2 Chronicles 19 records the reforms of King Jehoshaphat. The LORD was upset with him for partnering with King Ahab of Israel, but forgave that wrong, because he did so much good in Judah. Jehoshaphat also appointed judges throughout the land of Judah to preside over cases throughout the land. He charged them to remember they were judging before the LORD, so they were to judge rightly. Jehoshaphat also set up priests and Levites as judges in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 20 records an amazing event in Jehoshaphat’s reign. The Ammonites and Moabites came against Judah with intent to destroy them. Jehoshaphat went to the Temple and prayed, along with all the people of the city. Jehoshaphat cried out to the LORD, and the LORD promised deliverance. Just as He had told the people of Israel when they were about to cross the Red Sea, and were being pursued by the Egyptians, “You need only stand still and I will fight for you,” the gist of the LORD’s promise was the same. The people praised the LORD that night. The next morning the priests and Levites who played instruments led the army to battle singing and praising the LORD, but there was no battle. The Lord caused the enemy armies to fight among themselves and destroy themselves. It took three days for the army of Judah to bring the spoil home. With that amazing account of the LORD’s deliverance of Judah, we would expect faithfulness from Jehoshaphat for the remainder of his reign as king. As usual, we would be wrong. Jehoshaphat had peace for a long time, but at the end of his reign, he partnered with another king of Israel, Azariah, and was condemned by the LORD for it.
2 Chronicles 21 marks a sad decline in the history of Judah. When Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat came to power after his father’s death, he killed all of his brothers and some of his other relatives, to secure his grip on the throne. Then he turned away from the ways of his father, Jehoshaphat, and pursued “whoredom” as had the kings of Israel. Jehoram had married a daughter of King Ahab, and her influence guided him to re-establish the high places, and to pursue other false gods. As judgment against Jehoram, the LORD allowed Judah’s enemies to have various victories over them, and ultimately Jehoram was struck with a “disease of the bowels,” which ended in an extremely painful death for him. The final words in the chapter tell us he died “with no one’s regret.” Imagine, being such a bad leader that when you died, no one was sad. We see again, that just because a man has a good father, or good parents, doesn’t mean he will do the LORD’s will. Each generation must decide for itself whether they will follow the LORD. Each of us must not only make that decision, but then follow the decision with commitments that will bring us to carry out the decision. Deciding to follow the LORD, to follow Jesus, is good, and following them out of the commitment of our hearts is even better.
As we turn to Matthew 25, Jesus tells three parables, each of which relates to being prepared for Jesus’ return. The first parable told of ten virgins who were to attend a wedding. The groom was delayed, so they rested. Five of the virgins were wise, so they brought extra oil for their lamps, but the five who were foolish did not. When their lamps when out, they had to go out in the middle of the night looking for a place to buy more oil. While they were away, the bridegroom came. The five wise virgins were given entranced to the wedding feast and the door was closed. When the other five came they knocked on the door, but weren’t permitted inside. Jesus concluded the parable by telling us we must be ready as well.
Then Jesus told the parable known as the Parable of the Talents. In it He tells of a master who had to go away on a trip. He entrusted his wealth to his servants. He gave the first five talents, the second two talents, and the third one talent. We’re told he gave to each according to his ability. (Thus, we see Jesus recognized we aren’t all the same, and have differing abilities.) While their master was away, the first two servants doubled the amount entrusted to them. The third servant was afraid of his master, so he hid the money in the ground. When the master returned, he rewarded the first two servants for their faithfulness, but when the third servant told the master he had buried the talent in the ground, because he was afraid of the master, because the master was harsh. The master responded by telling the servant if he knew the master was harsh, why did he not at least deposit the money in a bank and gain interest. He called the servant wicked and lazy, and commanded he be cast out into he other darkness. Jesus concluded this parable by telling us the one who has much will be given more, and the one who has little will have it taken away. The reason is not because those with much deserve more, and those with little don’t. The reason is the ones who had much used it to their masters glory, and the one with little didn’t. Jesus judges us according to what we have, not according to how much we have, but He expects us to do the most we can with what He entrusts to us.
The final parable is of the end of time. Jesus tells us when He returns He will separate everyone into two groups: the “sheep” and the “goats.” The sheep are those who have done small daily deeds of service to others, such as giving food and clothing to those in need, or visiting those who were sick or in prison. The goats would be those who failed to help such people. Jesus told us when we do something for the least person in His name, we are doing it to Him.
These parable remind us we were created to glorify God through faithful lives. We aren’t saved but our good works, but once we are saved, we demonstrate our salvation through good works. Often in American Christianity, we have leaned so heavily on God’s grace that it becomes license rather than what it is: God’s unmerited favor to sinners deserving death. The gratitude for such amazing grace challenges us to serve others in Jesus’ name with great love, passion, and always in Jesus’ truth. The New Testament writers made it clear it was never intended to be grace or works, but grace followed by works.