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Sep 25, 2006

Knowing our Father's Voice

1 Kings 22

Israel and Judah have been separated since Solomon's reign and now for the first time after 3 generations the two divisions of the Israelites decide to act together to fight for Ramoth Gilead. At this time Israel is being led by Ahab and Judah by Jehoshaphat.

3 The king of Israel had said to his officials, "Don't you know that Ramoth Gilead
belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?"
4 So he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?"
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
5 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the LORD."
Notice here that Ahab asks Jehoshaphath for alliance to win Ramoth Gilead, after all it was their territory and Jehoshaphath agrees to it, yet he also said "First seek the counsel of the Lord"
6 So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—
and asked them, "Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?"
"Go," they answered, "for the Lord will give it into the king's hand."
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?"
Notice again that Jehoshaphath asks him for a prophet of the Lord who could prophesy the real Word from God.

I couldn't help but see the difference in these 2 kings and the following characteristics stood out

  1. First seek counsel from God- While Ahab must have been thinking of acquiring more land,(even though it was theirs) Jehoshaphath knowing that it was theirs wanted to know what God would have them do, whether to go ahead with the plan or remain. Jehoshaphath clearly brings God first and asks Ahab to "First seek counsel from God" . The Word of God says "5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" It is to acknowledge God in ALL your ways, in ways when you can guess the right answer or not. A friend may need a good word for guidance, yet maybe God would have us shut up and just be there and that would mean more to the friend than us trying our best to do something we think is right and talk. Let is first seek the counsel from God for no matter what we face. The result, God will make the path straight
  2. Discernment- Though 400 prophets were prophesying the king to go on for the battle, Jehoshaphath asks him, isn't there someone who can inquire of the Lord. It almost sounds to me like, don't you have any real prophets. Jehoshaphath had a discerning spirit to understand whats from the Lord and what is not. 1 Corinthians 12 says "7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good........10 to another distinguishing between spirits,". This is something God would have all His children, all His sheep know. The Bible says 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:26-28

Conclusion:These 2 points bring out to me the very heart of God. The centre of God's training of His sheep academy, to lean on God and to be able to discern His voice. When a child is born, they start recognising their parent's voice, it comes to them naturally, because they are born of them. So also we who are born of the Holy Spirit and of our Living God in our spiritual lives have the ability to listen to our God's voice in our spirit "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:15-17. Now, how well we listen to our God's voice depends on how often we listen to His voice. If we get accustomed to listening to other voices of this world , soon we will start doing what other voices tell us. Let us continue to go to our Father in Heaven every single time we have a need and in every situation of our life, let us continues to read His Love Letter to His children, the Bible and God's Spirit Himself will help us get connected in our spirit to our Daddy in heaven.

3 comments :

Gary Wood said...

There are so many voices out there speaking for God. Its so important for each person to spend time alone with God daily in prayer and Bible study so His spirit can testify with our spirit. Thanks for reminding us to always seek council from God.

Note: I admire your Bible study skills. Do you teach a class at church?

Josh said...

very well put. I will agree with what Gary says. Also I was wondering if you would like to stop by and take back what the devil is trying to steal from Christians. To many of us are getting sick and it's time for us to take a stand.

Karuna said...

-Dear Brother Gary, Thank you for your encouragement.
I don't yet, teach at church, thats a big responsibility, I do the study to help me learn the Bible better.

-Dear Pastor Josh, I totally agree about that and I agree with the Word of God in Ps 24:1" the earth and everything in it belongs to God" so the devil has no right to take what belongs to our Dad.