Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever. 2 Chronicles 20:21-37

2 Chronicles 20:21-37
Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever.
They returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies.
Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
"you made an alliance with Ahziah king  of Israel, the Lord will destroy what you have made." Eliezer prophesied against Jehoshaphat
The invaders quarrel among themselves and leave the spoil溺愛, 毒化 to Judah. Only the alliance with Israel mars損傷 the good record of Jehoshaphat's reign.
Why?
Every thing is right in the eyes of the Lord, but made alliance with wicked nation is evil thing. Be careful to our living and thinking, let us be Holy to the Lord.
Praise and worship God is power to defeat the fear and enemies.
How?
Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever.

Be silent and pray ; Zephaniah 1:1-13

Zephaniah 1:1-13
During the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah.
Sweep away everything from the face of the earth.
Punish all who
  bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host
  avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit. Enter other god's temples.
   think,' The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.'
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near.
The two previous kings, Manasseh and Amon had brought the religious and morality of Judah to an all-time low. Zephanaah himself may have been of royal blood, tracing his ancestry back to Hezekiah, who was king in Isaiah's day, 70 years or so before.
Zephaniah spells out the same message as Amos, in detail, to Judah.
Why?
The day of Lord would bring untold blessing to all God's people, and destruction to their enemies.
The day of God's judgment on Judah too.
God will judge this world, don't think 'The Lord do nothing.' The Lord give us opportunity to repent and turn to Him.
Be silent, don't complain or angry about the vilent in this world. The day of God is near.
How?
Be silent and pray for those who do not knoe the God.

Struggling to the permanently trouble-free life in heaven; Revelation 7:9-17

Revelation 7:9-17
Great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Why?
Christians are not promised a trouble-free life on earth. But they will come through their struggles to the permanently trouble-free life of heave.
The promised land will be no harm, no worry, no tear and have the Lamb as shepherd and with joy and living water.
How?
Here is not trouble-free life on earth, but struggling to the permanently trouble-free life in heaven.

Victory comes through trust in God; 2 Chronicles 20:1-20

2 Chronicles 20:1-20
Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat resolved斷然的 to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
Jehoshaphat cried to the Lord in front of the temple of the Lord,"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.
Jehoshaphat said to his people, "Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful"
There is no account of this war in Kings. Judah's trust in God is amply充分 vindicated.
Again and again the Chronicler stresses that victory comes through trust in God.
Why?
Jehoshaphat knew that the help is from the Lord, so he resolved inquired to the Lord.
For the battle is not ours, but God's. So as the war on the world or county election in Taiwan are in God's hand.
Have faith in the Lord, who will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful. Thank Lord I trust in you.
How?
In Him I trust! Victory comes through trust in God.

There is no injustice or partiality or bribery

2 Chronicles 19:1-11
Jehu the seer went out to meet Jehoshaphat and said to the kin, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is upon you."
Jehoshaphat appoints judges, "Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery."
After Romoth-gilead, Jehoshaphat concentrates on home affairs. He appoints civil judges, sets up local law-courts and a mixed court of appeal in Jerusalem.
Why?
Jehoshaphat did a wrong thing to help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord, but he did many good things for the Lord, so the wrath of the Lord is not come upon him soon.
Judge is not judging for man but for the Lord, for the Lord there is no injustice or partiality or bribery, every judge should have this in mind.
Don't judge others for the right of judge man belong to the Lord.
How?
Christian, do anything there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.

Go to hide in an inner room

2 Chronicles 18:12-34
Prophet Micaiah said the right word about the war to king of Israel.
Even he entered the battle in disguise. Someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. All day long the battle raged, and at sunset he died.
Micaiah replied, "You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room."
Why?
The inner room is the place where we meet with God and he speaks to us.
It is the place of quiet where Jesus tells us to go when we pray.
How?
Pray to the Lord in an inner room, listen to the word of the Lord!

True and false prophets

2 Chronicle 18:1-11

Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage. But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of theLord.”

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?”

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say such a thing,” 

All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”
Jehoshaphat's son Jehora marriaed Athaliah, Ahab's daughter. Far from reuniting the kingdom, this link brought near-disaster to Judah in later year.
Why?
A prophet of the Lord say the truth of God, he won't say the words to please men.
A good man should not have too much relationship with the evil one, but for sake of gospel we have to do so. But don't follow them. Blessing of the Lord is always with his sons.
Ture and flse prophets:
It was never easy to distinguish between the two. Jehoshaphat senses from the shallow optimism of their message that these prophets are merely telling Ahab what he wants to hear.

• The false and the true can only be distinquished by their life and message, not by methods or manner. 
• No true prophet made a prediction which failed to happen; practised or encouraged immorality; or led people away from God and his law.

How?
A follower of the Lord seek the truth, God's word are the truth