UBF Daily Bread

JEHOSHAPHAT STRENGTHENS JUDAH

Passage: 2_Chronicles 17:1~19

Key verse: 6a

Jehoshaphat King of Judah

17 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened^(A) himself against Israel. ²He stationed troops in all the fortified cities^(B) of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.^(C)

³The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David^(D) before him. He did not consult the Baals ⁴but sought^(E) the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. ⁵The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts^(F) to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.^(G) ⁶His heart was devoted^(H) to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places^(I) and the Asherah poles^(J) from Judah.^(K)

⁷In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach^(L) in the towns of Judah. ⁸With them were certain Levites^(M)—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law^(N) of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

¹⁰The fear^(O) of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs^(P) brought him flocks:^(Q) seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.

¹²Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah ¹³and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. ¹⁴Their enrollment^(R) by families was as follows:

From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:

Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;

¹⁵next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;

¹⁶next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered^(S) himself for the service of the Lord, with 200,000.

¹⁷From Benjamin:^(T)

Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;

¹⁸next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.

¹⁹These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities^(U) throughout Judah.^(V)

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1. Jehoshaphat's heart was devoted to God (1-6)

Jehoshaphat became king of Judah succeeding his father, Asa. Jehoshaphat's heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord. He did not seek the popular idols and he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah. Jehoshaphat knew that God could not be substituted by elaborate man- made objects or rituals. When we have a great view of God, all other things become less and can no longer bind us.

2. The LORD established the kingdom (7-19)

Jehoshaphat spent a lot of resources fortifying Judah not only to protect itself, but to build up the most important resource, the people. He knew how to raise leaders, like 4-star generals to help lead the army. He also equipped and sent out officials, including Levites, to teach throughout the towns of Judah, bringing with them the Law of the LORD. These leaders and teachers were recognized by name. In these ways, God established Judah and the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah.

Prayer: Lord, you are worthy of our devotion and can establish every good gift and talent that you endowed us with for your kingdom glory.

One Word: A heart devoted to God.