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First things first!
Then Jehoshaphat added, "But first let's find out what the Lord says." 1 Kings 22:5
Going into battle in the days of ancient kings was a common affair. Knowing your enemy and the best time to attack was essential to success. Kings had prophets and seers to give them advice on such matters. Very much like Presidents have their aides, who have their own special areas of expertise.
Even today, many kings and presidents rely on all manner of different types of advisers, often using the occult for discernment. Little has changed in the worlds history.
In King Ahab's case, he had 400 Prophets of Asherah who advised him, servants of a false god. Today people look to psychics and ignore the living God.
Even Christians leave God to the last possible moment for advice, because they either don't trust God or don't want to hear what he has to say. This was certainly the situation with Ahab. Because he was an ungodly king, his practices were foreign to God and therefore whenever a man of God came to him, it was always a rebuke.
If he had listened, rebukes would have become blessings, but a cold heart cannot see truth.
Jehoshaphat was a godly King of Judah, he followed after the Lord and his opening remarks are something we can cling onto for a message for life "But first let’s find out what the Lord says." The conditions were right, the cause was right, the army was right for its size and combat capabilities, but Jehoshaphat knew, this means nothing unless the Lord is with you. 400 prophets said one thing - but God’s prophet said something different. Who would you follow?
What did Jehoshaphat say? Let’s find out what the Lord says. We all lack understanding and even though we read God’s word, there are times when we don’t get it or we just haven’t digested enough of it in. But instead of doing our own thing or following the crowd, we must find out, read more of his word, ask other believers for advise and seek God in prayer, then and only then go into battle.
King Ahab refused to listen to God’s prophet and as a result he lost his life. The battle itself was won, but the king was replaced, ultimately because he refused to seek the Lord’s counsel.
As believers in the battles we face, we have the Almighty God to guide our paths. Find out which way he wants you to go and trust him and don’t move until you know that is what he wants and not just what everyone else thinks.
Labels: Battle, God, Jehoshaphat
