Jehoshaphat’s Legacy
Daily Old Testament Reading: 2 Chronicles 16-17; 1 Kings 16
Daily Focus Passage:2 Chronicles 17
Jehoshaphat lived a life of faithfulness before the Lord. As the king of Judah, he lived in the tradition and legacy of his forefather David. In 2 Chronicles 17, Jehoshaphat found favor before the Lord and lived obediently. His faithfulness is a legacy that extends through generations to us today to read and find the importance of living for the Lord like King Jehoshaphat. Notice these vital truths for a life seeking to follow the Lord.
PREPARE FOR THE BATTLE
2 Chronicles 17 informs us that Jehoshaphat found success as a king because he trusted in the Lord. Part of this trust included the preparation for what was ahead. The chapter opens by informing of Jehoshaphat's leadership of fortifying the cities of Judah and strengthening Judah in preparation for battle. Though Jehoshaphat knew the Lord was faithful and would battle, he understood that he needed to prepare for battle as his responsibility. He was an active part of God's plan. We must strive to prepare for battle and actively participate in God's plan. We must fight the urge to be passive. When you consider your life, are you preparing for battle and playing an active role in God’s plan?
FOLLOW THE LEGACY OF BELIEVERS BEFORE YOU
We read that Jehoshaphat followed the ways of his father, David, before him. This statement describes the importance of looking to faithful believers who have gone before us and seek to follow their example of following the Lord. When we seek to follow the legacy of others, we understand the importance of understanding how God has worked in the life of believers before us to gain encouragement for the journey we face. Who in life serves as a legacy of faithfulness that has gone before you that you can seek to follow their example?
FOLLOW THE LORD ALONE
Jehoshaphat followed the Lord alone. He lived in a culture that had become corrupted by pagan idolatry. This idolatry had plagued earlier kings and brought forth the punishment of the Lord. Jehoshaphat knew that you lived either for the Lord or against the Lord; no middle ground existed. Thus, he sought to follow the Lord alone. Jehoshaphat removed the idols and led the people to follow the Lord alone to prevent the temptation to walk away from the Lord. What temptations must be removed that keep you from following the Lord completely?
DEVOTE THE SELF TO THE WAYS OF THE LORD
Jehoshaphat dedicated himself to the Lord and the ways of the Lord. A dedicated life means that one surrenders the ways of the flesh and submits to the ways of the Lord. Devotion identifies the pursuit of the Lord and means we set our eyes upon Christ and run after Him at all costs. When we devote ourselves to the Lord, we live in a manner that commits wholeheartedly to the Lord. If you analyzed your life, would you be dedicated to the Lord?
King Jehoshaphat models a life worth living. He set forth a legacy of faithfulness and wholehearted devotion to the Lord. When we consider our lives, would people look at our legacy and find it as faithful and devoted as Jehoshaphat?
