Listen To Prophets Of 2 Chronicles (Part 1 of 0)

Listen To The Prophets – Part 1

This is the first of a series of short meditations by sister Mary Eyre,
based upon the Second Book of Chronicles.

Introduction

In the Second Book of Chronicles, we are introduced to many prophets. Among them are Shemaiah, Iddo, Azariah Ben-Oded, Hanani, Micaiah, Jehu Ben-Hanani, Eliezer Ben-Dodovahu, Jahaziel Ben-Zechariah, Elijah, Jehoiada, Zechariah Jehoiada’s son, another Zechariah, another Azariah, another Oded, Huldah and Jeremiah — a real Heroes’ Circle. They each have a message for US.

Here is the theme of the book: The LORD sent word through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people (36:15). The book records the varying responses of those who heard the messages of these prophets, and their eternal fate that inescapably followed. The voice of the prophets was the voice of God.

The Chronicler records a prayer of David:

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity I have seen with joy how willingly your people have given to you. O LORD, keep this desire in the hearts of your people for ever, and keep their hearts loyal to you (I Chron. 29).

This prayer that God’s people will remain loyal with wholehearted devotion remains a kind of standard or measure with which the prophets later in Second Chronicles compare the responses of their hearers.

  1. Shemaiah

Shemaiah’s first message to God’s people was this: Do not fight against your brothers. Go home, every one ofyou! And surprise, surprise, they obeyed the words of the LORD!

When I was very young in the truth, there was a Shemaiah among us. He stayed at my home. His name was Bro. Islip Collyer. His message was the same. But sadly, most brothers and sisters that I grew up with did not do as the Israelites did. They decided instead to go on fighting until God’s house was almost a wreck.

Shemaiah’s second message to God’s people was this: You have aban­doned me: therefore, I now abandon you. Surprise again! The leaders of Is­rael, and the king, humbled themselves. Shemaiah must not only have been a very courageous man, but a very persuasive one as well. Rehoboam and his government ministers were a better lot than most of us. For most rulers and politicians, and most religious people are not humble at all. Yet these said, The LORD is just, and accepted Shemaiah’s advice.

God’s third message to His people through Shemaiah was this: Learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings [or gods] of other lands. You see, they had to learn by discipline, for God brought Pharaoh Shishak up from Egypt, and he took everything. Yes, everything. And once more, Rehoboam and his one-time brash young supporters (perhaps they had been fired up like Mugabe’s men) humbled themselves. And the Chronicler makes a terse comment: Indeed there was some good in Judah.

So think twice before running down Rehoboam. Have you and I done any better? Let us make sure that there is some good in us, too.