SteemChurch: Teach

As I read the Old Testament narratives, I stopped because of what we read about King Jehoshaphat:

"The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of David, his father ... he turned to the God of his father, and he followed his commandments ... His heart grows in the ways of In the third year of his reign, he accused his leaders ... of going to teach in the cities of Judah ... They taught in Judah, taking with him the book of the law of the Lord, they passed through all the cities of Judah and taught in the people "
(2 Chronicles 17: 3-9).

Before analyzing the constructive attitude of Josaphat, let's go back in time.

King David, who is alluded to here, could say: "I have observed the ways of the Lord ... all his ordinances have been before me, and I have not departed from his laws." (Psalm 18: 22-23)

The same happened with his son Solomon, in the first part of his life. But "at the time of Solomon's old age ... his heart was not totally dedicated to Jehovah his God, as the heart of David had been his father ... The Lord did not follow completely, like David his father ... And Solomon did not keep the commandment of Jehovah. "(1 Kings 11: 4, 6, 10)

Then there was the tragic division of the kingdom of Israel, consequence of the abandonment of the "Lord's orders". Jeroboam then reigned over a kingdom of Israel comprising ten of the twelve tribes. In the worship of Moses, he replaced his own religious system, leading his kingdom to idolatry and moral decay. Some priests and Levites, united to the God of their fathers, left Jeroboam and went to Jerusalem, where they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, which consisted of the remaining two tribes, and placed themselves under the authority of King Rehoboam. "And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and fortified Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years: for they journeyed three years in the way of David and Solomon" (2 Chronicles 11:17)

Not knowing a decline as brutal as the kingdom of Israel, the kingdom of Judah sank in turn: "When Rehoboam was established in his kingdom and had become strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel left him with him" ( 2 Chronicles 12: 1).

It was not until the reign of Asa, grandson of Rehoboam, that he began the return to God: "Asa did what was good and right in the sight of Jehovah his God, he made the altars of the stranger and the high places disappear, he broke the He ordered Judah to seek the Lord, the God of his fathers, and to practice the law and the commandments "(2 Chronicles 14: 1-3).

For almost 40 years, King Asa fought to eradicate idolatry. It is easier and faster to abandon God than to return to him ... but what a blessing for those who come to God and his commandments!

Let's teach now with the example of Jehoshaphat. Certainly, he had the privilege, through his father Asa, to know the "book of the law of the Lord". But he personally appropriated the divine teachings, tied his heart to the ways of the Lord and, who played a vital role for his kingdom, took the initiative to teach these things to all inhabitants of his kingdom. In all the cities of Judah, all people were taught in the knowledge of the God of Israel, strengthened by his power, encouraged by his promises. The result was not long in coming: "Jehovah strengthened the kingdom in the hand of Jehoshaphat, whom all Judah had brought before them" (2 Chronicles 17: 5).

Knowledge of the Word of God strengthens and enriches both the individual and the people of God. On the contrary, the abandonment of faith weakens and impoverishes. The churches that have put the Bible in the background are today the sad demonstration.

Jehoshaphat, however, we read: "And the fear of God upon all the kingdoms of the countries concerning Judah, and they dared not make war with Jehoshaphat." (2 Chronicles 5:10 p.m.) God knows how to protect his children faithful to the dangers that threaten them daily.

And again: "From the Philistines they brought to Jehoshaphat presents and a tribute in silver, and the Arabs also brought him cattle." (v.11) Obedience to God produces reversals of extraordinary situations. Then those who for generations had been harassing the people of God to rob and dominate now bring their goods. And when the Moabites and the Ammonites threaten God's inheritance to his people (2 Chronicles 20: 1, 10-11), Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah seek God's help (v.3-4). They are weak: "We have no strength in the presence of this great multitude that advances against us, and we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you" (v.12); However, God is strong: "Do not fear or fear this multitude, for it will not be you who will fight, it will be God" (v.15-17). Fortified by such promises, Jehoshaphat and his people sang praises to God. And meanwhile, their enemies killed each other (v.22-23)!

Throughout the centuries, the faith transmitted by our parents has been threatened without ceasing. How many theories have been scaffolding to diminish the value of the sacred texts! How many voices have risen to reverse the spiritual and moral values ​​taught in the Bible! But God has taken care of the inheritance that he has entrusted to us. Even today, it does not ask us to resort to particular methods or artifices. He is only asking us to trust him. We are weak, but we have their promises. We are limited, but we have a powerful message.

I think of you as having a responsibility in the Church, with adults, youth or children. Do not be afraid of fashionable thinking, do not be afraid of ridicule or contempt, and trust in the Word of God. Read it and teach it. You will see that it is totally sufficient and totally effective to save, strengthen, protect and direct those entrusted to you.

Other examples may be mentioned here besides that of Jehoshaphat: the discovery of the book of the law, in the days of Josiah (2 Chronicles 34) and the exceptional spiritual awakening that resulted (chapter 35); in the same way, the return to God in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, after the dark years of deportation (Nehemiah 8 and 9).

And the example given by Jesus himself? Did he not spend most of his time teaching the crowd and his disciples (Mark 1: 21-22, 2:13, etc.)? Did not he urge the "eleven" to make disciples and teach them (Matthew 28: 19-20)?

The council was followed, and the book of Acts tells us that the first thing the new converts did on the day of Pentecost was "persevere in the teaching of the apostles" (Acts 2:42). Thus the Word spread through preaching and teaching, and the number of disciples increased (Acts 6: 7).

The apostle Paul also gave most of his time teaching or writing the precious teachings contained in his epistles. Therefore, before the end of the first century of the Christian era, Christianity was already widespread on all the coasts of the Mediterranean. This is what today could change the world.