What other Scriptures stress the necessity of consulting God before acting? The Snapshot from 1 Kings 22 :5 Jehoshaphat’s simple request—“Please inquire first for the word of the LORD” (1 Kings 22:5)—reminds us that no plan is safe until it has first passed through God’s throne room. Scripture, taken at face value, repeats this pattern from Genesis to Revelation. Old Testament Narratives: Learning to Ask First • Exodus 33:15 – Moses refuses to move an inch without God: “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.” • Numbers 27:21 – Joshua’s leadership is tethered to priestly inquiry: “He will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim.” • Joshua 9:14 – Israel’s treaty with Gibeon unravels because “they did not seek the counsel of the LORD.” • 2 Samuel 2:1 – David inquires, “Should I go up…?” God answers, “Go up.” • 2 Samuel 5:19 – Before facing the Philistines, David asks again; God answers again. • 1 Chronicles 14:14 – A second Philistine threat, and David still refuses to assume: “So David again inquired of God.” Lessons Drawn from Israel’s History - When God was asked, victories followed (David). - When God was ignored, needless troubles erupted (Gibeonites). - Repetition matters; David inquired repeatedly, even in similar situations. Wisdom Literature: A Standing Invitation • Psalm 25:4-5 – “Show me Your ways… guide me.” • Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go.” • Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD… He will make your paths straight.” • Proverbs 15:22 – “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” • Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established.” Prophetic Warnings Against Self-Directed Plans • Isaiah 30:1-2 – Woe to those who “carry out a plan that is not Mine… without asking My advice.” • Isaiah 31:1 – Disaster looms for those who trust horses and forget to “seek the LORD.” New Testament Echoes • James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously…” • James 4:13-15 – Any timetable or business plan must be framed with, “If the Lord is willing.” Bringing It Home Scripture, understood plainly and believed fully, keeps sounding the same note: Before we move, decide, invest, speak, or fight, we pause to consult the Lord. Jehoshaphat’s instinct in 1 Kings 22:5 wasn’t a formality; it was obedience. Let that reflex become ours—asking first, acting second, and welcoming God’s sure guidance every time. |
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