[Photo : Khao Yai - surrounding homestay areas - 15/12/2016 , Thailand]
2 Chronicles 20:17 You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”
Today is 1/1/2017. A new year of beginnings. Back to the Word journaling.
I have browsed through all the books of the bibles with chapter 20:17. And came across this interesting story of kings in 2 Chron 20:17.
Having come back from Khao Yai and seeing some of their 'fairy tale homestay homes' - I would have remembered my favourite kid's author Enid Blyton. The stories were about the fairy tales indeed- about kings, queens, goblins, elves, magic and fantasy.
But here I was reading this 2 Chron 20. HISTORY!
Chapter 1 Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom and the LoRD was with him and magnified him exceedingly.
Chapter 1 Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom and the LoRD was with him and magnified him exceedingly.
King Solomon built the temple for the Lord. The glory of the LORD later filled the temple. But after his death around 971 BC, the kingdom was divided into 2 : North and South, Israel and Judah. And there were the record of those good and bad kings during that era. Many bad but there were few good ones. So here in 20:17, I read about this good King Jehoshaphat.
(Thailand - A land that boast of smiles. Like that awesome fields of bright sunflowers in Khao Yai)
Fast forward the days of King Solomon passing- On 13/10/2016, we saw the passing on of King Bhumibol the Great. He was the 9th monarch of Thailand forms he Chakri Dynasty as RAMA IX. Having reigned from 9/6/1946, he was, at the time of his death, the world's longest-serving head of state and the longest reigning monarch in Thail history, serving for 70 years. During his reign he was served by a total of 30 Prime Ministers! And he was a rich king with estimated net worth of USD30bn? So when he passed on, the mourning was for a year in Thailand! When our LKY passed on, the mourning was a week here in little red dot.....
So what did I glean from one of these kings of the bible - King Jehoshaphat in this 2 Chron20?
What did King Jehoshaphat do when he faced the Moabites and Ammonites in battle?
So what did I glean from one of these kings of the bible - King Jehoshaphat in this 2 Chron20?
What did King Jehoshaphat do when he faced the Moabites and Ammonites in battle?
- V3 He sought the Lord, proclaimed a fast throughout Judah
- v12 He humbled before the Lord ("for we have no high against this great company that came against them, neither did they know what to do; BUT their eyes were UPON the LORD")
And did the LORD hear the prayers?
Yes, indeed. His Spirit came down. He spoke.
Be not afraid nor dismayed by the reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not your's but God's.
So here in 2017!
2 Chronicles 20:17 You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”
Reflections
If we know that battles belong to the LORD and He is always with us, what then should we fret about?
In times of battles, may we be like King Jehoshaphat.
- v18 He worshipped the Lord
- v20 He proclaimed and believed in the Lord
- v21 He instituted singers of praises unto the Lord
And the battle was won inevitably.
V29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries.
King Bumiphol and KingJehoshapat were perhaps such kings in reign and peace was upon the kingdom. Unlike King B who came to throne at age 18, King J was 35 when he came to rule. King B ruled for 70 years whereas King J ruled only 25!
God gave King J rest as his heart was after him. Thereafter came a bad king.
It is interesting to know that Thai king B ruled for so many years! Does he know the Lord? Thailand is predominantly a very buddhist country. Majority of the people are Buddhists. But Thailand has had that peace too for many years indeed except for some pockets of unrest in the past. So much about kings of the past.
Reminder
Earthly kings come and go. There aren't many monarchies around right now . UK, Thailand and some other countries.
Nevertheless, above such kings is a more worthy King of Kings. He is Yahweh. Jesus Christ. The Lord of Lords . Prov 21:1 The king's heart's in the hand of the LORD. He directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
Challenges there will be in 2017 too. Different battles to fight.
But more importantly, may our hearts be continually tuned to His. May our face be always lifted up to seek His. May our mouths be singing His mercy endures forever. And with that, may be be the OVERCOMERs in whatever battles that come our way.
John 16:33 : I have told you these things , so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world"
Amen!
The mortality of man is a given yet man continues to build his empire whether in the office or his corporate empire; carving a memorial of his name. Man is like grass; common, much in content, temporal and sways with the wind. The glory of man is a vanity. A flower, a temporal decoration. Lasts even shorter than the grass. People trod on grass and sometimes flowers . Kings are flowers. Tall grass is lallang. I am carpet grass.
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