By way of summary, Jehoshaphat was a king during the biblical times who led his army to war, not with weapons, but with harps and cymbals . He did this because that was the marching order he received from God. He obeyed without further questions and because of his obedience, he triumphed in the end.
I first heard of Jehoshaphat several years ago. I think it was also in one of Bobby's exhortations during the early the days of Lingkod QC that I first encountered him. And then a couple of years later, we had a Lord's Day Celebration in Jerusalem House and his story was mentioned again by one of the sharers. So yes, I know Jehoshphat. In fact, I like his story because it was extraordinary and it speaks of a God who's as dramatic as He is powerful. What's more, I like the fact that just when Jehoshaphat was gearing up for the battle of his life, God instructed him to sing and dance and rejoice instead. That, to me, was God's sense of humor at work.
But what really strikes me about Jehoshaphat's story is its impeccable timing in my life. Every single time I encounter his story, I am always in the midst of a personal battle. The first time, I was struggling with a career issue and it was his story that inspired me to take risks for the Lord. The second time, I was discerning a major decison and it was God's command for him to just assume his position and wait for the outcome of the battle that instructed me to do the same. When I heard his story again last night during Lingkod QC's 8th anniversary, the message that I got was that I have a God whose solutions to my concerns are often unexpected and out of the ordinary. In fact, the solutions He offers require much faith. Oftentimes, He is not the type who will give tried and tested solutions. He will not lead us to paths that are too plain and easy. Instead, He will ask us to do seemingly illogical things, to expect extraordinary blessings, and anticipate endings that are too good to be true; or as others would put it, too good to be false. He is, after all, a God of wonderful surpises.
So just like Jehoshaphat, I've also resolved too simply assume my position and trust that God's ways, no matter how unusual they may be, will prevail in the end. I honestly don't know how things will work out. But since God is in charge, I rest my case. And in true Jehoshaphat fashion, I will sing and dance and rejoice as I anticipate an ending that no eye has seen and no mind has ever conceived. And when I die, I will look for Jehoshaphat in heaven and tell him that based on my experience, I can claim that we really have the same God.
I first heard of Jehoshaphat several years ago. I think it was also in one of Bobby's exhortations during the early the days of Lingkod QC that I first encountered him. And then a couple of years later, we had a Lord's Day Celebration in Jerusalem House and his story was mentioned again by one of the sharers. So yes, I know Jehoshphat. In fact, I like his story because it was extraordinary and it speaks of a God who's as dramatic as He is powerful. What's more, I like the fact that just when Jehoshaphat was gearing up for the battle of his life, God instructed him to sing and dance and rejoice instead. That, to me, was God's sense of humor at work.
But what really strikes me about Jehoshaphat's story is its impeccable timing in my life. Every single time I encounter his story, I am always in the midst of a personal battle. The first time, I was struggling with a career issue and it was his story that inspired me to take risks for the Lord. The second time, I was discerning a major decison and it was God's command for him to just assume his position and wait for the outcome of the battle that instructed me to do the same. When I heard his story again last night during Lingkod QC's 8th anniversary, the message that I got was that I have a God whose solutions to my concerns are often unexpected and out of the ordinary. In fact, the solutions He offers require much faith. Oftentimes, He is not the type who will give tried and tested solutions. He will not lead us to paths that are too plain and easy. Instead, He will ask us to do seemingly illogical things, to expect extraordinary blessings, and anticipate endings that are too good to be true; or as others would put it, too good to be false. He is, after all, a God of wonderful surpises.
So just like Jehoshaphat, I've also resolved too simply assume my position and trust that God's ways, no matter how unusual they may be, will prevail in the end. I honestly don't know how things will work out. But since God is in charge, I rest my case. And in true Jehoshaphat fashion, I will sing and dance and rejoice as I anticipate an ending that no eye has seen and no mind has ever conceived. And when I die, I will look for Jehoshaphat in heaven and tell him that based on my experience, I can claim that we really have the same God.
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