Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 17:9-10 (New Living Translation)

⁹ They took copies of the Book of the Law of the Lord and traveled around through all the towns of Judah, teaching the people. ¹⁰ Then the fear of the Lord fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat.

This passage begins with the end of the story of how Jehoshaphat sent teachers through the land of Judah to (re)teach the Law of the Lord. When this was finished, the surrounding kingdoms learned of this.

The surrounding kingdoms fell into fear and avoided war with Jehoshaphat.

Imagine that: knowing what God wants us to know brings fear into the hearts of others. Today? Maybe this isn’t a good example to follow. Perhaps it is.

Perhaps people around us can recognize that the words of God are alive in us. I don’t think we want those around us to fear us. Fear us? Maybe that is the wrong word or phrase. I do think that we want those around us to recognize the words from God and want to hear them.