely he grew proud and began to trust in all that the Lord had provided for him. Here he trusted in ‘chariots and horses.’

When we lean upon our own devisings, our own wisdom and our own resources, we are bound to fall. When opposition comes, we are wise to go directly to the Lord and to wait upon His intervention. This lesson is one that we see time again throughout the history of Israel.

v. 9 “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.”

Notice also what follows: discipline for his lack of faith.

v. 10 Asa’s pride is obvious. We are wise never to rely upon our past successes, particularly in the area of faith. Today’s mercies are new. And they are meant to be used in the exercise of our faith.

v. 12 Again, the Lord was trying to get his attention to lead him to humble himself, yet he refused. Surely, the Lord was doing the same thing with the army of Baasha. He was giving opportunity to Asa to humble himself before the Lord.

And the Lord certainly does the same thing in our lives as Christians. He may or may not use armies. But He will certainly use a word of rebuke or a sickness if need be. He is jealous for our good. And it is certainly good for us to be humble. O Lord, give us the grace to be responsive to your pruning work, so that we might bear more fruit for you.

Note also that it is most difficult for us to respond in humility before the Lord’s tests of faith when we are most at ease and comfortable. This is surely why our faith in American is often so weak and pathetic.

v. 2 “The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.”

The words that followed these encouraged Asa in his pursuit of the Lord. In particular, these words of the prophet encouraged Asa to implement more radical religious reform. Asa wisely acted upon the prophet’s words immediately. He wasted no time. “As soon as Asa heard these words….”

This is wisdom b/c if we fail to act right away, chances are, we will forget to act at all.

What is the Lord calling you to do? What decision much you make right now? What change must you implement today?

Whatever it is….do it. Act now. Do not delay.

v. 9 The godly within Israel deserted to Judah when they saw that the Lord was with King Asa. Naturally, this led to a more rapid decline of Israel.

v. 12,13 Not only did Asa act quickly. He also acted decisively. There was no room for error. He gathered the people and led them in making a covenant with the Lord. Then he told the people how it was going to be, and even that those who refused to seek the Lord would die. Such an order is by no means right today. However, it does point to the seriousness with which we should commit ourselves to the Lord. Such a seriousness should be present within the local church through a church covenant and the promised use of church discipline.

v. 11 When you cast yourself and your cause upon the Lord, the Lord fights for you. But when you trust in your own devising, the Lord fights against you. He even did so for His people in order for them to see the great fruit that comes from relying upon Him. And though He is never against those in Christ, He will not allow our self-devised strivings to succeed, for He wants to make it plain that we need to trust in Him.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses; but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.

We must fight everyday for neediness. Fight everyday to recognize our need for the Lord and to live in constant dependence upon Him.