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Jehosahpat, An Inconsistent man 2 Chronicles 17.1-4 Introduction:
It is hard to explain the decisions some people make, and even harder to explain
some decisions we may have made. It is hard to explain the reign of Jehosaphat
but there are numerous lessons we can learn from this man. I)
His Life A)
He walked in the ways of King David, 2 Chronicles 17.1-4 1.
David rejected idolatry and served only God, 2
Samuel 22.2ff 2.
David defeated the enemies of B)
Jeshosaphat 1.
Removed the high places, rejected idolatry, did not allow it among the people, 2
Chronicles 17.6 2.
He sought God’s approval 3.
He stressed the teaching of God’s law, 2
Chronicles 17.7,9 4.
Protected 5.
He received the benefits of being faithful to God, 2
Chronicles 17.10 6.
He was by all accounts a righteous and just man, 2
Chronicles 19.4-9 C)
He made some bad decisions, 1 Kings 22.1-4 1.
He made peace with
a. Ahab was an idolatrous and evil king
b. 2.
He joined with 3.
He called for a prophet of God to see if they should to war, 1 Kings 22.5
a. He then did not listen to the message given by Micaiah the
prophet
b. Which was worse; Ahab for listening to the false prophets or
Jehosaphat for not listening to the true prophet? 4.
He allied himself to Ahab by marriage, 2
Chronicles 18.1
a. We see the foolishness of this with Jehoram,
2 Chronicles 21.6
b. Solomon’s wives turned his heart from God, will it be any different
today? D)
The end result 1.
He and Ahab were defeated in battle, 2
Chronicles 18. 2.
His son was evil, 2 Chronicles 21.4-6 3.
The high places he tore down were rebuilt after his death, 2 Chronicles 21.11. 4.
Yet he was a good man, 2 Chronicles 19.3
a. He was not a hypocrite or rebellious or immoral
b. He was inconsistent in his application of God’s law II)
Examples of Inconsistency A)
The Jewish leaders condemned an innocent man but not want to defile themselves,
John 18.28 B)
The Jews majored in the minors; doing the minute details at the expense of
neglecting the very principles of the law, Matthew 23.23 C)
Those that stress one part of God’s law while abusing another part of the law,
James 2.10 1.
Good people are sometimes inconsistent, some bad people are also inconsistent. 2.
There is a fine line between inconsistency and hypocrisy III)
Who Sports Inconsistencies A)
Those around us 1.
Our neighbors, friends, relatives, and critics will point out our
inconsistencies. 2.
Some of our influence may be damaged due to this B)
Our children 1.
they know when we say one thing and then do another 2.
It destroys our influence with our young people C)
We spot it in others 1.
Amish that will not own a vehicle but hire others to drive them 2.
Neighbors that observe Christmas (which the Bible does not teach) and then
neglect the 1st day of the week (which the Bible does teach). IV)
Are We (I) Inconsistent A)
Do we say we are going to abide by the Bible and then do something else, 1 Peter
4.11 1.
We read about evangelism and the Lord’s commission, edification, and
benevolence; but do we do those things? 2.
Or is our obedience only when it is convenient or already what we want to do? B)
Do we try to get people to come to worship services and then neglect the
assembly? 1.
Knew of a young lady trying to convert her friends but she had not obeyed the
Gospel herself. C)
Do we say it is wrong to use instrumental music in worship to God, Ephesians
5.19 and then go to a denomination and worship with it? D)
Do we say it is wrong for the church to have recreation halls and then go to a
church with a recreation hall to have a wedding? E)
Are we consistent with our morals? 1 Corinthians 9.27 1.
Our manner of dress, movies we watch, music we listen too…. F)
Are we keeping part of the law but not all the law? 1.
Are straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel? Conclusion:
I think most of us have at one time of another made decisions that were
inconsistent. It does minimize their influence. We need to think and be
consistent with God’s word. |