Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 17:10 (New Living Translation)

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 is part of the (hi)story of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. During a time of trouble (seems it was always a time of trouble), the fear of the LORD Jehovah the God of Israel fell on all the surrounding kingdoms, their peoples, and especially their kings.

No one wanted to mess with Jehoshaphat, King of the people of God.

And what was it about Jehoshaphat that scared off all these others? Verse 9 tells us, “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.”

That’s it? The people had been re-taught the Law of the LORD. Huh? That’s it? Yes, that’s it. And these other kingdoms had copies of the law of the LORD (good literature traveled well). These other kings could read Leviticus 26, “7 In fact, you will chase down your enemies and slaughter them with your swords. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword.”

These other kings realized that if the people of God knew the law of God and obeyed it, these people of God would slaughter the armies of the other kings. These other kings believed what they read. The people of God seemed to have great difficulty believing what they read and greater difficulty even reading what was in front of them.

Gosh, these people of God were an odd lot. All the folks I know and myself, why we would… probably be just as foolish as these people thousands of years ago. We are an odd lot ourselves. God, please help me in my unbelief.