The Battle Belongs to God - Day 192 Through the Bible

Reflections on the South Toe River and a Fly-Fisherman in the Distance - near Mt. Celo Church

My Lessons and Applications from Today's Readings

From Not Listening to God to Seeking to Hear God - 2 Chronicles 19 and 20 - King Ahab of Israel is dead from the battle in which he enticed King Jehoshaphat of Judah to support him.  Jehoshaphat has returned to Jerusalem but with a stern rebuke from Jehu, the son of Hanani the seer. "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?  Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you.  Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have...removed the wooden images from the land...and have prepared your heart to seek God."  (Ellipses are mine for contemplation) The king then sets out to bring the people and himself back to God by setting judges, priests, Levites over them for judgment, admonishing them to act courageously, judge fairly, in fear of and with a loyal heart to God, "Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment." Then the Ammonites, Moabites and others come against Judah.  Now the king is ready to seek God's advice and to obey him - unlike he did when with the king of Israel.  He sets his heart to seek God, calls all Judah to fast and gathers all the people together to ask help from the LORD.

God Speaks  - the Spirit of the LORD comes upon Jahaziel, a Levite, who says, 'Listen, all you inhabitants of Jerusalem and you, King Jehoshaphat.  Thus says the LORD to you, "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude…for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them…You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves…stand still… and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”' 2 Chronicles 19:15-17

God Exposes Corruption and Calls for Justice - Psalm 82:1-8 - 'God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.  How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?  (Note the similarity to what is said above to the king after he supported evil King Ahab in the battle).  Defend...Do justice...Deliver...Free...the poor, fatherless, afflicted, needy from the hand of the wicked...The foundations of the earth are unstable.  I said, "You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High, but you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes."  Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit the nations.'

My Lessons and Applications - Kings, judges, and rulers are placed in their positions by God and will, themselves, answer to him one day.  See the etymology of the word "gods" in Psalm 82:6 and where Jesus quotes this is John 10:34.  Charles Stanley comments on this verse:  Jesus quoted this verse and highlighted the staggering privilege of receiving the Word of God."  King Jehoshaphat was given the word of God through the prophet Macaiah (who did so with great peril to his life).  Jehoshaphat was more interested in ingratiating himself to the evil King Ahab than to listening to God.  But the good king receives the rebuke for his poor judgment and turns - repents - seeks and obeys God.  What about in our lives, in our nation, in our government, in our courts, in our businesses, schools, marriages?  Are we reading, applying the Word of God - knowing that we will ultimately give an account to God?  Are we more concerned with how other's view us (our wealth, status, seemingly good deeds) or with what God calls us to do or forbids us to do?  The Bible assures us there will be a day of reckoning before God.  Do we live as though we believe this?  Do our leaders?

The Reaction of the World to God's Word - Acts 17:1-15 - Paul, Silas and Timothy are taking God's Word to the world.  They are now in Europe and "reasoned with them from the Scriptures - explaining, demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead."  Many believed, others were envious, took evil men from the marketplace, set the city in an uproar, brought Jason and those who had harbored the apostles out to the people with the unintended prophetic words,  "These people who have turned the world upside down have come here too." The believers sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea where the people were "fair-minded...received the word with all readiness...searched the Scriptures daily...to find out whether these things were true."  (Ellipses, again, are mine and used for contemplation.) And, of course, those unbelievers came and stirred up the crowds against them there also.

My Lessons and Applications - Sometimes I get so discouraged when I look at both the church and the much greater number of people outside the church.  It is often hard to tell the two apart.  There are still those who come to church because of the entertainment mentality of much of modern evangelism, or for business or social reasons with no real interest in or belief in God's Word.  The agnostics and atheists I hear speaking around me have no belief whatsoever in the Bible as the inspired Word of God.  The disciples also encountered these same groups of people as they were sent out on their missions.  We can present the Word, but God must open hearts to hear and obey.  I have to keep bringing myself back to this Biblical truth over and over.  What about me?  What about my church?  Are we like the Bereans?  Are we able to discern truth or error in what is spoken and preached because we search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things are so?  Do we know the Scriptures in their entirety?

THE TESTIMONY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TO THE INSPIRATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. Jesus has been proven to be not only a credible witness, but a messenger from God. In all His teachings He referred to the divine authority of the Old Testament (Mt. 5:17-18; 8:17; 12:40-42; Lk. 4:18-21; 10:25-28; 15:29-31; 17:32; 24:25-45; Jn. 5:39-47). He quoted the Old Testament 78 times, the Pentateuch alone 26 times. He quoted from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Micah, and Malachi. He referred to the Old Testament as “The Scriptures,” “the word of God,” and “the wisdom of God.” The apostles quoted 209 times from the Old Testament and considered it “the oracles of God.” The Old Testament in hundreds of places predicted the events of the New Testament; and as the New Testament is the fulfillment of, and testifies to the genuineness and authenticity of the Old Testament, both Testaments must be considered together as the Word of God.