It is the Lord who saves, by many or by few; and He never wants anything to be added to it. “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.”
The realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; we need not say how it will be by-and-by under God’s king. Jehoshaphat did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and yet we see his failure; but it does not abate one jot from his position in the sight of the Lord. And so we, in the midst of all so contrary; yet there is the position we have in the sight of God. He does not alter our position, because we do not always rise up to it.
We never need go out of the way to get blessing. We need not go out of the way because of our disadvantages. The Lord acted, and did not wait until the people had prepared their hearts; He did not withhold from acting because they had not prepared their hearts.
And so amid all the weakness, He is prepared to act far more than we calculate upon. But He did not go with Jehoshaphat when he went with Ahab. Re never wants for means. We often think, if we were not encumbered with such and such hindrances, more might be affected; more might be accomplished if we could do as other people do. There is that which often appears desirable; but the Lord is encumbered if we join affinity with that which is at variance with that in which we are set. He only wants that we should move on, and there is plenty in Him for strength. They were strong while they stuck to the truth, and acted according to the position in which they were set: though the ten tribes were separated from the two, yet while they were faithful, they were invincible.
It was when they were at their lowest ebb, that the greatest exploits were done.
And we need to be separated from all that is not according to the mind of God. We have no power apart from God; but we are in Christ, and we just wait to see the salvation of God.
When the greatest armies came against Jehoshaphat there was not a blow struck; but when he joined himself to Ahaziah, he had to escape for his life. And when he joined for merchandise and commerce, he got shipwrecks. And I do not doubt that is why the end of much of all our efforts is shipwreck. There is much that is counter to the Holy Spirit, contrary to the ways of God. It is a wonderful place in which we are set, there is something to be got rid of. Our motto will be, Nearer, my God, to Thee. The peace, the rest, the victory, are all, connected with it. It was wonderful the rest and peace in Jehoshaphat’s days; but the blessed God would not allow in Jehoshaphat anything contrary to His will. He joined with Ahaziah to make ships. Still it was wonderfully tender of God, there was no great upbraiding, hut all his labor lost, and the ships did not go; it was lost labor. “It is in vain we rise up early.” He would have them sleep and take their rest. The day is for labor and the night for rest.
He that believeth shall not make haste.” He would have us take the place or position in which we are set. “Because ye are sons,” God hath sent forth the Spirit. What does not become His presence does not become His child. We walk below the place He has set us as sons.
They had had Solomon’s reign, but a greater than Solomon has come; and if He had not died and risen, He would have been the only man who could have been in the kingdom. But He died, death and resurrection are accomplished; and now the kingdom of heaven is open to all believers; and so we can say, “as having nothing and yet possessing all things.” And nothing can separate us front the love of God, &c.
Let us cleave fast to that, and be satisfied with it, and want nothing that will go to shipwreck.
G. J.