Bible Pathway - May 26, 2011

Highlights:

King Jehoshaphat relies on God, but his association with wicked Ahab, and later with Ahaziah, lead to some serious consequences.

Surrounded by vast armies of enemy nations, the people of Judah hastened to Jerusalem, bowed before God, confessed their sins, and prayed earnestly for God to protect them. They placed their confidence in God when the prophet Jahaziel said: Be not afraid . . . for the battle is not yours, but God's. . . . Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established (II Chr. 20:15,20). Then they began to sing and to praise the Lord.

Victory is always sure to those who trust in Him. When difficulties mount, misunderstandings arise, or situations you can neither deal with nor escape threaten you, reach out in faith and begin praising the Lord — the Christian's True Source of strength.

An important principle in praising God is to take your eyes off the alarming predicament and put them on Him as you pray unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man (Eph. 3:14,16).

Jehoshaphat was one of the most godly kings in the 500-year history of Judah. He appointed Levites throughout the country to read and instruct people in the Law of God. He forced the Baal and Ashtoreth cult followers, as well as the male cult prostitutes (homosexuals), out of the Kingdom of Judah (I Kin. 22:46; II Chr. 17:3-9). But Jehoshaphat made a serious mistake when he associated with Ahab, the Baal-worshiping King of the Northern Kingdom.

The marriage of Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram to Athaliah (18:1; 21:1,6), the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, opened the door to Baal worship in Judah and the eventual massacre of all of Jehoshaphat's sons and grandsons, except for one-year-old Jehoash (Joash), who was hidden by the high priest Jehoiada for six years (22:10-12).

All of our relationships should be guided by the Scriptures: Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? . . . Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith theLord (II Cor. 6:14,17). And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. . . . Redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Eph. 5:11,16).

Thought for Today:

Is not My Word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock into pieces (Jer. 23:29)?

Christ Portrayed:

By Micaiah, who told the Truth even though it was unpopular with his listeners (II Chr. 18:12-27). We are reminded of Christ when He spoke the unpopular Truth to the Pharisees (Matt. 12:1-14). Jesus responded: Now ye seek to kill Me, a Man that hath told you the Truth, which I have heard of God (John 8:40).

Word Studies:

18:1 joined affinity, allied himself by the marriage of his son to Ahab's daughter; 18:9 a void place, an open area near the city entrance; 18:15 adjure, command under oath; 18:33 at a venture, randomly without aim; harness, armor.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for International Broadcasts in memory of Iva Ann McElroy • Staff: Ilene Wallace • Government Officials: Sen. Kay Hagan (NC), Rep. Janice Schakowsky (IL), and Rep. Rich Nugent (FL) • Country: Hungary (10.1 million) in east-central Europe • Major language: Hungarian • New freedom has opened the door to evangelism and Bible distribution • 61.7% Roman Catholic; 24.4% Protestant; 12.5% non-Religious/Other; .8% Jewish; .3% Orthodox; .2% Marginal; .1% Muslim • Prayer Suggestion: Confess and repent of any known sin (I John 1:9).

Optional Reading: 1 Corinthians 13

Memory Verse for the Week: John 15:10