Saturday, July 23

Warts and all

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 19-20, Proverbs 17, 1 John 2

Observation

King Jehoshaphat, like all of us, was a mix of good and bad. That shows up clearly in the chapter.

The good: 

      • He led spiritual reforms, established justice and brought people back to the Lord (19:4-11). 
      • When attacked by foes from the east, he called the nation to fasting and prayer, and then obeyed the Lord. They were told not to fight, but to take their positions and stand still and watch God work. So they sent the choir out in front of the army (!), and when they began to praise the Lord, God ambushed their enemies. They experienced a miraculous victory and took three days to collect the plunder. (20:1-30)
      • He did what was right in the Lord’s sight (20:32). 

The bad: He formed alliances with King Ahab and King Azariah of Israel, both of whom had abandoned the Lord. After the disastrous alliance with Ahab, a prophet asked him, “Do you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” (19:1-3) Even after that bad experience and prophetic correction, he repeated the mistake by making an ill-fated alliance with Azariah. (20:35-37)

Application

I want to emulate the good and avoid the bad. And yet I know that I won’t be 100% successful. I’m a saint and slowly becoming more like Jesus…and I’m still a broken sinner saved by grace. I want God’s grace for my messes. And I need to quickly offer grace to others for theirs. Don’t be surprised when people fail. We all do…including me. So offer others the grace you desire.

I want to attack more problems like Jehoshaphat did: on my knees, in prayer and fasting and praise. “So when I fight, I’ll fight on my knees, with my hands lifted high…Oh God, the battle belongs to you.”

I want to love everyone always…and yet avoid alliances with those who hate God. 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?” We love and befriend those who are far from God, but we avoid “being yoked together”—being in an alliance that may compromise our values.

Prayer: I love the honest portrayal of Bible heroes—warts and all. I’m grateful for your grace, Lord that covers my warts and failures. Help me to live full on for you, and give me grace when I don’t! And help me give others the grace I desire.