2 Chronicles 18 - Itching Ears

Ahab, the king of Israel, has itching ears...  He wants to hear only what will benefit him.  He's heard from 400 prophets and likes what he hears.  Israel and Judah will be successful in their attack on Ramoth Gilead.  Still, they are not sure.  Jehoshaphat wants to hear from a prophet of the LORD, not any old prophet.  Well, yes there is one. But, Micaiah isn't one of Ahab's favorites.  The word he brings is usually not favorable to Ahab and Ahab really doesn't want to hear it.  He knows it's probably a word of disaster for him.  And, it is.

I can't help but wonder how often we (preachers) preach to please the people, to soothe their itching ears rather than tell the truth and this done in order that they will continue to like us.  Ahab did not like Micaiah one bit.  But, Micaiah still told the truth.  That is what we are suppose to be doing:  preaching the truth.

We are not called to please people, but to proclaim the good news of the kingdom through Jesus the Christ.  I can think of innumerable voices in recent times that have proclaimed another gospel, a prosperity gospel or a social gospel, and all this done to please itching ears, to make members of a church, rather than the Church, which is the Body of Christ.

2 Chronicles 17 - Fear

Jehoshaphat followed in the ways of the LORD and was very successful as a king.  He became great and the people became great.  The people of the surrounding territorities all came to have fear of the God of Jehoshaphat.

I'm wondering how we measure success?  How did the people of Jehoshaphat't time measure success?  Jehoshaphat was feared because the God he served, helped him to conquer people and people feared his God. 

Personally, I get a bit tired of being feared, but, on the other hand, if being feared because I try to be faithful then I guess I'll be dealing with it for a bit longer.  And, I'm not even going around trying to conquering people, unless one considers being a fisher for men, a conquerer. 

Those who follow in the way of the LORD, will be feared by some, maybe even by many.  Was not Jesus feared?  Was that not why he was put to death?  Because, he was changing the way we are to look at success?  He was successful, because he was willing to die to do the Father's will.  He was successful because he was willing to humble himself, even on the cross, to die for you, for us.