Jehoshaphat: Help in Distress

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INTRODUCTION

Distress is so interwoven into the biblical story that we almost stop noticing its power. Especially in 2 Chronicles, the kingdoms of Israel face distress at every turn: distress from enemies, distress from within, distress from without. Various leaders approach this distress in varying ways, and often the quality of their leadership is determined by the collection of their responses to distress. After all, it is much easier to act as a God-honoring king when things are going well. It is in times of distress that a person's character is tested.

This constant narrative of distress in 2 Chronicles also leads to deeper theological questions that undergirds the narrative. Obviously, the Jews are chosen by God to be His people. Yet He continues to allow significant distresses to enter their situation. It is not as if these distresses are always the result of sin. At times there does not appear to be any logical reason for the distress. So, how do we deal with this theologically? Christian author Annie Dillard reminds us, "The omnipotence of God makes no sense if it requires the all-causingness of God" (For the Time Being). Although God may not cause distress, in His omnipotence He allows it. How should we properly approach this?

As Christians, we are made privy to the secret of suffering and distress. That is, through weakness, power is evident (2 Cor. 12:9-10). Through the suffering of the Cross, resurrection is made possible. As Professor Henri Nouwen writes:

The deep truth is that our human suffering need not be an obstacle to the joy and peace we so desire, but can become, instead, the means to it. The great secret of the spiritual life, the life of the beloved sons and daughters of God, is that everything we live, be it gladness or sadness, joy or pain, health or illness, can all be a part of the journey toward the full realization of our humanity. It is not hard to say to one another: "All that is good and beautiful leads us to the glory of the children of God." But it is very hard to say: "But didn't you know that we all have to suffer and thus enter into our glory?" (Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World).

Distress in the life of Israel became the testing ground wherein God formed them to be His people.

I. CRY TO GOD FOR HELP (2 Chron. 20:1-13)

By the time we arrive at 2 Chronicles 20 we are quite familiar with King Jehoshaphat. He is the successor to the throne of Judah after his father, Asa, and he remains one of the most famous kings of Judah in the divided kingdom's history. We find out in chapters 17-19 that Jehoshaphat walked in the earlier example of his father, devoting his heart to God. However, he strikes an unwise alliance with Ahab, king of Israel, against the city of Ramoth Gilead which almost costs him his life. Only because he cries out to God is he spared (18:31). Despite this error in judgment, Jehoshaphat rebounds, and continues to govern with excellence. He even builds a professional judicial system for Judah in chapter 19. Chapter 20, however, depicts the greatest crisis he has ever known.