GETTING BACK TO GOD. 2nd Chronicles 17 By the time those who had returned to Judah from Babylon read this far in the Chronicles, they would have realized that not everyone who starts well finishes well. The key difference was their commitment to God in everything. When we feel unable to do what God has put before us or allowed to happen, we are more than happy to call upon Him in our weakness. His strength and guidance are essential. Some of Asa's good qualities influenced his son Jehoshaphat, and he began his reign with a positive outlook on what was right.
Abijah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat all successfully defended these border cities. Asa attempted to eliminate the “high places” where idol worship took place, but the people's hearts remained unchanged, and the high places were restored. Jehoshaphat removed them again, but they were later revived, and idolatry continued among the Jews.
People are inherently dead in trespasses and sins, and until they repent of their sins and personally trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, they are condemned already. Throughout history and for every individual, salvation is received by grace alone when they place their faith in Him for deliverance from sin and its consequences. It is solely through God’s mercy and grace that anyone is saved. The sinful acts of our hands do not contribute anything of lasting value toward earning God's favor.
It was a good strategy to secure Judah's borders. The kings of Israel to the north posed a threat because they worshiped Baal and engaged in associated depravity, as well as having the two golden calves. David's early actions were characterized by complete dependence on God when he began his life. His initial deeds showed the power of faith in God on people and events. The same was true of Jehoshaphat's early steps. This is also true for most believers. We are motivated by a desire to show our appreciation for our Lord and His grace toward us. In faith, we are willing to do things we once thought impossible. A downward slide speeds up when people turn away from the truth of the scriptures. Replacing the holy worship of the Lord with personal opinions, popular ideas, and people-pleasing practices becomes difficult to stop once it gains momentum and influences others. The tendency to choose the easiest path is very common, so if the majority stray from God, others are likely to follow. There was genuine concern for God's matters when Jehoshaphat began his new, responsible role. He likely started his reign while his sick father, Asa, was still alive. His early concerns yielded positive results for the entire nation. As for Jehoshaphat, "...his heart was lifted up (a positive act in contrast to being lifted up in pride) in the ways of the Lord." He delighted in the ways of the Lord and was dedicated to doing what God wanted him to do. A commitment to God and a mission to fulfill begin in our minds as we seek ways to serve our Lord. The same should be true for every child of God. Saul of Tarsus said in his first response to the Lord Jesus, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" We want to be in tune with God’s will. We need to understand God's will before we can act in accordance with it. For those who are biblically illiterate, time must be set aside to learn God's will. This involves reading, listening to, and obeying God's word. Jehoshaphat understood that everyone needed to understand God's law before they could obey it. His reforms focused on returning the people to the “Law of the Lord.” In a theocratic nation, God's law and the law of the land are connected. Kings, officials, prophets, and priests all share in leading the country. Most of the people of Judah were spiritually and biblically dead. The law of God and its authority had not been widely learned or taught to the general population. Jehoshaphat realized that all the people needed to know what God commanded before they could live as He intended. So, he started a nationwide religious education program. They needed to understand God's law before they could follow and apply it. The people hadn't taken the time to listen to or discuss it, so they could understand God's will and see how knowing His Word could change them. Jehoshaphat appointed sixteen men to teach the people. By sending different teachers across the land to instruct them, a variety of approaches could meet the diverse needs of the population. A single-person ministry cannot fulfill the diverse needs of God's people, as different gifts are given to meet various needs. A teaching shepherd might be well-taught himself, but it's crucial that he teach truth to others in ways and words they can understand. Expecting new believers to grasp biblical truths they've never heard before simply by reading or hearing them for the first time is unrealistic. Teaching requires time, repetition, a desire to present truth clearly, and gracious words to share it. Those sixteen men were to take the “Book of the Law of God” with them to every town and every person. There had been a gradual spiritual decline toward the end of Asa’s reign, and by doing this, that was reversed, and the nation began to follow God again. When a nation of people knows they have a mission to fulfill, they unite with a sense of commitment to their leader and strive to bring about positive change. The same is true among God’s people. All who lead the saints need faith in God and a commitment to fulfill the ministry they have received. Evangelists, pastors, and teachers are essential to build up the body of Christ. Ambition for God's things and His work must stay within biblical boundaries. These are "the ways of the Lord." When people start recognizing the power, impact, and change in their lives through applying biblical principles, they will hopefully become eager to learn God's truth. The most effective way of ongoing Christian education is through gatherings of God's people as outlined in Scripture. On the Lord's Day, worship, teaching, and preaching present God's truth in various ways. Expositional or topical teaching is provided. The fundamentals of the faith are presented through Gospel preaching. Public participation by all believers, whether silent or vocal, reinforces the truth to the saints during worship and faith expressions. Then, there are days to practice what we've learned in daily life. Midweek, through prayer and scriptural study, more is gained. This added understanding is practiced throughout the week. This learning process continues for a lifetime. This kind of teaching follows the apprenticeship model. Our Lord Jesus Christ used this method, and Paul did as well, both producing effective teachers and preachers. Through this approach, teaching becomes practical with the wise guidance of shepherds. Then those who have been taught will "be able to teach others also." The king of Judah understood that people who knew God's commands would be more likely to take the necessary steps to follow them. By doing so, they would live as they should. When they live according to God's commands, the nation will prosper, and peace will follow. Sure enough, it worked exactly as intended. "The fear of the Lord" fell on the surrounding nations, preventing them from challenging Jehoshaphat in war. This generated respect for Jehoshaphat as a king. Peace filled the land, and both the king and the people prospered. "God is no man's debtor." "Them that honor Me I will honor." These promises and the principles of Scripture that are followed will bring blessing to God's people. Even during times of peace, Jehoshaphat prepared for potential emergencies. He built a strong army and maintained the "fenced cities." His forces were probably similar to our National Guard or a militia, trained and ready to fight if needed. One of the military leaders was Amasiah, who "willingly offered himself to the Lord." This kind of man is trustworthy. His loyalty to the Lord was greater than his loyalty to the king. He "loved the Lord [his] God," and everything else was secondary to that devotion. Itinerant Teachers. He knew what was right; he had learned from past lessons. He knew what was wrong: that evil and good mixed could not last. He understood the value of the Word of God and the commandments that establish a kingdom. He knew not everyone would know God’s truth unless someone taught them. He was grounded in the truth and had returned to the beginning to establish the course of his leadership, ensuring there would be no doubt. The Lord was in control; he was committed to serving God each day, and he believed this so profoundly that his heart was lifted to follow God’s way.
The king also knew that a nation’s blessings would not last unless all the people heard the message found in God’s Word. But he understood he could not reach every person in the country alone, so he sent traveling teachers to share everything that God had done. These ancient men traveled throughout the land, always carrying a book with them. The law was within it, and when people saw them look into that book and publicly state the truths it contained, they would feel convicted and convinced of the God they proclaimed.
That practice remains as necessary today as it was in the past. There must be teachers who are faithful men, capable of instructing others, and they, in turn, will teach as well, so that God's people can learn all that God desires them to do. We must show God’s people from the pages of the Bible that what God expects of us is entirely within our ability to do and fulfill. This ensures that wherever God’s people are—when committed to the scriptures of truth—they stand on solid ground. There is a need for itinerant teachers who have a heart for God’s people and a love for seeing them grow faithfully in their faith. Through their conduct, they will demonstrate that they reflect God, learning from these teachers who bring them His Word.