1Then Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became the next king. He strengthened Judah to stand against any attack from Israel.
3The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years*17:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts read the example of his father, David. and did not worship the images of Baal.
7In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.
10Then the fear of the Lord fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat.
12So Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.
From Judah there were 300,000 troops organized in units of 1,000, under the command of Adnah.
17From Benjamin there were 200,000 troops equipped with bows and shields. They were under the command of Eliada, a veteran soldier.
19These were the troops stationed in Jerusalem to serve the king, besides those Jehoshaphat stationed in the fortified towns throughout Judah.
1Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab’s daughter.
3“Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah.
Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course! You and I are as one, and my troops are your troops. We will certainly join you in battle.”
5So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, 400 of them, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?”
They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! God will give the king victory.”
6But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.”
7The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”
8So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”
9King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were prophesying there in front of them.
11All the other prophets agreed. “Yes,” they said, “go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”
12Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”
13But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what my God says.”
14When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?”
Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for you will have victory over them!”
15But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the Lord?”
16Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed.*18:16 Hebrew These people have no master. Send them home in peace.’”
17“Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”
18Then Micaiah continued, “Listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the armies of heaven around him, on his right and on his left.
“There were many suggestions,
“‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked.
21“And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’
“‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’
22“So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of your prophets. For the Lord has pronounced your doom.”
23Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah walked up to Micaiah and slapped him across the face. “Since when did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?” he demanded.
24And Micaiah replied, “You will find out soon enough when you are trying to hide in some secret room!”
25“Arrest him!” the king of Israel ordered. “Take him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to my son Joash.
27But Micaiah replied, “If you return safely, it will mean that the Lord has not spoken through me!” Then he added to those standing around, “Everyone mark my words!”
28So King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah led their armies against Ramoth-gilead.
30Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his chariot commanders: “Attack only the king of Israel! Don’t bother with anyone else.”
33An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. “Turn the horses*18:33 Hebrew Turn your hand. and get me out of here!” Ahab groaned to the driver of the chariot. “I’m badly wounded!”
34The battle raged all that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans. In the evening, just as the sun was setting, he died.
25Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea,
“Those who were not my people,
I will now call my people.
And I will love those
whom I did not love before.”*9:25 Hos 2:23.
26And,
“Then, at the place where they were told,
‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called
‘children of the living God.’”*9:26 Greek sons of the living God. Hos 1:10.
27And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out,
“Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore,
only a remnant will be saved.
28For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth
quickly and with finality.”*9:27-28 Isa 10:22-23 (Greek version).
29And Isaiah said the same thing in another place:
“If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
had not spared a few of our children,
we would have been wiped out like Sodom,
destroyed like Gomorrah.”*9:29 Isa 1:9 (Greek version).
30What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.
“I am placing a stone in Jerusalem*9:33a Greek in Zion. that makes people stumble,
a rock that makes them fall.
But anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.”*9:33b Isa 8:14; 28:16 (Greek version).
1Dear brothers and sisters,*10:1 Greek Brothers. the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved.
5For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.*10:5 See Lev 18:5.
“The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”*10:6-8 Deut 30:12-14.
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
2May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.*20:2 Hebrew Zion.
3May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
Interlude
4May he grant your heart’s desires
and make all your plans succeed.
5May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory
and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.
6Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him by his great power.
7Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
8Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.
9Give victory to our king, O Lord!
Answer our cry for help.
2The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;
to rouse his anger is to risk your life.
3Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
only fools insist on quarreling.