divine intervention

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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divine intervention

2 Chronicles 20:1-37

2 Chronicles 20:1 After this, the Moabites, and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to fight against Jehoshaphat.
2 Chronicles 20:2 People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi).
2 Chronicles 20:3 Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek Yahveh. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah,
2 Chronicles 20:4 who gathered to seek Yahveh. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him.
2 Chronicles 20:5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in Yahveh’s temple before the new courtyard.
2 Chronicles 20:6 He said: Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, and no one can stand against you.
2 Chronicles 20:7 Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
2 Chronicles 20:8 They have lived in the land and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name and have said,
2 Chronicles 20:9 “If disaster comes on us– sword or judgment, pestilence or famine– we will stand before this temple and before you, for your name is in this temple. We will cry out to you because of our distress, and you will hear and deliver.”
2 Chronicles 20:10 Now here are the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir. You did not let Israel invade them when Israel came out of the land of Egypt, but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.
2 Chronicles 20:11 Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you gave us as an inheritance.
2 Chronicles 20:12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.
2 Chronicles 20:13 All Judah was standing before Yahveh with their dependents, their wives, and their children.
2 Chronicles 20:14 In the middle of the congregation, the Breath of Yahveh came on Jahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants),
2 Chronicles 20:15 and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Yahveh says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
2 Chronicles 20:16 Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel.
2 Chronicles 20:17 You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahveh. He is with you, Judah, and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for Yahveh is with you.'”
2 Chronicles 20:18 Then Jehoshaphat knelt low with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahveh to worship him.
2 Chronicles 20:19 Then the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahites stood up to praise Yahveh God of Israel shouting loudly.
2 Chronicles 20:20 In the morning they got up early and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were about to go out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in Yahveh your God, and you will be established; believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”
2 Chronicles 20:21 Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for Yahveh and some to praise the splendor of his holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing: Give thanks to Yahveh, for his faithful love endures forever.
2 Chronicles 20:22 The moment they began their shouts and praises, Yahveh set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated.
2 Chronicles 20:23 The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely annihilated them. When they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped destroy each other.
2 Chronicles 20:24 When Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the large army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; nobody had escaped.
2 Chronicles 20:25 Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to gather the plunder. They found among them an abundance of goods on the bodies and valuable items. So they stripped them until nobody could carry any more. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.
2 Chronicles 20:26 They assembled in the Valley of Beracah on the fourth day, for there they blessed Yahveh. Therefore, that place is still called the Valley of Beracah today.
2 Chronicles 20:27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem turned back with Jehoshaphat their leader, returning joyfully to Jerusalem, for Yahveh enabled them to rejoice over their enemies.
2 Chronicles 20:28 So they came into Jerusalem to Yahveh’s temple with harps, lyres, and trumpets.
2 Chronicles 20:29 The terror of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that Yahveh had fought against the enemies of Israel.
2 Chronicles 20:30 Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was quiet, for his God gave him rest on every side.
2 Chronicles 20:31 Jehoshaphat became king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
2 Chronicles 20:32 He walked in the ways of Asa his father; he did not turn away from it but did what was right in Yahveh’s sight.
2 Chronicles 20:33 However, the high places were not taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their ancestors.
2 Chronicles 20:34 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign from beginning to end are written in the Events of Jehu son of Hanani, which is recorded in the Book of Israel’s Kings.
2 Chronicles 20:35 After this, Judah’s King Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Israel’s King Ahaziah, who was guilty of wrongdoing.
2 Chronicles 20:36 Jehoshaphat formed an alliance with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.
2 Chronicles 20:37 Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you formed an alliance with Ahaziah, Yahveh has broken up what you have made.” So, the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.

divine intervention

Judah is once again being threatened, and this time Jehoshaphat calls on the nation to fast and he leads them in prayer to Yahveh. The odds are so much against them that their only hope is divine intervention. God does intervene, and he calls on the armies of Judah to go and see the outcome. The enemy armies which had come to drive them out of the land turned against each other, and annihilated themselves. It took days for the armies of Judah to carry out the spoil from a battle they did not fight.

God, when things are hopeless for us, remind us to seek your divine intervention.

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bringing people back

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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bringing people back

2 Chronicles 19:4-11

2 Chronicles 19:4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to Yahveh, the God of their ancestors.
2 Chronicles 19:5 He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of the land of Judah, city by city.
2 Chronicles 19:6 Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for a mere mortal, but for Yahveh, who is with you in the matter of judgment.
2 Chronicles 19:7 And now, may the terror of Yahveh be on you. Watch what you do, for there is no injustice or partiality or taking bribes with Yahveh our God.”
2 Chronicles 19:8 Jehoshaphat also appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites and priests and some of the Israelite family heads for deciding Yahveh’s will and for settling disputes of the residents of Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 19:9 He commanded them, saying, “In the fear of Yahveh, with integrity, and wholeheartedly, you are to do the following:
2 Chronicles 19:10 For every dispute that comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities– whether it regards differences of bloodguilt, law, commandment, statutes, or judgments– you are to warn them, so they will not incur guilt before Yahveh and wrath will not come on you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not incur guilt.
2 Chronicles 19:11 “Note that Amariah, the chief priest, is over you in all matters related to Yahveh, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all matters related to the king, and the Levites are officers in your presence. Be strong; may Yahveh be with those who do what is good.”

bringing people back

Having been warned not to seek reunification with Israel, Jehoshaphat sets his sights on strengthening the ties of Judah with their God. He appoints judges, but these judges were not autonomous rescuers as in the book of Judges. They were appointed representatives of the king, to settle issues of bloodshed, law, and commandment, statutes or rules (10). They also had the backing of the priests and Levites. The purpose of the whole project was to bring Judah back to the LORD (4). How did Jehoshaphat know that this was needed? He might have taken his own name as a hint. Jehoshaphat means “the LORD is Judge”.

LORD, help us to focus our attention on bringing people back to you.

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assisting evil

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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assisting evil

2 Chronicles 18:1-19:3

2 Chronicles 18:1 Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he made an alliance with Ahab through marriage.
2 Chronicles 18:2 Then after some years, he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab sacrificed many sheep, goats, and cattle for him and for the people who were with him. Then he persuaded him to attack Ramoth-gilead,
2 Chronicles 18:3 for Israel’s King Ahab asked Judah’s King Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He replied to him, “I am as you are, my people as your people; we will be with you in the battle.”
2 Chronicles 18:4 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what Yahveh’s will is.”
2 Chronicles 18:5 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, “Should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain?” They replied, “March up, and God will hand it over to the king.”
2 Chronicles 18:6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahveh here anymore? Let’s ask him.”
2 Chronicles 18:7 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can inquire of Yahveh, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king shouldn’t say that” Jehoshaphat replied.
2 Chronicles 18:8 So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah!”
2 Chronicles 18:9 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were sitting on the threshing floor at the entrance to Samaria’s gate, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them.
2 Chronicles 18:10 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what Yahveh says: ‘You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.'”
2 Chronicles 18:11 And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “March up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for Yahveh will hand it over to the king.”
2 Chronicles 18:12 The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs and speak favorably.”
2 Chronicles 18:13 But Micaiah said, “As Yahveh lives, I will say whatever my God says.”
2 Chronicles 18:14 So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should I refrain?” Micaiah said, “March up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you.”
2 Chronicles 18:15 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of Yahveh?”
2 Chronicles 18:16 So Micaiah said: I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And Yahveh said, “They have no master; let each return home in peace.”
2 Chronicles 18:17 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster?”
2 Chronicles 18:18 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of Yahveh. I saw Yahveh sitting on his throne, and the whole heavenly army was standing at his right hand and at his left hand.
2 Chronicles 18:19 And Yahveh said, ‘Who will entice King Ahab of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? ‘ So one was saying this and another was saying that.
2 Chronicles 18:20 “Then a breath came forward, stood before Yahveh, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “Yahveh asked him, ‘How? ‘
2 Chronicles 18:21 “So he said, ‘I will go and become a lying breath in the mouth of all his prophets.’ “Then he said, ‘You will entice him and prevail. Go and do that.’
2 Chronicles 18:22 “Now, you see, Yahveh has put a lying breath into the mouth of these prophets of yours, and Yahveh has pronounced disaster against you.”
2 Chronicles 18:23 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah on the cheek, and demanded, “Which way did the breath from Yahveh leave me to speak to you?”
2 Chronicles 18:24 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide in an inner chamber on that day.”
2 Chronicles 18:25 Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,
2 Chronicles 18:26 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison and feed him only a little bread and water until I come back safely.'”
2 Chronicles 18:27 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, Yahveh has not spoken through me.” Then he said, “Listen, all you people!”
2 Chronicles 18:28 Then the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.
2 Chronicles 18:29 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So, the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.
2 Chronicles 18:30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone at all except the king of Israel.”
2 Chronicles 18:31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel!” So, they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out and Yahveh helped him. God drew them away from him.
2 Chronicles 18:32 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
2 Chronicles 18:33 But a man drew his bow without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So, he said to the charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”
2 Chronicles 18:34 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then he died at sunset.
2 Chronicles 19:1 King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned to his home in Jerusalem in peace.
2 Chronicles 19:2 Then Jehu son of the seer Hanani went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Do you help the wicked and love those who hate Yahveh? Because of this, Yahveh’s wrath is on you.
2 Chronicles 19:3 However, some good is found in you, for you have eradicated the Asherah poles from the land and have decided to seek God.”

assisting evil

In the complexities of this story, it is hard sometimes to remember the moral that the chronicler puts to it. The prophet Jehu addresses Jehoshaphat after he had returned from battle. Ahab had been killed as Micaiah had prophesied. But Jehoshaphat returned unscathed. Yet the LORD took fault in him for helping the wicked, and loving those who hate the LORD. While it is true that we are to love our enemies, we need to draw the line at assisting those who intend to defile the people of God.

LORD, give us insight on the limits to which we cannot go in assisting evil.

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forsaking the new ways

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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forsaking the new ways

2 Chronicles 17:1-19

2 Chronicles 17:1 His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.
2 Chronicles 17:2 He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
2 Chronicles 17:3 Now Yahveh was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals
2 Chronicles 17:4 but sought the God of his father and walked by his commands, not according to the practices of Israel.
2 Chronicles 17:5 So Yahveh established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.
2 Chronicles 17:6 His mind rejoiced in Yahveh’s ways, and he again removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
2 Chronicles 17:7 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials — Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah– to teach in the cities of Judah.
2 Chronicles 17:8 The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites.
2 Chronicles 17:9 They taught throughout Judah, having the book of Yahveh’s instruction with them. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.
2 Chronicles 17:10 The terror of Yahveh was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat.
2 Chronicles 17:11 Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.
2 Chronicles 17:12 Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah
2 Chronicles 17:13 and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had warriors, mighty men, in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 17:14 These are their numbers according to their ancestral families. For Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander and three hundred thousand mighty men with him;
2 Chronicles 17:15 next to him, Jehohanan the commander and two hundred eighty thousand with him;
2 Chronicles 17:16 next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer of Yahveh, and two hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;
2 Chronicles 17:17 from Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and two hundred thousand with him armed with bow and shield;
2 Chronicles 17:18 next to him, Jehozabad and one hundred eighty thousand with him equipped for war.
2 Chronicles 17:19 These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

forsaking the new ways

Jehoshaphat’s reforms were more extensive than Asa’s. He not only took away the high places that had been used for idolatry, but he sent a company to teach the commandments of the Law to his people. The chronicler says that he walked in the earlier ways of his father David ((3). Being right sometimes means that we cannot follow the latest trends. Sometimes it means doing something new. Sometimes it means forsaking the new ways for the earlier ways.

LORD, give us wisdom to choose the right ways — those that honor you.

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continuing to trust

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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continuing to trust

2 Chronicles 16:1-14

2 Chronicles 16:1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa, Israel’s King Baasha went to war against Judah. He built Ramah to keep anyone from leaving or coming to King Asa of Judah.
2 Chronicles 16:2 So Asa brought out the silver and gold from the treasuries of Yahveh’s temple and the royal palace and sent it to Aram’s King Ben-hadad, who lived in Damascus, saying,
2 Chronicles 16:3 “There’s a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you silver and gold. Go break your treaty with Israel’s King Baasha so that he will withdraw from me.”
2 Chronicles 16:4 Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies to the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
2 Chronicles 16:5 When Baasha heard about it, he quit building Ramah and stopped his work.
2 Chronicles 16:6 Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had built it with. Then he built Geba and Mizpah with them.
2 Chronicles 16:7 At that time, the seer Hanani came to King Asa of Judah and said to him, “Because you depended on the king of Aram and have not depended on Yahveh your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from you.
2 Chronicles 16:8 Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? When you depended on Yahveh, he handed them over to you.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of Yahveh roam throughout the land to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him. You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.”
2 Chronicles 16:10 Asa was enraged with the seer and put him in prison because of his anger over this. And Asa mistreated some of the people at that time.
2 Chronicles 16:11 Note that the events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
2 Chronicles 16:12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a disease in his feet, and his disease became increasingly severe. Yet even in his disease he didn’t seek Yahveh but only the physicians.
2 Chronicles 16:13 Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign.
2 Chronicles 16:14 He was buried in his own tomb that he had made for himself in the city of David. They laid him out in a coffin that was full of spices and various mixtures of prepared ointments; then they made a great fire in his honor.

continuing to trust

Asa had relied on the LORD all of his reign, but faltered at the end of it. His story is a lesson for those of us who have been with the LORD for decades. It does not matter how much experience we have, or how many resources and strategic connections we have. It only matters that we remain faithful, continuing to trust in our one Resource.

LORD, give us the wisdom of consistent reliance upon you.

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courageous and uncompromised

Posted on January 25, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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courageous and uncompromised

2 Chronicles 15:1-19

2 Chronicles 15:1 The Breath of God came on Azariah son of Oded.
2 Chronicles 15:2 So he went to meet Asa and said, “Asa and all Judah and Benjamin, hear me. Yahveh is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.
2 Chronicles 15:3 For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without instruction,
2 Chronicles 15:4 but when they turned to Yahveh God of Israel in their distress and sought him, he was found by them.
2 Chronicles 15:5 In those times there was no peace for those who went about their daily activities because the residents of the lands had many conflicts.
2 Chronicles 15:6 Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every possible distress.
2 Chronicles 15:7 But as for you, be strong; don’t give up, because your work has a reward.”
2 Chronicles 15:8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the abhorrent idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He renovated the altar of Yahveh that was in front of the portico of Yahveh’s temple.
2 Chronicles 15:9 Then he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, as well as those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing among them, because they had defected to him from Israel in great numbers when they saw that Yahveh his God was with him.
2 Chronicles 15:10 They were gathered in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.
2 Chronicles 15:11 At that time they sacrificed to Yahveh seven hundred cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from all the plunder they had brought.
2 Chronicles 15:12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek Yahveh God of their ancestors with all their heart and all their soul.
2 Chronicles 15:13 Whoever would not seek Yahveh God of Israel would be put to death, young or old, man or woman.
2 Chronicles 15:14 They took an oath to Yahveh in a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with rams’ horns.
2 Chronicles 15:15 All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their mind. They had sought him with all their heart, and he was found by them. So, Yahveh gave them rest on every side.
2 Chronicles 15:16 King Asa also removed Maacah, his grandmother, from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image, then crushed it and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
2 Chronicles 15:17 The high places were not taken away from Israel; nevertheless, Asa was wholeheartedly devoted his entire life.
2 Chronicles 15:18 He brought his father’s consecrated gifts and his own consecrated gifts into God’s temple: silver, gold, and utensils.
2 Chronicles 15:19 There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

courageous and uncompromised

It takes courage to do what is right consistently. In Asa’s day – as in our own – it seems so easy to let certain wrongs committed by influential people to slide. Asa and his kingdom saw peace for years because he was not willing to compromise. He even deposed his own mother because of her idolatrous acts.

LORD, make us courageous and uncompromised – people who reflect your holiness.

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a million mighty men

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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a million mighty men

2 Chronicles 14:1-15

2 Chronicles 14:1 Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. During his reign the land experienced peace for ten years.
2 Chronicles 14:2 Asa did what was good and right in the sight of Yahveh his God.
2 Chronicles 14:3 He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles.
2 Chronicles 14:4 He told the people of Judah to seek Yahveh God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands.
2 Chronicles 14:5 He also removed the high places and the shrines from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him.
2 Chronicles 14:6 Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. No one made war with him in those days because Yahveh gave him rest.
2 Chronicles 14:7 So he said to the people of Judah, “Let’s build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we sought Yahveh our God. We sought him and he gave us rest on every side.” So, they built and succeeded.
2 Chronicles 14:8 Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty warriors.
2 Chronicles 14:9 Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with one million mighty men and three hundred chariots. They came as far as Mareshah.
2 Chronicles 14:10 So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in Zephathah Valley at Mareshah.
2 Chronicles 14:11 Then Asa cried out to Yahveh his God: “Lord, there is no one besides you to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, Lord our God, for we depend on you, and in your name, we have come against this large army. Lord, you are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder you.”
2 Chronicles 14:12 So Yahveh routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled.
2 Chronicles 14:13 Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before Yahveh and his army. So, the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot.
2 Chronicles 14:14 Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of Yahveh was on them. They also plundered all the cities since there was a great deal of plunder in them.
2 Chronicles 14:15 They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

a million mighty men

Asa used his period of rest from war to root out idolatry from Judah, and to build fortified cities. He was wise enough to know that the time of rest was a blessing, but that rest is not a given. Danger lurks from enemies within and without. So, the freedom and energy during peaceful times should be spent preparing for and preventing times of trouble.

When war came, they were ready, but they were still outnumbered against the Ethiopians. Fortunately, since they had rid themselves of the other gods, Yahveh crushed a million mighty warriors for them and rescued them.

Yahveh, give us wisdom to rid ourselves of wrong allegiances, and to build up our defenses, so that in the time of battle, we can be confident of your rescue.

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civil war

Posted on January 23, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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civil war

2 Chronicles 13:1-22

2 Chronicles 13:1 In the eighteenth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah,
2 Chronicles 13:2 and he reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel; she was from Gibeah. There was a war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
2 Chronicles 13:3 Abijah set his army of warriors in order with four hundred thousand fit young men. Jeroboam arranged his mighty army of eight hundred thousand chosen mighty warriors in battle formation against him.
2 Chronicles 13:4 Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel, hear me.
2 Chronicles 13:5 Don’t you know that Yahveh, God of Israel, gave the kingship over Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?
2 Chronicles 13:6 But Jeroboam, son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon, son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord.
2 Chronicles 13:7 Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam, son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young, inexperienced, and unable to assert himself against them.
2 Chronicles 13:8 “And now you are saying you can assert yourselves against Yahveh’s kingdom, which is in the hand of one of David’s sons. You are a vast number and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods.
2 Chronicles 13:9 Didn’t you banish the priests of Yahveh, the descendants of Aaron and the Levites, and make your own priests like the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to ordain himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods.
2 Chronicles 13:10 “But as for us, Yahveh is our God. We have not abandoned him; the priests ministering to Yahveh are descendants of Aaron, and the Levites serve at their tasks.
2 Chronicles 13:11 They offer a burnt offering and fragrant incense to Yahveh every morning and every evening, and they set the rows of the Bread of the Presence on the ceremonially clean table. They light the lamps of the gold lampstand every evening. We are carrying out the requirements of Yahveh our God, while you have abandoned him.
2 Chronicles 13:12 Look, God, and his priests are with us at our head. The trumpets are ready to sound the charge against you. Israelites, don’t fight against Yahveh God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”
2 Chronicles 13:13 Now Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to advance from behind them. So, they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.
2 Chronicles 13:14 Judah turned and discovered that the battle was in front and behind them, so they cried out to Yahveh. Then the priests blew the trumpets,
2 Chronicles 13:15 and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. When the men of Judah raised the battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
2 Chronicles 13:16 So the Israelites fled before Judah, and God handed them over to them.
2 Chronicles 13:17 Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and five hundred thousand fit young men of Israel were killed.
2 Chronicles 13:18 The Israelites were subdued at that time. The Judahites succeeded because they depended on Yahveh, the God of their ancestors.
2 Chronicles 13:19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some cities from him: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their surrounding villages.
2 Chronicles 13:20 Jeroboam no longer retained his power during Abijah’s reign; ultimately, Yahveh struck him, and he died.
2 Chronicles 13:21 However, Abijah grew strong, acquired fourteen wives, and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
2 Chronicles 13:22 The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, along with his ways and his sayings, are written in the Writing of the Prophet Iddo.

civil war

It took only 18 years for the kingdom to go from one divided to become one engaged in civil war. Abijah’s army was outnumbered two to one, and he, himself was not entirely faithful to the LORD. But he knew that the LORD had made a covenant with David, he knew that Jeroboam had angered God by his expulsion of his priests and Levites, replacing them with impostors. He knew that the Jerusalem temple worship was legitimate, whereas Jeroboam’s cult was not. The armies of Judah knew to cry out to the Lord when they were in trouble. Half a million Israelites died that day, another monument to man’s attempt to undo God’s will. When will we learn that he is sovereign?

LORD, as we fight life’s battles, give us the good sense not to fight against you.

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feet in both worlds

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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Photo by Mark Neal on Pexels.com

feet in both worlds

2 Chronicles 12:1-16

2 Chronicles 12:1 When Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he abandoned the law of Yahveh — he and all Israel with him.
2 Chronicles 12:2 Because they were unfaithful to Yahveh, in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, King Shishak of Egypt went to war against Jerusalem
2 Chronicles 12:3 with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and countless people who came with him from Egypt– Libyans, Sukkiim, and Cushites.
2 Chronicles 12:4 He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 12:5 Then the prophet Shemaiah went to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them: “This is what Yahveh says: ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I have abandoned you to Shishak.'”
2 Chronicles 12:6 So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “Yahveh is righteous.”
2 Chronicles 12:7 When Yahveh saw that they had humbled themselves, Yahveh’s message came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them but will grant them a little deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.
2 Chronicles 12:8 However, they will become his servants so they may recognize the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of other lands.”
2 Chronicles 12:9 So King Shishak of Egypt went to war against Jerusalem. He seized the treasuries of Yahveh’s temple and the treasuries of the royal palace. He took everything. He took the gold shields that Solomon had made.
2 Chronicles 12:10 King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and committed them to the care of the captains of the guards who protected the entrance to the king’s palace.
2 Chronicles 12:11 Whenever the king entered Yahveh’s temple, the guards would carry the shields and take them back to the armory.
2 Chronicles 12:12 When Rehoboam humbled himself, Yahveh’s anger turned away from him, and he did not destroy him completely. Besides that, conditions were good in Judah.
2 Chronicles 12:13 King Rehoboam established his royal power in Jerusalem. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city Yahveh had chosen from all the tribes of Israel to put his name. Rehoboam’s mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.
2 Chronicles 12:14 Rehoboam did what was evil because he did not determine in his heart to seek Yahveh.
2 Chronicles 12:15 Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Events of the Prophet Shemaiah and of the Seer Iddo concerning genealogies. There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their reigns.
2 Chronicles 12:16 Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Abijah became king in his place.

feet in both worlds

After abandoning the LORD, Rehoboam was humbled by a foreign invasion, but not completely destroyed. The LORD wanted him to know the difference between serving him and serving other gods. The difference was that Rehoboam and his people enjoyed a measure of peace and a measure of war. They had their feet in both worlds, and considered it normal.

LORD, may we never settle for our feet in both worlds. We seek your kingdom and your righteousness alone.

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this incident has come from me

Posted on January 21, 2025 by Jefferson Vann

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Photo by Tessa K on Pexels.com

this incident has come from me

2 Chronicles 11:1-23

2 Chronicles 11:1 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin — one hundred eighty thousand fit young soldiers — to fight against Israel to restore the reign to Rehoboam.
2 Chronicles 11:2 But the word of Yahveh came to Shemaiah, the man of God:
2 Chronicles 11:3 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people:
2 Chronicles 11:4: ‘This is what Yahveh says: You are not to march up and fight against your brothers. Each of you return home, for this incident has come from me.'” So, they listened to what Yahveh said and turned back from going against Jeroboam.
2 Chronicles 11:5 Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem, and he fortified cities in Judah.
2 Chronicles 11:6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
2 Chronicles 11:7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
2 Chronicles 11:8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
2 Chronicles 11:9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
2 Chronicles 11:10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
2 Chronicles 11:11 He strengthened their fortifications and put leaders in them with supplies of food, oil, and wine.
2 Chronicles 11:12 He also put large shields and spears in each and every city to make them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his.
2 Chronicles 11:13 The priests and Levites from all their regions throughout Israel took their stand with Rehoboam,
2 Chronicles 11:14 for the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons refused to let them serve as priests of Yahveh.
2 Chronicles 11:15 Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places, the goat-demons, and the golden calves he had made.
2 Chronicles 11:16 Those from every tribe of Israel who had determined in their hearts to seek Yahveh their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahveh, the God of their ancestors.
2 Chronicles 11:17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked in the ways of David and Solomon for three years.
2 Chronicles 11:18 Rehoboam married Mahalath, daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab.
2 Chronicles 11:19 She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
2 Chronicles 11:20 After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom. She bore Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith to him.
2 Chronicles 11:21 Rehoboam loved Maacah, daughter of Absalom, more than all his wives and concubines. He acquired eighteen wives and sixty concubines and was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
2 Chronicles 11:22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah, son of Maacah, as chief, leader among his brothers, intending to make him king.
2 Chronicles 11:23 Rehoboam also showed discernment by dispersing some of his sons to all the regions of Judah and Benjamin and to all the fortified cities. He gave them plenty of provisions and sought many wives for them.

this incident has come from me

God told Rehoboam not to engage in battle against his relatives because “this incident has come from me.” The rebellion, the division, all of it was the working out of God’s ultimate plan. Often or tendency is to react to what is going on around us, and God wants us to concentrate of living lives of integrity amidst the turmoil. He has control over the circumstances that we think need to be changed. He is more concerned that we change.

LORD, give us the courage to trust you, even when things do not change the way we want.

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