Day 124 · Part 8: Two Kingdoms
Micaiah and Jehoshaphat (2 of 2)
In the Story
In context
Chronicles tells the battle at Ramoth Gilead again, closely, adding that Jehoshaphat “allied himself with Ahab” and that when the chariots turned on him, “Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him” (2 Chronicles 18:1, 31). His son Jehoram had Ahab’s daughter as his wife (21:6). Back home, the seer Jehu son of Hanani asks him, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate Yahweh?” (19:2). Jehoshaphat sets judges in every fortified city and tells them, “you don’t judge for man, but for Yahweh” (19:5–7).
Then Moab, Ammon and the Meunites come up by En Gedi, on the shore of the Dead Sea (20:1–2). Jehoshaphat stands in the temple and prays as Solomon had asked the Lord to hear such prayers: “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (20:9, 12; 6:28–30). The Levite Jahaziel answers, “the battle is not yours, but God’s,” and tells them to “stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh,” the words Moses spoke at the Red Sea (20:15–17; Exodus 14:13).
Singers go out before the army, and the invaders destroy one another; Judah gives thanks in a valley named Beracah, which means “blessing” (20:21–26).
I lift up my eyes to you, you who sit in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us.
Psalms 123:1–2 · Jehoshaphat prayed, “our eyes are on you”; the psalm says, “our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us.”
For families
When Judah gathered to pray for help, “All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, their wives, and their children” (2 Chronicles 20:13). The next morning singers went out before the army, singing, “Give thanks to Yahweh, for his loving kindness endures forever” (20:21).
Judah prayed together as whole families, little ones too. When has your family sung or prayed together?
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
2 Chronicles 18
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2 Chronicles 19
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2 Chronicles 20
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A hymn for today
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God · words by Martin Luther
- A mighty fortress is our God,A bulwark never failing;Our helper He, amid the floodOf mortal ills prevailing:For still our ancient foeDoth seek to work us woe;His craft and pow'r are great,And, armed with cruel hate,On earth is not his equal.
- Did we in our own strength confide,Our striving would be losing;Were not the right Man on our side,The Man of God's own choosing:Dost ask who that may be?Christ Jesus, it is He;Lord Sabaoth His name,From age to age the same,And He must win the battle.
- And though this world, with devils filled,Should threaten to undo us,We will not fear, for God hath willedHis truth to triumph through us:The prince of darkness grim,We tremble not for him;His rage we can endure,For lo, his doom is sure;One little word shall fell him.
- That word above all earthly pow'rs,No thanks to them, abideth;The Spirit and the gifts are oursThrough Him who with us sideth:Let goods and kindred go,This mortal life also;The body they may kill:God's truth abideth still;His kingdom is forever.