Work It Out

I’ve been continuing my chronological read through the Bible. It has truly been amazing to consume the Word of God in this new way! I’m seeing connections between – and among – stories in Scripture that I had not made before. It’s really going a long way in helping me fall deeper in love with God’s Word.

If there’s a part that has really penetrated my heart most, it’s been reading through an interwoven Kings and Chronicles. During my read straight through the Old Testament last year, I was enthralled by these books. In case anyone’s unfamiliar, the four books, 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles, record the reigns of kings, roles of priests and works of prophets in Israel and, later, Judah. The 10 northern tribes remained Israel, and the rest formed Judah. The split occurred during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, as a result of Solomon turning away from God in his older days and pursing the gods of his many wives. God had warned him not to marry them for that very reason. As a consequence of his sin, God pronounced that Israel would be torn from his family, but his posterity would still rule one tribe, Judah, because of a promise God had made to His servant David.

The Kings and Chronicles have many similarities, but also differences. They tell the stories of Israel and Judah during the same period and even cover many of the very same stories, although often from different lenses: the author of 1 and 2 Kings is concerned with the northern kingdom, Israel, and prophets there, such as Elijah and Elisha, while the Chronicler is focused on the southern kingdom, Judah, its priests and the temple, which Solomon had built.

When both accounts speak about a particular king, it is often noted whether the king “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (see, e.g., 2 Chronicles 14-15) or did evil (e.g., see 1 Kings 16). When a king of Judah obeyed God, he sometimes is referenced as doing right as his father, or ancestor, David did (e.g., 2 Chronicles 17:3).

In my read last year, I found myself rooting for the kings to follow God, and disappointed when they did not. This time, I was struck most by the details of each king’s life, especially those who honored God. The kings who walked with God may have had challenges, but they always experienced triumph through dependence on – and blessing from – God. The ones who did not, despite God allowing some of them to see some earthly success, ended life with an unfavorable legacy.

Of the kings who are named as following God, many did so for just part of their lives, half heartedly (e.g., 2 Chronicles Chapters 24 and 26). These “in-between” kings illustrate how, in the same life, there can be triumph in following God and defeat in choosing not to follow Him, and every day we must choose righteousness over our own ways.

Another reason the stories of kings in Israel and Judah have spoken to me is because I’ve also seen ordinary people like myself in them. The kings experienced the same emotions that we all do – being overwhelmed, scared, happy, sad, angry, doubtful – and had the same choice to seek God or go their own way that we do. One instance that stands out to me is 2 Chronicles 20,
involving Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, going to God in the presence of his people after learning that some nations were coming to wage war against them. From this story we get the oft-quoted verse, said by a priest, Jahaziel, in response to Jehoshaphat’s petition to God about what the people were to do in response: “…for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15). But Jehoshaphat’s words stood out to me more than I think they ever have. At the end of his prayer for help to God, he declares, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (v. 12).

The words, “we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you” hit me most as I read. They reminded me not only of how I felt about a situation I was facing, but also made me think about how true that is about life: but for God, I have no idea where my life is going, or what I should do. Yet through His Word, I gain direction. Proverbs 16:25 says that there is a way that seems right to us, but in the end leads to death. We can probably all think of a decision we made that seemed good based on what we saw in front of us, but later realized that we had made a very wrong choice, with perhaps devastating consequences.

In giving us hope for avoiding wrong decisions, Psalm 119:105 says that God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We know how vital lights are for helping us to see when it’s dark (or if we have bad vision!). In literal darkness, we have no sense of direction, and can easily stumble and hurt ourselves. That’s why we think the light bulb is such a genius invention, and feel very inconvenienced when we lose power.

In the same way, God’s Word is vital for our lives – and is the difference between light and utter darkness. There are other important ways of communicating with God, such as prayer, but reading, studying and memorizing God’s Word are also critical ways for us to gain the direction that we need to make wise choices.

Second Chronicles 20 ends in deliverance for Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah because they called on the name of the Lord. And that story, recorded in God’s Word, speaks to us today, giving us hope that when we do not know what to do, we gain courage and direction by seeking His face. Romans 15:4 always says it best for me:

4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (NKJV)

The NLT also really puts this verse in relevant, now terms: “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”

Right now I’m on a break from the Kings and Chronicles and have hit some major and minor prophets who were around during the split kingdoms of Israel and Judah, such as Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah. I’m noticing how much they address the perils of relying on wealth rather than God. I don’t ever remember the Bible talking about rich people having vacation homes as it does in Amos 3:15 (see the full chapter for context), but it’s just more evidence of Scripture's relevance for today and usefulness for training us in righteousness!

I praise God that He pressed on me to take the awesome opportunity to read through His Word that first time – at times sweating it out in parts such as Leviticus - because it’s developed in me a deeper desire to keep doing it! And there’s nothing more profitable than a spiritual work out! It’s only fitting to end with a passage calling us to sweat it out, 1 Timothy 4:7-8:

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

A toast - to lasting reward!!!!