2 Chronicles 18:1 - 3 (NRSV) 1Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab. 2After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. 3King Ahab of Israel said to King Jehoshaphat of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am with you, my people are your people. We will be with you in the war.”
Scriptural Text: 2 Chronicles 18:28 – 29 (NRSV) 28So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. 30Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.” 31When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him; and Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him, 32for when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 33But a certain man drew his bow and unknowingly struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; so he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 34The battle grew hot that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening; then at sunset he died.
Sermonic Verses: Scriptural Text: 2 Chronicles 18:28 - 29 (NRSV) 28So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.
Title of Sermon: “Its a Set Up”
A Set-up in this context may be defined as when someone allows for an individual or a group of individuals to knowingly place them in a situation that may be detrimental to them and not contrary to the Word of God. We all have been Set-up because we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The origin of this Set-up is simple, it is orchestrated by Satan who is cunning, shrewd, astute, crafty, and sly. He is the Ruler of Darkness and has been called the Prince of Persia2. His primary objective is to deceive Christians. He desires to make us think that our ways are righteous when in actuality they are unrighteous. He desires to make us think that the wages of sin is not death, but life. He is the master of illusion and confusion and HE WILL SET US UP! As Christians, Beelzebub3 has caused all of us to become engaged in activities that we thought were of God, but in reality they were of darkness.
I know by now some of you Holy Ghost filled Gentile saved, justified, and sanctified heirs to the Most High God (El Elyon) 4 are saying. Why is this preacher giving Satan such recognition? Is not God is in control? And indeed you are correct, FOR GOD IS IN CONTROL, but I am here to enlighten you by informing you that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High God was no….. FOOL. He was a wise and intellectual scholar and an anointed leader, administrator, counselor, strategist and physician with insight into the tactics used by Satan to Set us Up! Jesus encountered these tactics not only in the wilderness and in the Garden of Gethsemane, but also throughout His thirty years of preparation and three years of ministry…. We as followers of Christ and co-heirs to His father’s Kingdom must not be naïve to Satan’s tactics. We must ask God for wisdom as we travel on this journey…
But I tell you this morning Church, the one thing that continues to baffle me, is that, we (Christians) continue to be Set-Up by Satan over and over and over and over and over again. As a seminarian and minister, I have observed that we (Christians) continue to allow for Satan to Set us Up!!!!! All because we continue to FOLLOW THE CROWD (Flesh), a crowd that we know is Wrong; a crowd that engages in behaviors that are not of God; a crowd that has an ungodly attitude; a crowd which exudes arrogance and snobbishness, a crowd that practices classism, a crowd that practices sexism, a crowd that practices racism; and a crowd whose philosophy is: “follow us if you want to get to Heaven”….Can I get a witness? For there are individual(s) out there in 2010 that feel they hold the key to us getting into Heaven…….Can I get another witness?
In our text today, we examine a time in the life of King Jehoshaphat, who was one the best Kings since King David to ever carry the scepter of Judah. He was the good son of a good father that loved the Lord, and for this reason; GRACE and MERCY ran in his blood all because of his family. Is Not God Good? Jehoshaphat was blessed and highly favored because of the spiritual foundation laid by his biological father (King Asa) and the spiritual relationship he developed with his spiritual father…. My God!!!! Proverbs 22:6 (NRSV) 6 Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.
Jehoshaphat’s tenure was illuminated with his devotion to the Lord and he was blessed with great diplomatic skills (politician). However (Watch this Church!), History reveals and remembers that Jehoshaphat’s greatest weakness was forming alliances with ungodly and evil men (My!!! My!! My!). Word to the wise, watch out for the company you keep church, because you will be judged by the company you keep, especially if the company not of God. .
With all these blessings and favor, Jehoshaphat engaged in an activity that was not of God. In order for Jehoshaphat to maintain a positive diplomatic relationship with Israel, he arranged the marriage between his son and the daughter of the King of Israel (Ahab). But before the honeymoon was over, Jehoshaphat found himself in a situation that was unwarranted and troubling. King Ahab invited Jehoshaphat to Israel and gave him a big time party. I mean King Ahab set it out; rack of lamb, goat curry and filet mignon with all the sides. I mean it was a big time party…..BUT KNOW WHAT? I FEEL A SET-UP COMING ON, because as most people are in this world, not us Christians of course, when we do something for someone, they have a motive. LET’S BE REAL. It might not be then, but sooner or later people will try to cash in on a deed rendered. I’ll helped you. Remember that time I helped you pay your car note, paid your mortgage, purchased your children some school clothes, paid for your medicines, and gave you a place to lay head. I just need some help, if you can help me. Can I get a witness?
Well I can see King Jehoshaphat relaxing and full as a “tick”. I can also see King Ahab approaching King Jehoshaphat and saying “Are you my boy? Man I am glad that our children got married. Your son was the best thing that ever happened to my baby girl. We family!!!! I will do anything for you and Judah. I can see King Jehoshaphat smiling, and THEN, the question from King Ahab. Jehoshaphat….would you do the same for Israel? Of course answered King Jehoshaphat, we are family. Well you see Israel has a problem with Ramoth-Gilead (Syrian border about 25 miles east of Jordan) and I need your assistance with reclaiming some territories that Syria obtained from use illegally many years ago. I need Judah to align with us to attack Syria. I can imagine King Jehoshaphat thinking silently….I just got into this family and now King Ahab want me to fight someone that I have no grievance against. . Look at your neighbor and say….. Its a Set Up!!!.
Jehoshaphat agreed to join King Ahab in this venture under the condition that they first seek the Lord’s approval. Ahab’s prophets (400) gave him a positive outcome of the battle, in that; Israel would totally annihilate the Syrians. But a prophet of the Lord by the name of Micaiah prophesied the opposite. Ahab said, I do not want to hear that MESS. My 400 hundred prophets gave me the go ahead. Israel will be victorious.
With this being said, “King Ahab somehow persuaded Jehoshaphat to fight anyway.” What? Say What Church!!!!! Jehoshaphat sought the Lord for an answer. The Lord gave Jehoshaphat an answer, but Jehosaphat did not listen to the answer. What? Say What Church! For the Lord had told Jehoshaphat that the battle would result in defeat, BUT to prevent conflict between the Israel and Judah, Jehoshaphat committed his troops anyway. Its a Set-up!!!, Its a Set-up!!, Its a Set-up!
The Holy Spirit revealed three reasons to me why Jehoshaphat and we as Christians are set-up.
• He was ASHAMED of the Word, thus making him afraid to stand on the Word.
• He had knowledge of the Word on the inside, but could NOT ALLOW FOR THE WORD TO BE MANIFESTED ON THE OUTSIDE.
• He DID NOT TRUST AND OBEY, because He thought that there was another way.
How many of you have asked the Lord for guidance? He gave you an answer, but you did not listen. I said, “How many of you have asked the Lord for guidance? He gave you an answer, but you did not listen”. You decided that after talking with your crowd of friends that are going to help you get to heaven……. to confront the Bishop, the Elder, the Pastor, the Dean, Stewards, the Stewardesses, the Trustees, your employer, your neighbor, your baby mama, your baby daddy and all because you felt God told you to confront them, then all __ __ __ __ broke loose. You did your own thing. You were set up by arrogance and stupidity.
What is still so amazing about this Set-Up is that first of all, the battle was not really for Jehosaphat, but he had gotten into a situation that he could not get out. He had committed his troop, but (Watch this now) Ahab also persuaded Jehoshaphat to lead the armies into battle, while Ahab dressed incognito in order not be recognized. Its a Set-up! Its a Set-up!!!; Its a Set-up!!!.
You mean to tell me that Jehoshaphat had committed his troops to fight and now he was to dress like King Ahab and lead the assault...Oh my God!!!!! Oh my God!!!!! What? This is a Set-Up!!!!!!!!!!
How many of you have been set up like Jehosaphat by keeping company with men or women like Ahab, that walks in the counsel of the ungodly and in the path of sinners. How many of you have been set up by men or women that sit in the seat of mockers and does not delight in the law of the Lord. How many of you have been set up by men and women that do not meditate day and night in the laws of the Lord and are not like trees planted by rivers of water that brings forth good fruit in due season. But that’s ok,because all of us have in one way or another…The question this morning is: How many of you know that Jesus is your Savior when you have been Set-Up? How many of you know that Jesus will lift you up after the world has set you up. How many of you know that Jesus will bring you up after the world has set you up? How many of you know that Jesus will pull you up after the world has set you up? I know! I know! I know!
• I am so glad that Jesus opened his eyes up, so I could not be set-up!
• I am so glad that Jesus sat-up so I (we) could not be set-up!
• I am so glad that Jesus raise-up, so that I could not be set-up!
• I am so glad that Jesus got-up, so that we could not be set-up!
• I am so glad that Jesus stood-up, so I could not be set-up!
• I am so glad that Jesus was lifted-up, so that I could not be set-up!
• I am so glad that Jesus ascend-up, so that we could not be set-up!
In 1887, John H. Sammis penned the lyrics to a song that has been etched into the hearts of Christians throughout this world, especially Christians of African American descent…the song…”Trust and Obey”9 . All Jehoshaphat had to do was to “Trust and Obey” and he would not have been Set-up. All we have to do is to “Trust and Obey”…..For…………..
“When I walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on my way!
While I do His good will,
He abides with (me) still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
” Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
“When (we) walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on (our) way!
While (we) do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
” Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
“Then in fellowship sweet I (we) will sit at His feet,
Or I’ll (we’ll) walk by His side in the way;
What He says I (we) will do,
where He sends I (we) will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Notes:
1. 2 Chronicles 18: 28-29 NRSV
2. Daniel 10: 13-23 NRSV (Prince of Persia)
3. Luke 11:15 NRSV (Beelzebub)
4. Name of God Pamphlet (2003), Bible References Made Easy, Rose Publishing, Torrance, California
5. Proverbs 22:6 (NRSV)
6. Luke 20:43 (NRSV); Acts 2:35 (NRSV)
7. 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NRSV)
8. Psalm 1:2 (paraphrased)
9. Hymn “Trust and Obey,” words by John H. Sammis and music by Daniel B. Towner, 1887.
