2 Chronicles 22 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 22.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/22/1/s_389001

Meditate on verses 3-5a, noticing the words counsel and counselor.

 

He (Ahaziah) also walked in the ways of

 the house of Ahab, for his mother was

 His counselor to do wickedly.  He did evil

in the sight of the LORD like the

house of Ahab, for they were his counselors

 after the death of his father, to

his destruction.  He also walked

according to their counsel.

 

This is such a tragic chapter—a mother counseling her son to do wickedly and the son walking in the destructive advice of evil counselors leading to his death (vs. 3-5, 9). 

 

Contrast the meditation verses with these counseling verses.

 

I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;

indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.

—Psalm 16:7

 I (the LORD) will instruct you and

 teach you in the way which

 you should go; I will counsel

you with My eye upon you.

—Psalm 32:8

Your testimonies also are my delight;

they are my counselors.

—Psalm 119:24

 

Set your heart to seek the LORD’s advice, getting your guidance from the Holy Spirit and His Word.  Pray the opposite of 2 Chronicles 22:3-5 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, do not let __________ and me counsel others

to do wickedly.  Do not let us do

 evil in Your sight, nor seek the counsel

of evildoers, leading to destruction.

 Let us walk according to Your counsel.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Chronicles 21 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 21.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/21/1/s_388001

Meditate on verses 6-7.

 

He (Jehoram) walked in the way of the kings of

Israel, just as the house of Ahab did

(for Ahab's daughter was his wife), and he did evil

 in the sight of the LORD.  Yet the LORD was not willing

to destroy the house of David because of the covenant

which He had made with David, and since He had

promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever.

 

What a sobering chapter from God’s Word!  Contrast the evil of King Jehoram with the faithfulness of God.  Although Jehoram killed his six brothers and enticed Judah into adulterous idolatry, God did not totally wipe out his royal family because of His covenant promises to David (vs. 4, 7, 11).  God keeps His covenant promises, but do not mistake His faithfulness to mean He turns a blind eye to sin.  Jehoram’s flagrant evil brought God’s calamity on his family and a horrible bowel disease on himself (vs. 12-15). 

 

Does this chapter convict you of areas where you take God’s covenant of salvation lightly, forgetting the price Christ paid for sins?  As you confess your sins to the LORD, use the words from 2 Chronicles 21:7 and 13-14 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, thank You for not being willing to eternally destroy

 me because of the covenant You made with me.

 Let Your lamp shine on __________ and me forever. 

Please forgive me for walking in the way of the world, causing

 others to play the harlot against You, killing them by not telling

 them about You.  LORD, please help me walk with You, so You

do not need to strike me, my people, my family,

and all my possessions with great calamity.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

2 Chronicles 20 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 20.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/20/1/s_387001

Meditate on verse 3.

 

Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his

attention to seek the LORD and

 proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

 

When Jehoshaphat heard a multitude was coming to war against him, he focused on God instead of the problem marching his way (vs. 1-3).  Fasting and praying, He acknowledged the LORD, reminding Him of His faithfulness (vs. 3-8).   He cried to God in his distress, begging for deliverance from evil (vs. 9-12).  God responded with words to reassure and calm the king’s heart (vs. 15-17).

 

What do you do when you receive news that makes your heart pound with fear?  Turn your attention to the LORD and pray 2 Chronicles 20:3, 6-7, 9, 12, and 17-18 over fearful situations as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, I am afraid, so I turn my attention to seek You. 

O LORD, the God of __________ and me, are You not God

in the heavens?  And are You not ruler over all the

 kingdoms of the nations?  Power and might are in Your

hand so that no one can stand against You. 

O, our God, You have driven out our enemies in the past.

 Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence,

or famine, we will stand before You and cry to You in our distress,

and You will hear and deliver us.  O our God, will You not

judge for us?  For we are powerless before this great multitude

of problems coming against us, nor do we know what to do,

but our eyes are on You.  LORD, please fight for us in this

battle.  We will stand and see Your salvation on our behalf.

 We will not fear or be dismayed because You are with us, LORD. 

We bow with our face to the ground before You, 

Worshiping in Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

2 Chronicles 19 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 19.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/19/1/s_386001

Meditate on verses 6-7.

 

He said to the judges, "Consider what you

are doing, for you do not judge for man but

for the LORD who is with you when you render

judgment.  Now then let the fear of the LORD be

upon you; be very careful what you do, for the

LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness

 or partiality or the taking of a bribe."

 

I wish every judge in the land knew about this exhortation from the LORD (vs. 6-7).  Thankfully, you have now unearthed this treasure chest of verses for judges.  Keep them in your arsenal to share with those in judicial positions and to pray over them.  Consider also King Jehoshaphat appointed Levites, priests, and heads of households to render God’s judgments and settle disputes, so these verses can be applied to all of us. 

 

Pray 2 Chronicles 19:6-11 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, help our judges consider what they are

doing, for they do not judge for man, but

for You.  Make them realize You are with

 them when they render judgment.  Let the

 fear of You, LORD, be upon them.  May they

be very careful what they do, for You,

 LORD our God, will have no part in unrighteousness

 or partiality or the taking of a bribe.  As You

appoint ___________ and me for administering Your

 judgment and judging disputes among our people,

 let us do it in the fear of You, LORD, faithfully and

wholeheartedly.  Whenever any dispute comes to

 us from those who live among us, help us warn them,

so they will not be guilty before You, LORD, so wrath may

not come on us and our families.  Help us act

resolutely.  LORD, be with the upright.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

2 Chronicles 18 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 18.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/18/1/s_385001

Meditate on verse 7.

 

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There

is yet one man by whom we may inquire of

 the LORD, but I hate him, for he never prophesies

good concerning me but always evil.

 He is Micaiah, son of Imla.”  

But Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."

 

King Ahab surrounded himself with 400 false prophets who told him what he wanted to hear (v. 5).  King Jehoshaphat questioned the wisdom in that and asked to hear from a prophet of the LORD (v. 6).  Reluctantly, Ahab called for Micaiah, a prophet who unapologetically spoke God’s Word, proclaiming disaster from God against King Ahab (vs. 13-22).  Ahab imprisoned Micaiah for his bold sermon, and despite crazy moves to save his own life, King Ahab was killed in battle, just as God prophesied through Micaiah (vs. 25-34).

 

With what kind of teaching do you surround yourself?  If it is what you want to hear and what makes you feel good, consider finding Biblical pastors and teachers who are not afraid to unapologetically teach all of God’s Word.  Ask God to make you a Micaiah who says, “As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak” (v. 13).

 

Pray 2 Chronicles 18:13 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, as You live, what You say, that I will speak!

LORD, give _________ the courage to do the same.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

2 Chronicles 17 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 17.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/17/1/s_384001

Meditate on verse 6.

 

He (Jehoshaphat) took great pride in the ways of the LORD

and again removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah.

 

What a great verse to ponder!  “He took great pride in the ways of the LORD” (v. 6).  Think about God’s ways.  Here are some verses to get you started:

 

Yet, God does not take away life but plans ways so that

 the banished one will not be cast out from him.

—2 Samuel 14:14b

 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are

your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

—Isaiah 55:8

 

“Yet you say, 'The way of the LORD is not right.'

Hear now, O house of Israel!

 Is My way not right? Is it not

your ways that are not right?”

—Ezekiel 18:25

 

As you walk with the LORD today, be aware of what He is doing in your life and the lives of those you love.  Rather than question His ways, look for ways He restores, heals, and works for His glory.  Rather than take pride in yourself, take pride in God and His sovereign ways.

 

Pray 2 Chronicles 17:3-6 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, please be with _________ and me as we follow

Your example, not seeking the idols of this world. 

As we seek You, God, and follow Your

commandments, establish us in Your control.

 Let us take great pride in Your ways, LORD. 

Remove our idolatrous high places.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

2 Chronicles 16 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 16.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/16/1/s_383001

Meditate on verses 7-9, God’s message to King Asa.

 

At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king

of Judah and said to him, "Because you

 have relied on the king of Aram and have not

relied on the LORD your God; therefore,

the army of the king of Aram has escaped out

of your hand.  Were not the Ethiopians

and the Lubim an immense army with very

many chariots and horsemen?  Yet because you relied

 on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. 

For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout

the earth that He may strongly support those whose

heart is completely His.  You have acted foolishly in this.

 Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars." 

 

Sadly, after trusting God for the first 35 years of his reign, Asa succumbed to fear and relied on people to deliver him from his enemies.  God sent Hanani to tell King Asa of His displeasure.  Rather than hear and heed the LORD’s message, Asa was furious and imprisoned Hanani for speaking God’s truth (v. 10).  So, instead of being remembered as a king who trusted God, Asa is remembered as a king with severely diseased feet (v. 12; 1 Kings 15:23). 

 

How do you want to be remembered?  I hope it is for unapologetically trusting Jesus, and if there is any mention of feet, I pray it is: “How lovely are the feet of them who bring good news, who announce salvation and say, ‘Our God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7).

 

Pray 2 Chronicles 16:9 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, Your eyes move to and fro throughout the

 earth that You may strongly support those whose heart

is completely Yours.  LORD, here are ____________ and I!

 Do not let us act foolishly toward You.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

2 Chronicles 15 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Chronicles 15.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/15/1/s_382001

Meditate on verse 1.

 

Now the Spirit of God came

 on Azariah the son of Oded.

 

I love a good sermon, and this chapter has a great one!  It was first preached to King Asa and the people of Judah and Benjamin, and thankfully, today, it is preached to us (vs. 1-7).  It is a three-point sermon with Israel as the sermon illustration.  The northern kingdom of Israel had no peace because they were living without God and His law (vs. 3, 5).  They were crushed because “God troubled them with every kind of distress” (v. 6).  The sermon points are:

·      Seek God; He will let you find Him (v. 2)

·      Do not forsake the LORD; you do not want Him to forsake you (v. 2)

·      Be strong and courageous; there is reward for your work (v. 7) 

 

Thankfully, King Asa took the sermon to heart, removing idols throughout the land and restoring the altar of the LORD (v. 8). 

 

How does the sermon impact you?  Let it move you to take Godly action.  Pray 2 Chronicles 15:3-4, 7-9, and 12 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, __________ and I need You, our true God. 

We need a teaching pastor and Your law. 

We turn to You and seek You. 

Thank You for letting us find You. 

Help us be strong and not lose courage, for we

 know there is reward for our work.  Give us

courage to remove the abominable idols from

the land and restore places of worship.

 Let people see that You are with us, God. 

Let them want to enter into the covenant

 to seek You, LORD God, with all their heart and soul.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

2 Chronicles 14 - Praying God's Word

Please read 2 Chronicles 14.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ch/14/1/s_381001

Meditate on verses 2-4.

 

Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD

his God, for he removed the foreign altars

 and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut

 down the Asherim, and commanded Judah to seek

 the LORD God of their fathers and to observe

 the law and the commandment.

 

What a relief to read a chapter in God’s Word about a man who wanted to please the LORD! As you seek God, wanting to do what is good and right in His sight, learn from King Asa.  Ask the LORD to reveal any idols in your life, so you can remove them.  

 

This is a powerful chapter and nearly every verse can become a prayer.  In fact, verse 11 is a prayer.  Pray 2 Chronicles 14:1-7 and 11-14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman.

 

“LORD, please let _________ and me live in the land undisturbed. 

Help us do good and right in Your sight, LORD our God. 

Remove our prideful high places; tear down and cut down

 our idols.  Let us seek You, LORD God, and observe Your

law and commandments.  As we do, let us be undisturbed

with no one at war with us because You, LORD, have given us

 rest.  LORD, we seek You; please, give us rest on every

side; let us build and prosper.  LORD, there is no one besides

You to help in the battle between the powerful and those

who have no strength, so help us, O LORD our God, for

we trust in You, and in Your name, have come against this

 multitude of troubles.  O LORD, You are our God; let not man

prevail against You!  LORD, route Your enemies and make

 them flee.  Shatter them before You and before Your army. 

Let the dread of You, LORD, fall upon Your enemies. 

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell