Zeal for God

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 2 Chronicles 17

• Summary

After King Asa's death his son Jehoshaphat became king.  It appears that he straight way set about re-arming his country against Israel, with troops being sent to the defence cities and garrisons set up throughout the land.  Parallel with this he was actively seeking to follow the LORD by following his commandments, destroying the areas of pagan worship and organising teaching of God's law throughout the land.

We are told that God rewarded him by establishing his kingdom, motivating the people and surrounding countries to bring him riches and putting his (God's) fear on these countries so that they made no war against him.

As a result Jehoshaphat became exceedingly great, had much building of castles and store cities, much business activities and a flourishing army of over 1000,000 men.

• Thoughts

My attention was drawn to the words in verse 6, '...and his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD'.

As I read the words 'his heart was lifted up', my own heart sank and I expected to see something negative follow as generally this lifting up is in pride.  For example,

• King Nebuchadnezzer, 'when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne...' (Daniel 5:20);

• The King of Tyrus, 'because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God....I (God) will bring strangers upon thee...' (Ezekiel 28:2-7);

• King Uzziah, 'when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction; for he transgressed against the LORD his God...' (2 Chronicles 26:16).

We are told that God hates pride (Proverbs 8:13, 16:5) but clearly here he was blessing Jehoshaphat and it is stated that his ways were pleasing to God.  I wondered if this was an example of the limitations of the English language in translating the Hebrew word for 'lifted up' in different contexts, but according to my Strong's Concordance the same word is used in this verse as in the King Tyrus and King Uzziah examples above.  It means to soar, to be haughty, lofty, exalted, higher or proud.

Therefore does it mean more of a 'zeal' for God, or a heart soaring in pride and delight IN his God, and the ways of God? - a pride that rejoiced to do God's commandments - perhaps even a pride OF his God, that gloried in what his God was and could do? A pride that expanded his heart in love to God?

It reminds me of the verses, '...God loveth a cheerful giver' (2 Corinthians 9:7), one that serves the Lord with joy.  It is in fact displeasing to God when we don't serve him with joy - when the Israelites were being warned by Moses that if they didn't keep God's ways he would bring curses upon them,  he says it would be, '...because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things.' (Deuteronomy 28:47).

And what cause we do have to serve the LORD with joy as Psalm 100 puts it so well:

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

I wonder also if this 'lifting up' is the same meaning as in Psalm 69:9, 'For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up', which is a prophecy of Jesus.  When Jesus came to the temple in Jerusalem and found it full of buying and selling of animals he made a small whip and drove all the animals and sellers out, overturning tables and pouring out their money, saying, 'Take these things hence and make not my Father's house an house of merchandise' (John 2:12-17).  His zeal for righteousness poured out into action.

Perhaps this speaks to us of our attitude as we go about our lives, trying to follow the Lord.  Do we inwardly sigh or outwardly complain, mope, whine, resist, or even sulk as we are faced with chores and duties?  Do we longingly look at the material things of life and our hearts go after them? Do we envy the apparent ease of those who just do what they want, and their 'anything goes' attitude?  

Or do we face each day asking the Lord to give us a spirit of zeal and love for his ways and to serve him, doing all we have to do cheerfully and joyfully as given to us by him?

No doubt we all have days when it is a struggle to be motivated and go forward, but may this verse be our encouragement, "...the joy of the Lord is your strength..." (Nehemiah 8: 10), and may our hearts, like Jehoshaphat's be lifted up in his ways.

Do you have any more thoughts on what this means?  I would love to know in the comments below.

Bible Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash with thanks

Women in field Photo by Johen Redman on Unsplash with thanks