Second Chronicles 17 Commentary
Jehoshaphat was a good king. He removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah. He followed the Law of the LORD. He encouraged his subjects to do the same. Consequently, the LORD prospered Jehoshaphat greatly. The kingdom enjoyed peace under his rule.
There is always a connection between obedience and prosperity.
This is a very bold claim to make in an age when the experiences of many saints may appear contradictory. But the equation remains.
The difference may be in the way the saint defines prosperity. The LORD’s definition of prosperity is very different from the world’s definition of prosperity. So going by the LORD’s definition of prosperity, the claim stands. The LORD always blesses obedience.
It should be easy to understand when we reflect on the words of the LORD Jesus Christ. His kingdom, of which we are subjects, is not of this world. Our earthly existence is transitory and meant for a specific purpose. Our bodies are temporal tents in which we dwell.
The saint may want to investigate further. The scriptures that we have been reading are pointing us to a future kingdom with a perfect king. We have seen how temporal obedience has brought about temporal prosperity in the history of the nation of Israel. Can’t we expect more from perfect and lasting obedience?
Even good kings would error here and there. But we have a King who never errors. Again, won’t it just be right to repeat the words of the LORD concerning obedience? “The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.”
Our King, the man Jesus Christ, is with the LORD. He has sought the LORD and hasn’t forsaken the LORD. Our King is perfection itself. He is the son of David whose kingdom the LORD would perpetuate from generation to generation.
Won’t it just be right to conclude that the LORD has prospered the kingdom of this perfect King? And, why not, let the subjects of this kingdom bask in the God-prosperity.
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