Justin Houtz

2 Chronicles 18, Revelation 7, Zechariah 3, John 6

DateVersionReading Plan
December 16, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

2 Chronicles 18

2 Chronicles 18:1–2 (ESV) 1 Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab. 2 After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab killed 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.

“After the division of the kingdom, this border town was taken by the Aramaeans and became a site of contention between Israel and Aram. King Ahab’s final battle began with his desire to retake Ramoth-gilead. In seeking to convince his ally Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to support him in this maneuver he produced many prophets who spoke favorable and victorious words to the king (1 Kgs 22; 2 Chr 18). Unconvinced, Jehoshaphat inquired of the word of the Lord through Micaiah, a prophet of the Lord, who warned of impending disaster. The message was ignored and Ahab was killed at Ramoth-gilead.” (BEB)

2 Chronicles 18:5 (ESV) 5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.”

“Ahab had four hundred men on his payroll. These prophets, who were servants of Baal, were well-schooled in declaring whatever King Ahab wanted to hear, so they encouraged him to go ahead with his plans.” (FSB)

2 Chronicles 18:14–15 (ESV) 14 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And he answered, “Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand.” 15 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

“There may have been a sarcastic tone in Micaiah’s first statement, because Ahab detected that it was not the truth.” (FSB)

It seems confusing why Ahab would be angry at Micaiah’s words since they aligned with the false prophets in saying that the campaign against Ramoth-gilead would be successful. However, realizing that Micaiah was only pretending to go along with the false prophets is helpful in explaining Ahab’s reaction.

2 Chronicles 18:18–22 (ESV) 18 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the LORD said to him, ‘By what means?’ 21 And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 22 Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets. The LORD has declared disaster concerning you.”

“Micaiah also explained why Ahab’s prophets were giving him false information: They were under the influence of a lying spirit which the LORD sent because of Ahab’s wickedness. Ahab was now the object of judgment, as had been prophesied earlier by Elijah (1 Kgs. 21:19–24).” (BBC)

2 Chronicles 18:30–32 (ESV) 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 31 As soon as 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. 32 For as soon as the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

“The Arameans did, in fact, have orders to single out Ahab. Since Jehoshaphat was the only visible king, they focused on him and almost killed him. Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord. God graciously caused the Arameans to back off by letting the Aramean chariot commanders recognize that Jehoshaphat was not Ahab, their intended target.” (CSB Notes)

This is a fascinating instance in which crying out resulted in deliverance. By his very speaking, Jehoshaphat revealed to the Arameans that he was not the king of Israel and the LORD was gracious to deliver him.

Revelation 7

After John saw how the powerful of the earth hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, John saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They were holding back the four winds of the earth. “Since the horsemen of Zechariah are called “winds” (or “spirits”) in Zech 6:5, this image may refer to the four horsemen from Rev 6:1–8.” (FSB). John then saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God and cried to the four angels in a loud voice. He told them not to harm the earth, sea or trees until the servants of God had been sealed on their foreheads. John heard the number of the sealed as 144,000 which was 12,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. The FSB provides some insight on the 144,000:

There are differing views about the identity of the 144,000: They may be ethnic Jews who will become Christians and be kept from martyrdom during the seven-year tribulation period—a view usually taken by futurist readings of the book (see note on Rev 1:19). Alternatively, the number may figuratively represent the complete number of the redeemed—12 multiplied by 12 multiplied by 1,000. This calculation derives from multiplying the tribes of Israel (21:12) by the apostles (21:14) by the number of completeness or perfection (20:4).

The latter option is more likely. This is supported by the use of “slaves” in v. 3 (see 1:1; 2:20; 6:11; 10:7; 11:18; 19:2, 5, 10; 22:3, 6, 9) and the connection with the believers in 3:12; 22:4 who have been written on or marked (compare 14:1, 3–4).

After this, John saw a great multitude from every nation clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands and crying out in a loud voice that salvation belongs to God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. The palm branches are “Indicative of victory in royal and military processions, as demonstrated by its connection with white robes and salvation or victory in v. 10. Compare Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (e.g., Mark 11:8).” (FSB). One of the elders address John and asked him who and where these clothed in white robes came from. “John confessed ignorance but a desire to know. Then the elder explained that they had come out of the great tribulation, and had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (BBC). The elder continues in explaining that they are before the throne of God to serve Him day and night and that the One who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence. The BBC describes the blessings that will come:

Perfect nearness: Therefore they are before the throne of God.

Perfect service: and serve Him day and night in His temple.

Perfect fellowship: He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

7:16 Perfect satisfaction: They shall neither hunger nor thirst anymore;

Perfect security: the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;

7:17 Perfect guidance: for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to fountains of the waters of life (NKJV margin).

Perfect joy: God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Zechariah 3

Zechariahs’ fourth vision opens with his being shown Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD. The FSB describes this figure:

As the first high priest of the returned remnant, Joshua reestablished proper worship of Yahweh by building an altar and resuming sacrificial worship (ca. 537 BC; Ezra 3:1–6). He is identified elsewhere as the son of Jehozadak (or “Jozadak”; Hag 1:1; Ezra 3:2).

In his vision, Zechariah describes “the nation’s cleansing from sin and the reinstatement of its priestly office and functions (compare Exod 19:6). The vision reestablishes the authority of the Zadokite priesthood and addresses some of the criticisms toward it in the last part of Isaiah (which also seems to address the situation of the early postexilic community; compare Isa 57:1–10; 58:1–5). Zechariah’s vision emphasizes the purification of the high priest, allowing him to properly represent the people before Yahweh.” (FSB)

In Zech. 3:8-10, the “oracle expands on the vision in Zech 3:1–7 by placing the leadership of Joshua (see note on v. 1) within the context of Yahweh’s full plan of restoration, culminating in the coming of the Messiah. The imagery in v. 8 connects the messianic expectations of Isa 4:2–6 with the Suffering Servant figure from Isa 42–53.” (FSB)

John 6

John 6:5–7 (ESV) 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”

It seems curious why Jesus was seeking to test Philip. As the BBC makes note, “The Lord was going to teach Philip a very valuable lesson and test his faith. Jesus Himself knew that He would perform a miracle to feed this great crowd of people.” (BBC). However, by Philip’s response in calculating how much bread was available to feed the masses, he showed that his faith “did not rise to very great heights” (BBC).

John 6:26 (ESV) 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

Jesus confronted them that it was not Him they were seeking but what He could provide. They were more concerned with physical sustenance than the miracle performed that proved that He was indeed the promised Messiah. How blinded can we also be, failing to bask the wonder that we have been reconciled to our Creator, focusing instead on the gifts rather than the One by whom they come.

John 6:40 (ESV) 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

It is not enough to look up on the Son but to believe in Him, surrendering your whole life to Him. “To see the Son here means not to see Him with the physical eyes but rather with the eyes of faith. One must see or recognize that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Then, too, he must believe on Him. This means that by a definite act of faith, he must receive the Lord Jesus as his own personal Savior.” (BBC)

John 6:58 (ESV) 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Jesus “is superior to the manna which the fathers ate in the wilderness. That bread was only of temporary value. It was only for this life. But Christ is the Bread of God who gives eternal life to all who feed on Him.” (BBC)

John 6:65 (ESV) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

Jesus makes clear that no one can come to Him except those who have been granted him by the Father. “Such words are an attack on the pride of man, who thinks that he can earn or merit salvation.” Let no one claim that they came to the Lord of their own accord, for it to undermine His providence to speak such things.

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