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II
Chronicles 19:2, "And Jehu the son of Hanani the see went out to meet him,
and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them
that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD."
This morning, certain subjects seem to stir the emotional juices more than
others. These subjects are those that even the most passive of conversants get
worked up about - generally speaking. Such a subject is upon our mind this
morning, and the subject is still very much relevant today. We see Scriptural
prophecy fulfilled with things getting worse and worse, and therefore should not
be surprised by that. (II Timothy 3:13) Yet, what exactly is getting worse and
worse? Man - by nature - is just as depraved today as he was immediately after
Adam's transgression in the garden. The nature of man is just as wholly filthy
now as then, but the manifestation of that nature is getting worse and worse.
People seem to outwardly push things further and farther than they did before,
making the circumstances worse and worse. Even though this should not be
surprising, this situation should not contaminate us, though it could very well
do so if we fail to follow after Scripture's injunction.
I am always amazed when I read the Bible, for the rich treasures keep coming
forth no matter how many dozens of times we may have perused or pored over its
contents. Sometimes, a passage yields rich thoughts that make us think, "Why
have I never seen that before? I can't believe that I missed that all this
time." Our study verse above yielded things on my latest pass through it that I
had never really "seen" in the verse before. The thoughts relate to the
interaction that God's people should have in the world in which we live.
How many times have you heard somebody say that we should love everybody?
Equally often, we hear people say we should treat everybody the same. Do these
concepts have merit or stand up to the Scriptural test? If I treated everybody
the same, then logically I would treat all women (married or not) as I treat my
wife. I would treat men and women the same. Children would receive no
difference of treatment than anyone else. Such behaviours are patently foolish,
for no man would prefer his wife to be treated as my wife, women should be
handled with more tenderness and differently than a man, and discretion and
prudence dictates that certain things should not be discussed around children as
they "are not ready" to handle certain subjects due to their development.
Equally conclusive, we should not love everybody, for the Scriptural test will
not allow it.
Our verse describes a rebuke that God's prophet gave to Judah's king
Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat - unlike many other kings in Judah and all the kings
of Israel post-split - followed after the Lord doing that which was right in His
eyes. Yet, even the righteous kings had problems in the flesh. Even king
David, a man after God's own heart, had problems in the flesh. David's
particular brand of weakness was lust and pride. Jehoshaphat's brand of
weakness was quite different, for his righteousness and uprightness was
sometimes overshadowed and clouded by the company that he kept.
One of the most wicked kings that ever lived - Ahab - ruled over Israel
concurrently with Jehoshaphat's rule over Judah. How did good king Jehoshaphat
interact with his fellow ruler? He aligned himself with him to the point of
declaring himself one with him: "I am as thou art, and my people as thy people."
(II Chronicles 18:3) Before going to battle with the Syrians, Jehoshaphat not
only pledged himself personally to Ahab, but he pledged the nation of Judah to
him as well. When that campaign against the Syrians ended with misery and
failure, Jehoshaphat returns home to Jerusalem only to be met with rebuke from
Jehu. What was Jehoshaphat's error? The prophet specifically calls reference
to Jehoshaphat showing love to them that hate God.
Many times, the concept of love is muddied and muddled in people's minds, for
they do not properly understand what it means. Love is not to be confused with
feelings of lust, nor is it to be confused with tenderness and puppy feelings.
Also, it is not to be confused with gentility or a cheerful disposition. Love
can be shown in unpleasant scenes and times, and love should never be equated to
carnal desires or natural emotions. Love is action borne of devotion and
sacrifice. The action is neither self-serving nor self-promoting, but it freely
gives to the point of personal sacrifice if necessary and complete loss should
the need so require it. The Bible equates love to a man being willing to give
everything - life included if necessary - for his wife. (Ephesians 5:25-30) The
Bible also equates love to a man being willing to apply the rod to his son for
the son's well-being and instruction in uprightness in this world. (Proverbs
13:24) Quite a far cry from the talks of love by the world at large.
Therefore, knowing that love is rooted in sacrificial action, a good
connection passage to our study verse is the language of David in Psalm
139:21-22. David claimed a perfect hatred over the wicked that hated God, for
he hated them as God would hate them. How does God hate those that are not
His? God suffers the wicked in this world (while also providentially
restraining them at times from fulfilling all the wicked desires of their filthy
hearts) full well knowing that their judgment is coming. Our course should be
to suffer them if necessary, knowing that their judgment cometh right soon, but
also - should providence allow - prevent them from furthering their cause
against the name of Christ.
Thoughts on love and hate definitely stir the emotions of people, but let us
put these two together and see what the message is for us today. Since love is
not equatable to kindness or civility, nor is hate equatable to torture and
death, Jehoshaphat should not have actively sought Ahab's harm (kill him or
overrun him). We should, as much possible, live peaceably with all men, but
being civil and kind does not equate to furthering their cause. The first
clause of Jehu adequately explains the second. If we help the ungodly the way
that Jehoshaphat helped Ahab, then we are loving those that hate the Lord, which
the prophet declares ought not be done.
When we see people today that actively pursue a life of hating God, despising
His name, and actively running contrary to His ways in this world, we should not
actively seek these people's hurt, but we should not assist them in their
pursuit. Nor should we fail to hinder that pursuit should providence so provide
opportunity to do so. Our love - sacrificial actions of devotion to God -
should overwhelm all desire to be at one with God's enemies. When at one with
those in the world, following after the lusts of this world, one cannot tell the
difference between them and us. The battle against the Syrians in the previous
chapter even included the Syrians for a time during the battle mistaking
Jehoshaphat for Ahab. When we are at one with God's enemies, it might be hard
for others to tell us apart.
Because of this problem that Jehoshaphat had, Jehu prophesied that God's wrath
would be upon him for this offense. We should likewise expect the displeasure
from our God when we align ourselves with His enemies. Rather, we should do as
David did, hate them with perfect hatred and thereby leave them with our God.
He deals with injustice, and He will rightly and justly repay. Sometimes, He
gives us the circumstance and situation to rightly put down those that rise up
against Him (such as courts of justice and judgment in this world). May we seek
His face of guidance and counsel, and may our lives never be found aligned with
God's enemies. By doing so, we love those that Scripture demands we not love.
In Hope,
Bro Philip |