Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®
Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced
Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. . . . So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.
Jehoshaphat, fourth king of Judah, ruled for 25 years. Considered a wise and pious monarch, he initiated a program of instruction in the law throughout his realm and worked to cleanse the kingdom of idolatry (see 17:6–9).
At this point, the nation is under threat by invading armies gathered at En-gedi (the area where King Saul had pursued David; see I Samuel 24:1). Like Solomon and Asa before him (see II Chronicles 6; 14:9–12), Jehoshaphat appeals to God for help. After he calls for collective fasting and prayer (see 20:3, 4) and offers his heartfelt petition, the enemy is vanquished. The rest of his reign is peaceful (see vv. 22, 30).
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Resources cited in this issue
Cit. 3: Keck, Leander E., et al., eds. The New Interpreter’s Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes. Vol. 4, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Introduction to Hebrew Poetry, Job, Psalms. Nashville: Abingdon, 1996–2001.
Cit. 4: Wilkins, Michael J. NIV Application Commentary: From Biblical Text . . . to Contemporary Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.
Cit. 15: Barker, Kenneth L., John R. Kohlenberger, Verlyn Verbrugge, and Richard Polcyn. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004; Buttrick, George Arthur, Nolan B. Harmon, et al., eds. The Interpreter’s Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes. Vol. 12, James, Peter, John, Jude, Revelation, General Articles, Indexes. Nashville: Abingdon, 1951–57.
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