Podcast Introduction

Today is History Tuesday 2 Chronicles 16-20. After the reading I have some comments for you, I have an on this date in church history for you. I’m calling today’s episode “How Does God See You?”  

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash

Comments on 2 Chronicles 17-20

King Jehoshaphat really got off on a good foot when he began his reign as king of Judah. Chapter 17:3-6 tells us, “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. 

(Meaning, David his ancestor). 

He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. 

(Unlike some of the other kings, and unlike the culture of the time.)

The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.”

(In removing these things, he demonstrated that he truly wanted to do what was right before the Lord. In taking down these places, he would have made many people angry. But he cared more about pleasing God than in pleasing people.)

 In addition, Jehoshaphat sent men throughout the kingdom to teach the people the Law of God (2 Chronicles 17:7–9).

(The people had to be taught God's Law. Many had forgotten it, or never been taught. This is one of the reasons that they had Asherah poles and high places. They didn't know any better.)

Jehoshaphat was serious, and he sent a delegation of at least 16 highly qualified men around the county to do the teaching. And commentator Adam Clarke wrote of this, “Thus the nation became thoroughly instructed in their duty to God, to the king, and to each other. They became, therefore, as one man; and against a people thus united, on such principles, no enemy could be successful.” And according to verse 10 of chapter 17, "The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat."

They became as one man. They were united. And they were seen as unbeatable.

Of course, as we read, Jehoshaphat was not a perfect king. But God is merciful, and in chapter 20 verse 32, we read, "He followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord." His father Asa was not perfect either, nor was King David. But all three of these men put their faith in God. And despite their failings, God says of them "They did what was right in the eyes of the Lord."

Beloved if you're anything like me, when you fail to do that which you know God wants you to do, you have a tendency to beat yourself up. You get down on yourself. You let the enemy tell you that you're a hypocrite. A lousy Christian. A failure. That God is mad at you. That He can't use a person like you. 

Don't misunderstand. When we stumble, when we fail, it is good to face up to it. It's good to have remorse for our sin. That's the Holy Spirit bringing you to repentance. If we're not sorry for our sin, how can we be truly repentant? But as true as that is, it is also true that God *wants* to forgive us. He is not stingy with His grace. 

In Matthew 18:21-22 we're told, 21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Do you think Jesus would have told Peter to forgive like that if *He* isn't willing to do even more?

All of us sin, beloved. We are still in these bodies of flesh. We are to strive to be perfect, but we are going to fail. When we do, we must confess it, repent, humbly and joyfully accept His forgiveness, and move on. Don't look back, look up. Even with failures, we can be a person about who it is said,