Category: “Listening to God” Devotional

Read chapter in full: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+019

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 19 (ESV)

1 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2 But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. 3 Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”

4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. 5 He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. 7 Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes.”

 

REFLECTION:

Jehoshaphat appointed officers to govern the people. He warned the officers that they were accountable to God and they should judge according to God’s standard. Jehoshaphat pointed out a basic principle in the action of leaders. His advice still has deep enlightenment to Christian leaders today. As leaders, we need to use the authority given to us by God appropriately, knowing that we represent God as his executor and must maintain the highest level of integrity because He is watching and will not tolerate abuse of his God-given authority. Reflect if church leaders follow this principle in leading the church. If there is deficiency in what they do, what can you do to help them improve?

 

PRAYER:

Pray for your church leaders and ask God to help them to be prudent and discerning in their leadership according to God’s standard. Pray for yourself and ask God to give you passion and wisdom that you are willing to support your church leaders in leading the church.

 

HYMN:

“I Surrender” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgsqfjRslzA

 

Read chapter in full: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+018

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 18 (ESV)

1 Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab. 2 After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab killed an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”

4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.” 6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” 7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 8 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.” …

12 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.”

 

REFLECTION:

1. Although Jehoshaphat respected God, he took Athaliah as the wife for his son. Athaliah was the daughter of the wicked King Ahab. Jehoshaphat also formed a military ally with Ahab. Jehoshaphat’s fame and power attracted the sly and opportunistic Ahab. Their alliance eventually brought disastrous consequence. Athaliah became queen after the death of Jehoshaphat. She usurped the throne and killed almost all of David’s descendants. She brought back the evil customs to Israel and caused the fall of Judah. When Christian leaders form partnerships with unbelievers, they may compromise and give up their ideals; their spiritual alertness may also become slow. The Bible warns us: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” Reflect whether you have made partnerships with unbelievers in your career or other areas. If yes, how should you treat this partner relationship?
2. The 400 prophets of Ahab only told him what he liked to hear. They got rewarded when they pleased Ahab. On the other hand, Micaiah told the truth and he was put into jail. Obeying God does not ensure you will be out of trouble. In fact, you will likely enrage people by obeying God. However, it is better to disappoint people than to incur the wrath of God. If you suffer from people’s sneer because of upholding God’s truth, remember that Christ also faced persecution and warned us of this (Jn. 15:18-19). You may not face life-and-death trials nowadays, but are you willing to sacrifice for witnessing the truth?

 

PRAYER:

Pray for your unbelieving friends and colleagues and ask God to open their heart that they are willing to receive God’s salvation. If you have conflict on values with them, ask God to give you wisdom and steadfast faith that you are willing to sacrifice your own benefit in order to be a witness for God’s truth.

 

HYMN:

“Prayer for a Friend” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTcjTCt_xYo

 

 

Read chapter in full: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+017

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 17 (ESV)

1 Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured. 3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. 5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

7 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; 8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 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.

10 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. 11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.

 

 

REFLECTION:

The people of Judah were ignorant of the Bible because they didn’t spend time understanding God’s laws and they didn’t know that God’s word could change people’s heart. Jehoshaphat knew that the first step for people to live according to the right way was to understand God’s word. Therefore, he implemented an education plan nationwide to let the people understand and follow God’s laws. In Asa’s time, Judah declined in their faith. Now Jehoshaphat tried to reverse the situation and help people regain their dedication and sense of mission by putting God as first place in their heart. Because of his reformation, the people of Judah began to follow God and the country became prosperous. Reflect how important is God’s word in your evangelism and ministry. Do you realize that God’s word is the most important weapon you have?

 

PRAYER:

Dedicate to God that you are willing to actively share the gospel. Ask God to open doors for you and work on the heart of the friends you will share the gospel with. Ask God to make you humble so that as you share the gospel you will put God’s word in first place rather than relying on human wits and skills.

 

HYMN:

“To the Ends of the Earth” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Ct_yQjRao

 

 

Read chapter in full: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+016

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 16 (ESV)

1 In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the Lord and the king’s house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, 3 “There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” 4 And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease. 6 Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. 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. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time.

11 The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.

 

REFLECTION:

Both Judah and Israel did not learn the lesson of relying on God. Although God saved them from invasion of enemies repeatedly, they kept seeking help from pagan nations. Asa’s seeking help from Syria was the proof of spiritual decline of Judah. When Judah only relied on God’s protection, it defeated the army from Ethiopia but now it lost its trust in God and wanted to adopt human strategy to solve the crisis.  Hanani the seer rebuked Asa and Asa put Hanani in prison, revealing Asa’s condition of spiritual lowness. It is not a sin to solve problems through human relationships but it is an offence to God when you rely on man more than God’s instruction. Similarly, it was not a sin for Asa to seek treatment from a doctor when he was sick but he was wrong in seeking help from man only but not from God. Reflect what is the right attitude for Christians in facing illness?

 

PRAYER:

Come before God with humility. Pray for a difficulty that you or others are facing and ask God to help and to guide, and let you know how to seek help from other people. Pray for a friend or relative who is sick, ask God to give wisdom to the doctor for the best treatment, and to heal the person with mercy.

 

HYMN:

“You Hold Me Now” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWsxPk9kzdg

 

Read chapter in full: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Chronicles+015

 

2 Chronicles Chapter 15 (ESV)

 

12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul, 13 but that whoever would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. 14 They swore an oath to the Lord with a loud voice and with shouting and with trumpets and with horns. 15 And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.

 

16 Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days. 18 And he brought into the house of God the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels. 19 And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Many people find it difficult to dedicate their life to any cause. They are hesitant on anything and afraid to take responsibilities. Asa and Judah were different as they clearly obey God steadfastly. They swore an oath to the Lord with a loud voice and with shouting and with trumpets and with horns, dedicating their loyalty to God. Such steadfast determination pleased God and brought peace to the country. If you want to have peace, you should examine yourself if there is still anything you have not entrusted to God. Entrust everything in your life to God and peace will come to you.
2. The Ten Commandments teach us to respect our parents but Asa removed his mother from being queen mother. Although respecting our parents is God’s command, loyalty to God is of the first priority. If you have unbelieving or even idol-worshipping parents, you should still respect them but you must honour God and consider God’s matter first. Use you wisdom and love to lead your parents to God.

 

PRAYER:

Ask God to examine your heart and reveal the hidden rebellion in you. Dedicate yourself to God and ask Him to give you true peace. Pray for your parents or elder relatives who may be worshipping idols whether tangible or invisible; ask God to give you wisdom and love to relate to them and lead them to abandon the idols and to know God.

 

HYMN:

“Open the Eyes of My Heart” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idQ1n3cdgfo