daily bible readings

King David became the benchmark by which kings of Israel and Judah were assessed. Way back, even before David began his reign as King, we read of his heart in 1 Samuel 13:14 as the Lord rejects Saul as King of Israel. “But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

The Chronicler describes Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 17:3 in the light of King David. “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways his father David had followed. He did not consult the Baals.” We are also told in verse 6 that his heart was devoted to the ways of the Yahweh. Jehoshaphat, like his predecessor King David, took the greatest commandment of Deuteronomy 6 - love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength - seriously. He wrote the words of God on his heart and sought with all of his might to follow Him.

Jehoshaphat did not consult the Baals, the false gods of the nations around them. He did not rely on the Baals for rain or for good crops and fertile herds. He did not turn to the false gods for protection or for strength. He also forsook the sinful practices of Israel seen clearly in the reigns of other kings. Conversely, he sought the Lord God Almighty and strove to walk in obedience.

Given the heart of Jehoshaphat, we are expressly told in verse 3 that the Lord was with Jehoshaphat. It was God who strengthened him. It was the Lord who established his kingdom. It was God who moved the people to bring him gifts and to thus increase his wealth, prestige and honour.

The covenant that God made with His people is playing out. God is remaining faithful to that covenant. He had promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Contrary to popular belief, even when the kings turned to evil practices and vile ways, God still remained faithful. He had promised curses for disobedience and He obliged by sending curses upon the people and the land.

We can expect God to be with us when we walk in covenantal faithfulness. As we love God with our heart, soul, mind and strength, abiding in Christ Jesus faithfully, we can expect to see a rich and fruitful prayer life (see John 15:7). We can expect to see God at work and we can know the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:6-7). We will be used by God for good and noble purposes (2 Tim 2:20).

We need to make sure that our hearts are right with God and that every fibre of our being is geared towards serving God and honouring Him in every area of life. Whether we are working in a factory, dining with the Mrs, washing dishes or the car or working late at night on the computer, we can honour God and bring Him glory and praise in the way that we do these things, the way we speak and the reactions we have.

Prayer:

Adoration:

• Adore God that He is so pure and holy and so perfect in every way that our hearts should adore Him completely.
• Adore God that He demands to be worshipped by all creation.

Confession:

• Take time to confess your sins to the Lord and to ask for forgiveness.

Thanks:

• Thank God that He has given you everything you need for life and godliness.
• Thank God for the Holy Spirit who leads and guides you through this life.

Supplication:

• Pray that we would be diligent in inviting people along to the John Drama and that the production of the life of Jesus would bring many into the Kingdom.
• Pray that God would be honoured in all we do as a congregation.

Discussion Questions

1. What characteristics would you expect to see in someone whose heart is with God?
2. What characteristics would you expect to see in a believer whose heart is not fully with God?
3. In what ways do the blessings of the Old Testament differ from the blessings of the New Testament?