Jehoshaphat is rebuked by Jehu the seer (often a prophet was called a seer in the New Testament) for helping Ahab. God is mad, but because there is some good in Jehoshaphat, God is really fussing at Jehoshaphat and keeping him on the right path.
Jehoshaphat appoints judges to help him rule......he will not tolerate corrupt judges....they need to be very "God first" in their judgments. Amaraiah is the chief priest. Zebadiah will be over any matter concerning the king.
Jehoshaphat defeats Moab and Ammon because he sought the Lord as armies came to attack....Jahaziel has the Spirit of the Lord come upon him and God tells them that they will prevail against the attackers. Rightly, the Hebrews praise the Lord....you've seen Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever, several times in the Psalms.
I liked 20: 35-37....yesterday's reading about the ships seemed so random to me...this was God's judgement over a bad alliance with Israel again (Israel was still being wicked in God's eyes)
Jehoram succeeds Jehshaphat as king, but was evil.....God didn't want to destroy the whole house of David because of the covenant he had made with David. Jehoram gets a nasty little bowel disease that he dies from.
The people make Jehoram's brother, Ahaziah the king...he reigned only one year because his mother (Athaliah) encouraged him to do wrong. Jehu (remember the seer from above) is annointed by God to destroy the house of Ahab, and he does....Athaliah, Ahaziah's mom (Jehoshaphat's Daughter-in-law, who is Omri, wicked king of Israel's granddaughter...this is where the idolatry came in) begins to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah, so she can rise to the throne, but Joash (son of Ahaziah) is saved.
Okey Dokey...did you follow all those relationships?????
Jehoiada the priest shows his strength (it is the priest's job to confront the ruler if they aren't following God's law....it takes him 7 years of Athaliah's rule and idolatrous practices for him to get up the courage) and makes a covenant with the military...they crown Joash king.....Ahaziah is put to death and there is peace as the temple procedures and worship services go from the pagan Baal worship of Athaliah, to what King David had originated.
I don't know about you, but I am exhausted! LOL....
Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
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goodness....all these people and kings....and yep...confused...but going on....
ReplyDeleteIt's no wonder you are confused....it is kind of like a Southern family...a little inbred...LOL....
ReplyDeleteIf you figure out what your questions are, let me know...