How does Jehoshaphat's example connect with Matthew 6:33's call to seek God first? Setting the Stage: Two Texts, One Timeless Principle • Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” • Jehoshaphat’s biography (2 Chronicles 17–20) shows what happens when a person—in this case, a king—actually does that in real life. Jehoshaphat’s Early Reign: Putting God First • 2 Chronicles 17:3-4: “The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel.” • Results of that choice: – The LORD “established the kingdom in his hand” (17:5). – Surrounding nations feared to fight him (17:10). – Abundant riches and honor flowed in (17:5, 12). • Immediate parallel to Matthew 6:33: seeking God’s kingdom first brought the “other things” (security, wealth, respect) in God’s timing. Teaching the Nation to Seek God • Jehoshaphat dispatched officials and Levites to teach the Law across Judah (17:7-9). • By prioritizing God’s Word, he made seeking the LORD a national lifestyle, not a private hobby. • Echoes Deuteronomy 17:19’s command that a king keep God’s Law “all the days of his life.” Crisis Point: Seeking First in Trouble • When a massive coalition army marched against Judah, “Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD; and he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3-4). • Key steps: – Gathered the people to seek God (20:4). – Prayed, grounding every request in God’s character and promises (20:5-12). – Listened for God’s answer through Jahaziel the Levite (20:14-17). • Outcome: God fought the battle; Judah only watched, worshiped, and collected plunder (20:22-25). • Matthew 6:33 connection: when God’s kingdom and righteousness took first place, material needs and military victory followed without striving. A Sobering Contrast: When the Priority Slipped • Jehoshaphat allied with wicked King Ahab in a military venture (2 Chronicles 18). • Although he asked for a true prophetic word (18:6-7), he still went to war after God’s clear warning. • Consequence: near-death on the battlefield, later rebuke from the prophet Jehu (19:2). • Lesson: seeking first means consistent obedience, not selective consultation. The Matthew 6:33 Connection Summarized • “Seek first” is a heart-level priority—Jehoshaphat “set his heart to seek God” (2 Chronicles 19:3). • God’s kingdom is advanced when leaders and people know, teach, and obey His Word. • Material provision and protection are by-products, not primary pursuits. • Compromise undercuts the promise; wholehearted seeking secures it. Take-Home Applications • Put worship and Scripture at the top of your schedule; everything else adjusts around them. • In crises, turn instinctively to prayer and fasting before turning to human strategy. • Evaluate alliances—business, relational, political—by whether they advance or hinder God’s righteousness. • Expect God to supply needs, but leave the method and timing to Him (Philippians 4:19). Other Scriptures That Echo the Theme • Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust in the LORD, acknowledge Him first, and He will direct your paths. • Psalm 34:10 — “Those who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.” • 1 Chronicles 22:19 — “Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God.” • Hebrews 11:6 — God “rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” |
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