Bible Study - Living (6) - Leave A Legacy - 2 Chronicles 17:1-13 - August 23, 2019

Bible Study – Living (6) – Leave A Legacy – August 25, 2019


This is lesson six (6) and our final lesson in our series entitled “Living A 
Godly Life in an Ungodly World.”


Our focus scripture is 2 Chronicles 17:1-13.


Godly living impacts future generations.

GOD’S Word reveals to us in Isaiah 55:11, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me ^[a]void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

[a]Footnotes: Isaiah 55:11 empty, without fruit

All of us like to make wise investments. The wisest investment we can make is to invest in our personal relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. In turn, we pass that relationship along to our family and others who GOD has brought into our kingdom – spouse, children, friends, co-workers, etc. Investing in JESUS has eternal value and our investment is placed in the safest place possible as recorded in Matthew 6:19-21:

¹⁹ “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures^[n] on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


We have studied that King Asa had a great Spiritual start in his life but he ended not so well. But had his faith in GOD benefitted others? Let’s 
explore!


King Asa was dead. Who would be his successor? What kind of leader would the new king be?


Let’s read 2 Chronicles 17:1-6:

Judah’s King Jehoshaphat

17 His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place and strengthened himself against Israel. ² He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

³ Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David.^[a] He did not seek the Baals ⁴ but sought the God of his father and walked by His commands, not according to the practices of Israel. ⁵ So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance. ⁶ His mind rejoiced in the Lord’s ways, and he again removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

WOW! What a joy when an investment yields good results. In spite of how the final years of King Asa’s life turned out, King Asa was an example to his son, Jehoshaphat – “He did not seek the Baals ⁴ but sought the God of his father and walked by His commands, not according to the practices of Israel. ⁵ So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand.” What a joy when an eternal investment pays off, especially when that investment honors GOD and those for whom we are responsible in the kingdom GOD has allowed us to rule.

When we are in right relationship with GOD that allows GOD to work through us and reveal Himself, “⁵ So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance. ⁶ His mind rejoiced in the Lord’s ways, and he again removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.” King Jehoshaphat cleared the remnants of pagan worship from the kingdom he ruled.

Unfortunately, many of our adults, as children, either were dropped off at church or had little to no Spiritual instructions from their parents. Many do not see the value in having and maintaining the right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. History repeats itself.

In today’s world, it is so sad when some of the young adults do not see the value in seeking or having a personal relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. Why do you think that is the case? What do we, as Christians and servants of JESUS do? What is the kingdom GOD has given to us in which we are to oversee and the vineyard we are to work in?

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 17:7-9:

Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan

⁷ In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials—Ben-hail,^[b] Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah—to teach in the cities of Judah. ⁸ The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah,^[c] Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites. ⁹ They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

GOD knew the heart of King Jehoshaphat. When we have the desire to obediently serve our LORD, HE leads and guides our decision making. King Jehoshaphat considered the needs of those for whom he was responsible. Education and in particular, his people needed to know the One True GOD of Judah, Yahweh. So, he dispatched those to teach the people and those who could lead them in worship.

When a nation chooses GOD over weapons of war, the nation’s surrounding them take notice. Why? What had been the legacy of the Israelites? GOD had revealed HIS power to the Israelites as HE led them out of Egyptian bondage and into the Promised Land. Not only did HE demonstrate HIS power to the Israelites but to the nations of the known world.

Have we in America forgotten the power of GOD through faith in JESUS? Do we, as Christians and evangelical churches need to pray for revival first in our hearts and then in the hearts of the people in the world? YES!

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 17:10-13:

¹⁰ The terror of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹ Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

When we renew our resolve to obediently serve GOD through faith in JESUS it sends a powerful message to others. The enemy of Judah sent them gifts to maintain the right relationship with them. When we are in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS then our desire is to share with those who do not know JESUS. Having the right relationship with fellow people gives us the opportunity to present JESUS to them.

Jehoshaphat’s Military Might

¹² Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah ¹³ and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, brave warriors, in Jerusalem.

While there is light, we need to be busy working to present the Good News/JESUS to others. 


What is GOD calling us to do? What legacy will we leave behind. Leave that which is eternal.  Blessings!!!