God can Cause Your Enemies To Be At Peace With You
Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors.
. . . Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king . . .
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.
. . . In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethaniel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah.
. . . They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks; seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.
Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 16:13 - 17:13
. . . Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king . . .
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.
. . . In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethaniel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah.
. . . They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks; seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.
Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 16:13 - 17:13
One of the most distracting things in life is the time we spend wondering what our "enemies" are up to? On our jobs, we can be constantly given over to worrying about what people might be doing against us. Who is for us and who is against us? Who can we trust and who should we be wary of? Who is our advocate and who is our adversary? Sometimes we even imagine "enemies" when there are none! This constant worrying, robs us of peace.
But truly, as children of God, we should get to a point in our relationship with God that we never worry about who is for us and who is against us. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 9:6 that the government will be on the shoulders of Jesus and that He will be our Prince of Peace. This includes the fact that the government of our lives is meant to be on the shoulders of Jesus and that we should expect to live our lives in peace. This is something we must deeply internalize and put into practice.
In fact, Scripture tells us that when a man's way pleases the LORD, He causes even his enemies to be at peace with him! It is impossible for God to lie, so we must believe that this is not an empty promise!
Jehoshaphat lived to please God and the results were quite astonishing. He ensured that Judah was taught the word of God so that they could serve God with truth and understanding. The priests and Levites travelled all over the towns of Judah and taught God's word to the people. God blessed Jehoshaphat with great wealth, honor and peace. The fear of the LORD fell on the kingdoms around Judah so that no nation dared wage war against Jehoshaphat. Even his enemies, including the Philistines were at peace and brought him gifts.
The tested divine formula remains the same: "When we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these other things will be added to us as well." When our lives please God, we have absolutely nothing to worry about. We don't have to look over our shoulders in fear because God can cause even our enemies to be at peace with us. May God give you peace!
But truly, as children of God, we should get to a point in our relationship with God that we never worry about who is for us and who is against us. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 9:6 that the government will be on the shoulders of Jesus and that He will be our Prince of Peace. This includes the fact that the government of our lives is meant to be on the shoulders of Jesus and that we should expect to live our lives in peace. This is something we must deeply internalize and put into practice.
In fact, Scripture tells us that when a man's way pleases the LORD, He causes even his enemies to be at peace with him! It is impossible for God to lie, so we must believe that this is not an empty promise!
Jehoshaphat lived to please God and the results were quite astonishing. He ensured that Judah was taught the word of God so that they could serve God with truth and understanding. The priests and Levites travelled all over the towns of Judah and taught God's word to the people. God blessed Jehoshaphat with great wealth, honor and peace. The fear of the LORD fell on the kingdoms around Judah so that no nation dared wage war against Jehoshaphat. Even his enemies, including the Philistines were at peace and brought him gifts.
The tested divine formula remains the same: "When we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these other things will be added to us as well." When our lives please God, we have absolutely nothing to worry about. We don't have to look over our shoulders in fear because God can cause even our enemies to be at peace with us. May God give you peace!
Prayer: Lord, may my life so please you that all my "enemies" will be at peace with me. Amen.