Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 17:7-10 (New Living Translation)

7 In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. 8 He sent Levites along with them, including Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. He also sent out the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 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.

King Jehoshaphat had a problem—enemies all about him.

Solution? Send in the teachers.

Result? None of the surrounding kingdoms wanted to declare war.

Okay, let’s back up a minute. First, this is stupid. Teaching from a book of regulations cannot do you any good when you are surrounded by military enemies. There must be something wrong with what is recorded in this, er, well, it is the Bible, so it’s probably, well definitely true.

Second, well, they were teaching from a book given to them by God. So, uh, maybe there was a point here.

Today? Do we have to go there or here? Would perhaps a revival of teaching, reading, learning from the Bible do something good for a nation? Might the result put fear into the hearts of enemies?

I think it is worth trying.