Thursday, October 04, 2007

Jumpin Jehosphat Did He Do That

My Reading - 2 Chronicles 18

Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage. -2 Chr 18:1

The problem here in this chapter started LONG before the battle, the lying prophets, and the search for Michaia. The problem started in Jehosphat's aliance with Ahab. I am challenged by the decision of Jehosphat to make such an alliance. Godliness, the law, and holiness are his trademarks; Idolatry, wealth, and selfishness are Ahab's.

Some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to attack Ramoth Gilead. Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?"
Jehoshaphat replied, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war." - 2 Chr 18:2-3

UnGodly alliances are easy for me to make. I align myself with people, ideas, entertainment that I know do not challenge my pursuit of God the way I claim to desire. I go to war in the name of these, not to forsake God, but in spite of my relationship with God.

But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the LORD." - 2 Chr 18:4

I relate with Jehosphat so much. I want Godliness, but I want these alliances. I want to justify my participation in these by seeking the Lord's guidance, but unfortunately and all to often after my decision to participate not before. I do not seek God's will for my decision, I seek God's blessing of my decision.

Micaiah declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he added, "Mark my words, all you people!"
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. - 2 Chronicles 18:27-29

Even worse is when I do not get the blessing and I keep my alliances. Jehoshaphat heard God's condemnation of this enterprise clearly and still he allowed Ahab to disguise himself and off he went into the battle. I know there are things God does not want me participating in. I have sought the Lord and he has been faithful time and again to show me His better paths, to reveal that His will falls outside of my man made alliances, and still I return to my old sin patterns, return to my old habits and ignore the leading and direction he gives. Like Jehoshaphat I choose the alliance, I have always known I should have never made.

This is part of a series of 3 posts, I wrote about 2 years ago collectively called "No Ashera Poles". They were three personal posts and I never had any intentions really of publishing them. However I decided today to go ahead and throw them out there.

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