2 Chronicles 17:1-19

 

 

2 Chronicles 17:1-19

 

July 13, 2023

 

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.  He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured.  The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel.  Therefore, the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.  His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

In the third year of his reign, he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram.  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.

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.  Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.  And Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built in Judah fortresses and store cities, and he had large supplies in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.  This was the muster of them by fathers' houses: Of Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, with 300,000 mighty men of valor; and next to him Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000; and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the Lord, with 200,000 mighty men of valor.  Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, with 200,000 men armed with bow and shield; and next to him Jehozabad with 180,000 armed for war.  These were in the service of the king, besides those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

 

Words like make, “America great again”, will not bring about the peace we long for, the senseless killing in our schools and cities, the businesses using fear to sell a product, the lies a hate speech coming from so many sources, and the lack of honesty in all aspect of life; in business, government at all levels, people, and even in many places the world calls the church. 

 

Where the Word of God is not correctly taught, but a spin (the world's word for lies and liars) to make it sound like God approves of evil, is not a Church of the Living God but a den of Satan Worship.

 

I believe the answer to making America Great Again, is found in the model that Jehoshaphat put forth in Chapter 17.

 

The answer for any nation to be Great is found in Proverbs 10:9, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

 

People of the United States of America, open your eyes, the problem did not begin with the Biden presidency, it began with your grandparents, yes, for years we as a people have allowed lies and liars to tell us that we need to remove God from our government, then our schools, and then except the customs of evil that God’s word teaches you and me to not do and to teach our children not to be part of.  Now do not blame Granddad or even his dad, but blame the one who orchestrated it, Satan.

 

Wake up! Return to God He is very near.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice