2 Chron. 19-20
Wow – so much to learn from Jehoshaphat! He sought God, promoted justice in the land, directed the people back to God, and turned to God in his need. His prayer is amazing. In bringing his need to God, he acknowledged who God is, he acknowledged what God had done in the past and God’s promises to His people, and then he laid his case before Him, also acknowledging his own helplessness. And when God gave him an answer, even before any of what He promised had taken place, Jehoshaphat worshipped and praised. He said, “Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe His prophets, and you will succeed.” (2 Cor 19:20b). And so they did.
But in spite of all that Jehoshaphat did right, he still had one huge blind spot. He did not understand the concept of being “unequally yoked” that we read from Paul yesterday. God reprimanded him for the mistake he made in allying with King Ahab of Israel. Yet still he went and formed a business partnership with King Ahaziah of Israel, who also acted wickedly.
After the first incident God told him, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?”. (2 Chron 19:2b). While this may seem in contrast to Jesus’ telling us to love our enemies, I am sure that it isn’t. We just need to understand the concepts more fully. And I don’t have the full answer. I do note, however, that Jesus said to love your enemies. Jehoshaphat, on the other hand, was admonished for loving the enemies of the LORD. Jesus is talking on a personal level. Jehoshaphat’s situation is something different. Also, with Jehoshaphat, we aren’t just talking about being kind to someone or praying for them even when they do you wrong. Jehoshaphat was forming alliances and unions, working closely together with those whose hearts did not seek the LORD but only their own interests. Definitely something to think about.
One last thought from this passage. As part of the “battle” group that Jehoshaphat took to see the promised salvation from the LORD, he appointed some to sing praise to the LORD. Yes, it’s the music again. And the scripture says, “And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.” (2 Chron 20:22). That’s right – when the music started, God acted. I’m not exactly sure what that means, except to reinforce the point that God inhabits the praise of His people, as it states in Psalm 22:3. And it seems music is a very special form of praise. In any case – very cool.
2 Cor. 7
Have I mentioned that I wish I knew the specific situations that Paul was addressing in these letters? It would sure make it easier to understand what he is saying. I did find an interesting article, saying that Paul actually wrote 4 letters to the Corinthians, though we only have two of them in our Bible. A brief synopsis from that article of the scenario that led to the writing of 2 Corinthians is this:
Paul was in constant (for the time) communication with the Churches that he founded. It seems this was a back-and-forth process via letters and word of mouth from Paul’s helpers. In 1 Corinthians 5:9, Paul referenced a prior letter that he had written. And he was obviously responding throughout the rest of 1 Corinthians to questions presented to him by the Church. He also noted his plan to visit them again after visiting Macedonia, and that he would send Timothy to them in the meantime. Timothy found, however, that problems in the church were escalating. So Paul rearranged his plans and went to visit them immediately. This is the “painful visit” he mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:1. Rather than his visit resolving the problems in the church, however, his authority was attacked and his parting from them was not peaceful.
After leaving, Paul sent Titus back to them with a very harsh and tearful letter. The article identifies this as the letter mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:4. Titus delivered the letter, and when he met back with Paul he had news that most of the church had repented, though a rebellious faction remained. So, rather than risk another in person debacle like the first, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians (the fourth letter). He wrote it to encourage and strengthen the repentant majority, while trying to win back the resistant minority and address the falsehoods his opponents were spreading.
And through all of that, we get to see Paul boldly confronting unrighteousness, not with a spirit of condemnation, but with a very humble, very genuine concern for those whom he led to Christ. He was much like a loving father, disciplining his children so that they might learn a better way. Paul’s letter wasn’t about lashing out in anger or pride, nor was he preaching “my way or the highway”. He was trying to point them back to God in love so that they might grow and mature in spirit, strengthening their relationship with God. A good example for us to follow, I’d say.