In the End God Wins

 2 Chronicles 17-18    Psalm 97     2 Corinthians 7

Jehoshaphat becomes the king of Judah, and it is important to note it says he followed the example of David in his earlier days, not his later. God blessed him and they took the Word of the Lord into Judah teaching them the ways of the Lord. When the people of Judah heard the Word of the Lord, they feared the Lord. Jehoshaphat’s power continued to increase, and he built an alliance with Israel through marriage.

Ahab, king of Israel, has surrounded himself with those that speak for God in his eyes. They have been deceived into telling him what he wants to hear. Note that he knows there is one real voice of God but that it is a voice he feels is always against him and he hates him. When they call that voice before him, he too is willing to tell Ahab what he wants to hear. The demand for a true word results in Ahab not hearing what he wants to hear, and his reaction is to punish the voice of the Lord.

There is a lot to be said about what happens when they go into battle. Ahab demands the one that follows the ways of the Lord put himself at greatest risk by dressing as a king. The deception only lasts for a short period of time and then it is an arrow shot at random that takes Ahab’s life.

The song is a song of praise to the Lord and a call for all to praise him. All people have experienced his glory as even the heavens declare his righteousness. God will be exulted over all the earth and over what others worship as god. There is a light sown in the darkness and the heart of the those that seek the Lord will be glad as we give thanks to his holy name.

As Paul writes to the church at Corinth to challenge them to live as God calls the to live and turn from ways that are not of the Lord, he also brings them a word of encouragement. While Paul is still under great stress it is their faith, even in adversity, that gives him a sense of hope. He rejoices when he thinks of them because he is confident, they will continue to seek and understand the leading of the Holy Spirit and follow the commands of God.

While we often want to find a way to make ourselves or others happy by saying something that God has said is an unhealthy way of life, acceptable. Today we see that God’s way are the only way and that we cannot hide from God and escape his judgement. We are called to praise God at all times and face the tough days trusting God to be makings us a better and stronger people in his name.