The Chronicler focuses on Asa’s successor, Jehoshaphat, in order to highlight the blessings of God’s presence bestowed upon those who live lives of godly obedience. He indicates that one thing that is vital to godly living is study and understanding of God’s truth, His word. Jehoshaphat understood this and set up a program whereby the Levites went among the people and instructed them in the Law of God. Those in the Chronicler’s audience would need the same instruction for they must become familiar with the Lord through His word in order to know what He required of them.
We in the 21st Century must also become intimate with the Word of God. There are so many competing voices out in the world that unless we know God’s written word we will be unable to discern His among the rest. One of the most important things about God’s word is that it defines sin for us. This definition is nearly always straightforward and uncomplicated. What complicates life for the Christian are those other voices that ignore the Biblical definition of sin. In our culture two of the highest virtues are individualism and personal autonomy. Whatever exalts me, whatever makes me feel good, powerful and fulfilled is desirable. Whatever prevents me from achieving my desires is sin. It is obvious that such a concept is antithetical to scripture in which the highest good is worshipping Yahweh with every aspect of our being and loving our neighbor in word and deed. The Lord must be saddened greatly by human attempts to do ignore sin and away with it for it brings great tribulation and suffering on all people.
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