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19 Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned to his house in Jerusalem safely.
2 Jehu son of Hanani, the seer, went out to meet King Jehoshaphat and said to him, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath from the Lord is upon you. 3 Nevertheless, good things are present in you, because you destroyed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart to seek God.”
Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges
4 Jehoshaphat ruled from[a] Jerusalem.
He once again went out among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. 5 He appointed judges throughout the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.
6 He said to the judges, “Watch what you do, because you are not judging for the people, but for the Lord. He is with you as you judge. 7 Now may the dread of the Lord be upon you. Watch what you do, because there is no injustice, partiality, or taking bribes with the Lord our God.”
8 In Jerusalem too Jehoshaphat appointed men from the Levites, the priests, and the leading fathers of Israel to act as judges on behalf of the Lord and to settle disputes, and they presided in[b] Jerusalem.
9 He commanded them:
This is how you are to conduct yourselves in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart. 10 In every case concerning bloodshed, law, commands, statutes, or ordinances that comes to you from your brother Israelites who live in their cities, you will instruct them so that they will not incur guilt before the Lord, and so that wrath does not come upon you and upon your brothers. If you do this, you will not incur guilt.
11 Take note of this. Amariah the head priest is over you in all matters concerning the Lord. Zebadiah son of Ishmael is the governor for the house of Judah in all matters concerning the king. The Levites are officials for you. Act courageously. The Lord will be with those who do what is good.
Jehoshaphat Defeats the Moabites and Ammonites
20 After this the Moabites, the Ammonites, and some of the Meunites[c] with them, all came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Jehoshaphat was told, “A huge horde is coming against you from beyond the sea[d] and from Edom.[e] Look! They are already in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).
3 Jehoshaphat was afraid, but he focused on seeking the Lord. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord. From all the cities of Judah people came to seek the Lord.
Jehoshaphat’s Speech
5 Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the House of the Lord in front of the new courtyard. 6 He said:
Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God in heaven? You are ruling over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might. There is no one who can stand up against you.
7 Was it not you, our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land in front of your people Israel? You gave it to the descendants of your friend Abraham forever. 8 They have lived in it, and in it they have built a holy place for your Name, and they said, 9 “If disaster comes on us—the sword of judgment, plague, and famine, we will stand before this house and before you, for your Name is in this house. We will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.”
10 Now look! Men from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir have invaded. When Israel came up from the land of Egypt, you did not allow Israel to invade their land. So Israel went around them and did not destroy them. 11 Look how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from your possession, which you have given to us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For there is no power in us to face this huge horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
13 All Judah was standing before the Lord along with their dependents, their wives, and their children.
14 The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite from the descendants of Asaph. He was standing in the middle of the assembly. 15 He said:
Listen, all Judah, all you residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says to you. Do not be afraid. Do not be terrified because of this huge horde, for the battle is not yours. It is God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Look, they are coming up by the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley east of the Wilderness of Jeruel.
17 It is not up to you to fight this battle. Just take up your position. Stand still, Judah and Jerusalem, and see that the victory of the Lord is with you. Do not be afraid. Do not be terrified. Tomorrow go out against them. The Lord will be with you.
18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord to worship the Lord. 19 Then the Levites from the Kohathites and the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 They got up early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and you residents of Jerusalem. Have faith in the Lord your God, and you will find him to be faithful. Believe his prophets and you will succeed.”
21 After he consulted with the people, he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness,[f] as they went out ahead of the army, singing:
Give thanks to the Lord, for his mercy endures forever.
22 At the time when they began the jubilant songs of praise to the Lord, he set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who were marching against Judah, and they were routed, 23 because the men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to destroy them and wipe them out. When they were finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped destroy each other.
24 When Judah came to a spot overlooking the wilderness and looked out toward that horde, they saw nothing but dead bodies lying on the ground. No one had escaped.
25 Jehoshaphat and his people came to gather the spoils. They found huge amounts of equipment and valuables among the bodies. They collected so much for themselves that they could not carry it. It took them three days to gather the spoils because there was so much.
26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they blessed the Lord. That is why that place is named the Valley of Berakah[g] to this day.
27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem joyfully returned to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat at their head, because the Lord had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem to the House of the Lord with harps, lyres, and trumpets.
29 The dread of the Lord was upon all the kingdoms of the lands, when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30 Then Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was quiet. His God gave him rest on every side.
The Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
31 Jehoshaphat ruled as king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
32 He walked in the ways of his father Asa by doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn from it.
33 The high places, however, were not removed. The people still did not set their hearts toward the God of their fathers.
34 The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are recorded in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are included in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
35 After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did wicked things. 36 He joined with him to build ships to go to Tarshish.[h] They built the ships in Ezion Geber. 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat: “Because you joined with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed what you have made.” The ships were wrecked, so they were not able to go to Tarshish.
Israel Rejected the Message God Sent
14 So then, how can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one about whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news of peace,[a] who preach the gospel of good things!”[b]
16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who believed our message?”[c] 17 So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through the word of Christ.[d]
18 But I ask, did they not hear? Of course, they certainly did.
The sound of their voice went out to all the earth,
and their words to the farthest parts of the world.[e]
19 Yet I ask, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says:
I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry with a nation that does not understand.[f]
20 And Isaiah also boldly says:
I was found by those who were not looking for me;
I became well known to those who were not asking for me.[g]
21 But about Israel he says:
All day long I stretched out my hands
to a people who disobey and oppose me.[h]
God Graciously Chose a Remnant
11 So I say, did God reject his people? Absolutely not! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people whom he foreknew—or don’t you know what Scripture says about Elijah, how he was pleading with God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life.”[i] 4 But what did God’s answer tell him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[j]
5 So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.[k] 6 Now if it is by grace, then it is not the result of works—otherwise grace would no longer be grace.[l]
God Planned a Way to Recover Some Hardened Jews
7 What then? Israel did not receive what it was striving to get. The elect did, but the rest were hardened. 8 Just as it is written:
God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear,
right up to the present day.[m]
9 And David says:
Let their table be a trap and a net,
and a snare and a retribution for them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened so they do not see,
and let their backs be always bent.[n]
11 So I ask, “Did they stumble in order to fall permanently?” Absolutely not! Rather, by their trespass, salvation came to the Gentiles to make the Israelites jealous. 12 Now if their trespass meant riches for the world, and their failure meant riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean!
Psalm 21
Thanksgiving for Victory
Heading
For the choir director. A psalm by David.
The People Thank the Lord for Victory
1 O Lord, the king rejoices in your strength.
He joyfully celebrates salvation from you.
2 You have granted him what his heart desired. Interlude
You have not denied the request from his lips.
3 Yes, you meet him to give him great blessings.
You place a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, forever and ever.
5 He receives great glory through the salvation you gave.
You bestow splendor and majesty on him.
6 Surely you grant him blessings forever.
You make him glad with joy in your presence.
7 Surely the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the mercy of the Most High he will not be shaken.
The People Assure the King of Future Victory
8 Your hand will reach all your enemies.
Your right hand will reach those who hate you.
9 At the time when you appear, O Lord,
you will make them like a blazing furnace.
In his anger he will swallow them.
Fire will consume them.
10 You will cause their fruit to perish from the earth,
their seed[a] from among the children of Adam.
11 Indeed, they intend[b] evil against you.
They plan wicked schemes,
but they will not succeed,
12 because you will make them turn and run
when you get ready to aim your arrows at them.
The People Praise the Lord
13 Rise up, O Lord, in your strength.
We will sing and make music because of your might.
4 A lazy person fails to plow when it is the season for planting.[a]
He expects something in the harvest, but nothing will be there.
5 The intentions in a person’s heart are deep water,
but a person with understanding can draw them out.
6 Many people claim to be loyal,[b]
but who can find a trustworthy man?
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.