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Assignment“I will be with you”

Kings Judah Rehoboam

17 yrs; evil Abijam

3 yrs; evil Asa

41 yrs; good Jehoshaphat

25 yrs; good

Israel (all evil) Jeroboam - 22 yrs Nadab - 2 yrs Baasha - 24 yrs Elah - 2 yrs Zimri - 1 week Omri - 12 yrs Ahab - 22 yrs

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History of Israel Acts 13:14-23 Acts 13:23 "From this man's seed

(David), according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior--Jesus–

In Judah Jehoshaphat, a good king

Reigned 25 years Riches and honor Allied with Ahab, king of Israel Goes to visit Ahab

Obedience = Blessings

In Israel Ahab is king

Wife Jezebel Reigned 22 years

Had peace treaty with Ben-hadad, king of Syria

Jehoshaphat came to visit Ahab Ahab wants help to capture Ramoth

Gilead

Ahab’s Death After losing the battle with Syria Ahab is buried in Samaria His chariot is washed Dogs lick the blood Ahaziah, Ahab’s son, reigned in his

place

Kingdom Relationships JUDAH Jehoshaphat Jehoram Ahaziah Athaliah

ISRAEL Ahab – Jezebel

Ahaziah Jehoram Athaliah

Lesson 10

2 Chronicles 19-20

Read 2 Chronicles 19 God is unhappy with Jehoshaphat’s

alliance with Ahab 3 "Nevertheless good things are found

in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart toseek God."

2 Chronicles 19 Jehoshaphat set up judges

throughout the land 7 "Now therefore, let the fear of the

LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes."

2 Chronicles 19 Appointed officers/judges 9 And he commanded them,

saying, "Thus you shall act in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and with a loyal heart:

2 Chronicles 19 10 "Whatever case comes to you

from your brethren who dwell in their cities, whether of bloodshed or offenses against law or commandment, against statutes or ordinances, you shall warn them, lest they trespass against the LORD and wrath come upon you and your brethren. Do this, and you will not be guilty.

Ezekiel 3:19 "Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

2 Chronicles 19 11 "And take notice: Amariah the

chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters; also the Levites will be officials before you. Behave courageously, and the LORD will be with the good."

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Moab and Ammon Genesis 19:36-38 Thus both the

daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.

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Invasion Coming Moabites, Ammonites, and some

from Mt Seir (Edomites ??) Jehoshaphat had a large army

—’reserves’ Not time to gather them for battle Realized Jehovah was his only

salvation Proclaims a fast throughout the land

Jehoshaphat Relies on God Gathers people in Jerusalem Prays openly to God Begins with praise to Jehovah 20:6 and said: "O LORD God of our

fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?

Jehoshaphat Relies on God God had driven out the inhabitants of

the land and given it to them They had built a sanctuary there for

Jehovah 20:9 'If disaster comes upon us-sword,

judgment, pestilence, or famine-we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.'

Reminds God of Past God would not let Israel harm Edom

when they were coming to take the land

Numbers 20:21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.

They were brethren

Plea to God to Save Them But now they come to throw us out

of the land you gave us 20:12 "O our God, will You not

judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."

God Answer the Prayer 20:15 And he said, "Listen, all you

of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

The battle belongs

to the Lord

The ‘Battle’ Plan 20:16 'Tomorrow go down against

them. … 17 'You will not need to fight in this

battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."

Go Out To ‘Battle’ Worships God

Thanks for hearing their plea 20:20 So they rose early in the

morning and went out… Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."

Invaders Destroy Each Other 20:22f Now when they began to sing and

to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

Jehoshaphat 20:32 And he walked in the way of

his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD.

33 Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.

Read 2 Chronicles 19 God is unhappy with Jehoshaphat’s

alliance with Ahab 3 "Nevertheless good things are found

in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart toseek God."

Lesson

Prepare our hearts to seek God Few of us ‘decide’ to do evil Rather too often we have not

‘prepared’ to do good Prepare

deliberate effort over a prolonged period of time

The word "prepare" implies planning to achieve something

Lesson

Prepare our hearts to seek God Prepare is also translated ‘fixed’ Psalm 57:7 My heart is fixed, O

God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises. (ASV)

David had already prepared, or fixed, his heart

He might have succumbed to the pressure of that moment

Saul in the cave; David cut off his robe

Lesson

Prepare our hearts to seek God Fixed

Not subject to change or variation; constant

Firmly held in the mind One of the keys to preparing our

hearts is to fix our hearts on what we will and will not do before we encounter the temptation

Lesson

Prepare our hearts to seek God Far too often, we have not made

strong enough commitments and, therefore, succumb to temptation.

God must be involved in preparing our hearts

Lesson

Prepare our hearts to seek God Psalm 10:17 LORD, You have heard

the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart…

Trust in the Lord and depend on Him

Humility is an essential ingredient

Lesson

Prepare our hearts to seek God 1 Samuel 7:3 Then Samuel spoke to

all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the LORD with all your hearts… and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only…

"determine to obey only the Lord." Living Bible

Lesson

Prepare our hearts to seek GodWe must remember that it is our personal, individual relationship with God that must be correct for us to please GodIn other words, it isn't just being “in the group”

Lesson

seek Him, He will be found by youHow?PrayerAssociationStudyMeditationPractice

“Trying to Walk in the Steps of the Saviour”

Lesson

Lessons Prepare our hearts to seek God Serve Him faithfully with a loyal

heart Behave courageously, and the

LORD will be with the good Do not be afraid nor dismayed for

the battle is not yours, but God's Believe in the LORD your God, and

you shall be established

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