Hearing the Word of the Lord

INTRO

We are continuing our study in 2 Chronicles, specifically chapters 17—18. There’s so much here that can speak into us today.

TEACHING

2 Chronicles 17:1-9: In chapter 15, King Asa heard from the prophet Azariah, and Asa returned to the Lord, began to cleanse the house, and led the nation in a time of revival. At Asa’s death, his son Jehoshaphat began to reign (v. 1). Jehoshaphat strengthened the nation of Judah and placed forces throughout the walled cities of Judah (v. 2). The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the ways of David (vv. 3-4). All Judah brought Jehoshaphat presents as the reigning king, and Jehoshaphat responded by clearing out the high places and pagan groves in Judah (vv. 5-6). In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials and the Levites into all the cities of Judah to teach the book of the law to the people (vv. 7-9).

2 Chronicles 17:10-18: The Word of God always brings into focus Jesus Christ. The people of Judah didn’t know Christ, but they did understand they were seeing a revelation of God in their times through the following of the Word of the Lord. But it’s not just a reading of the Word, it is doing what it says, for “man shall not live by bread alone” (Deuteronomy 8:1-3; Matthew 4:1-4).

We’re going to see a huge contrast between Jehoshaphat in chapter 17 and in chapter 18. Look at the progression. Asa told his son to walk in the Lord. As Jehoshaphat walked out the Word of the Lord, he made sure the people of Judah had access to it as well. God’s Word began to transform the people of Judah. “And the fear of the Lord fell upon the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat” (v. 10 KJV). Other nations also sent tributes, allowing Jehoshaphat to be even more successful in leading his country in a building program (vv. 11-18). This shows how confidence in the Lord impacts others around us and even other nations.

As we get ready to contrast Jehoshaphat in his territory of Judah in chapter 18 with him in chapter 17, transferring him into the place of king of Israel who had all bad kings. Jehoshaphat was one of the good kings of Judah who led the people to revival. Israel had never experienced revival.

2 Chronicles 18:1-7: Jehoshaphat continued to walk in confidence and made an affiliation with King Ahab, one of the evil kings of Israel (v. 1). After several years, Jehoshaphat traveled to see Ahab in Samaria. Ahab had a great celebration when Jehoshaphat arrived and then persuaded Jehoshaphat to join him in battle against Ramoth-gilead. Jehoshaphat agreed to Ahab’s proposal (vv. 2-3). But Jehoshaphat requested that they seek God’s direction before they left (v. 4). Ahab called 400 prophets together and asked them whether they should go to Ramoth-gilead. The prophets told them God would deliver Ramoth-gilead to them (v 5). Jehoshaphat was not satisfied with what the 400 prophets said and asked if there was not another prophet of the Lord they could ask (v. 6). Ahab told him there was one more prophet named Micaiah, but that the king hated him because he never prophesied what Ahab wanted to hear (v. 7). Notice Jehoshaphat was unafraid of the Word of the Lord, and Ahab had built his own group of prophets who would tell him what he wanted to hear.

2 Chronicles 18:8-11: Ahab sent for Micaiah the prophet (v. 8). The kings of Israel and Judah (Ahab and Jehoshaphat) sat in their royal robes at the gate of Samaria and watched as the 400 prophets of Ahab’s choice delivered their message (v. 9). One prophet made horns of iron and prophesied Ahab would push Syria into oblivion (v. 10). Ahab’s prophets were in agreement with the thought that the Lord would deliver Ahab’s enemy to him (v. 11).

2 Chronicles 18:12-14: Ahab sent a messenger to get Micaiah and tell him that all the other prophets had been in agreement, so his prophecy should be the same as theirs (v. 12). Micaiah replied he would speak whatever his God told him to speak (v. 13). Before King Ahab, Micaiah repeated the same thing the other 400 prophets had said (v. 14).

In the anointing of a king, the Spirit of God was supposed to be a part of that anointing in the life of a king, not just the king’s prophet. There should have been something divine in the life of the king that let him know when something was of God or not. Jehoshaphat was in that place of being able to discern God’s truth; Ahab was not.

2 Chronicles 18:15-22: King Jehoshaphat told Micaiah he should not repeat what the others said but to tell him the truth (v. 15). Micaiah said that “he did see,” which was the role of the prophet/seer. Micaiah said he saw all Israel scattered on the mountains with no master and that God had sent them all home (v. 16). Ahab responded that Micaiah always had a negative response for him (v. 17).

Micaiah then responded with a vision of God on his throne asking the host of heaven who would entice Ahab to go against Ramoth-gilead so he would be defeated (vv. 18-20). In the vision, answered the Lord saying he would go and become a “lying spirit in the mouth of all his (Ahab's) prophets” to convince the king to go into battle, and God sent the spirit out (vv. 21-22).

2 Chronicles 18:23-27: After Micaiah spoke, one of the prophets of Ahab slapped Micaiah on the cheek and accused Micaiah of the one in which the lying spirit resided (v. 23). Micaiah responded that all of Ahab’s prophets would see the truth in time (v. 24). King Ahab told his servants to put Micaiah in prison and feed him only bread of affliction and water of affliction (vv. 25-26). Before he was taken away, Micaiah declared that if Ahab returned safely from the battle, only then would he know that Micaiah had not spoken God’s truth (v. 27).

2 Chronicles 18:28-34: Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to Ramoth-gilead, and Ahab decided to disguise himself while Jehoshaphat wore the royal robes (vv. 28-29). The king of Syria told his army to not worry about the soldiers against them but only to find the king of Israel (v. 30). However, when the soldiers of Syria saw Jehoshaphat in his robes, they assumed he was king of Israel and surround him. Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord who saved him (v. 31). The soldiers turned away from Jehoshaphat. One of them shot an arrow, which wounded Ahab by chance (vv. 32-33) and Ahab died in battle (v. 34).

CLOSING

John 8:31–32 states, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” What does the truth set us free from? Jesus explained we are slaves to sin, but the Son can set us free.

What are we hearing today that we can establish ourselves in and say this is the Word of the Lord? That’s the reason for Revive School!