| Jehoshaphat and Ahab were both kings of a group | | | | of him, and respected and honored him and even |
| known as the people of God. They both could trace | | | | obeyed him. Suddenly with the eyes of his spirit he |
| their royal lineage back to David. One was the king of | | | | could see God now, and realized all his righteousness |
| Judah, the other the king of Israel. Both kingdoms had | | | | was filthiness. |
| the potential to be on target if their kings were. | | | | But his friends were humiliated even more. Job had to |
| Most people believe that Jehoshaphat has made a | | | | pray for them. Their ideas were true, but they had no |
| huge mistake on the day he accepts an invitation from | | | | answers! And their attitude was awful. See the |
| wicked Ahab to help him defeat a common enemy. | | | | straight and the crooked side by side. Listen to the |
| There is something way too ecumenical here to profit | | | | crooked alone and you'll be impressed, even |
| the Kingdom God is building, something greater than | | | | converted. You'll join their group. See them both |
| Israel or Judah. | | | | together. |
| As they stand poised to make their initial attack, | | | | In the New Testament there is a clear contrast of |
| Jehoshaphat wants to hear from a prophet of the | | | | teachers as Jesus of Nazareth confronts Nicodemus |
| Lord, of which there is only one in all the land of Israel, | | | | of Jerusalem. Jesus was the teacher from Heaven. |
| Ahab's domain. It so happens that Ahab hates that | | | | Nicodemus is called the Teacher of Israel. |
| prophet. Micaiah always speaks evil words over him. | | | | Jesus was the maker of the law. Nicodemus was the |
| The truth. | | | | supposed guardian of the law. Hundreds of years of |
| But Jehoshaphat insists. He had the true religion, not | | | | tradition, and he was supposed to be an expert in it all. |
| because he was from Judah, but because he knew | | | | But he didn't know the very basics. God is good. God |
| God and loved to hear his word, good or ill. Wanting to | | | | loves us. God will provide for our sins. We cannot |
| know the truth about yourself, even if it hurts, is a sign | | | | keep the law. We must have Divine assistance or we |
| that you are of the Truth. | | | | are lost. |
| Constantly desiring flowery statements about your | | | | But see Nicodemus alone, in his Sanhedrin clothing, |
| progress and how wonderful it all will be, and how | | | | seated in his chair of judgment, the seat of the |
| wonderful you are, well, that's not necessarily a Biblical | | | | scornful, and you think you have seen God's man. |
| prophetic style. As with Paul, "Hey, Paul, you're going to | | | | Placed next to Jesus, nothing but embarrassment |
| go to prison over this." " That's OK, that's why I was | | | | follows. |
| born. Bring it on. Don't try to weep and break my | | | | What about Jesus standing next to Pilate. Was not |
| heart." | | | | Pilate religious? His religion was his career. Power. Self. |
| So see the two kings. Both important men, equal in | | | | And his wife dreamed the strangest dreams. Pilate |
| authority in their respective nations. But the straight | | | | held all political authority in that part of the world. At |
| stick next to the crooked one always tells the truth. | | | | least he thought he did. Until one claiming to be a King |
| We could put Job next to his friends. The friends | | | | stood before him. |
| made wonderfully-worded religious statements. Look | | | | Jesus and Caiphas. The High Priest vs the High Priest. |
| at their words alone and you will be impressed at how | | | | Is there any comparison? |
| good they sound. Some of them are actually true. | | | | Jesus and Judas Iscariot. You say, that's too easy. |
| Very proper religious ideas. Man is a sinner. You, Job, | | | | Obviously Judas was a wicked man. Wicked, yes. |
| are a sinner. You deserve not only what you see, but | | | | Obvious, no. He was one of the twelve men chosen |
| even worse than you're getting. Repent, Job, and Gos | | | | by Jesus to follow Him. He worked miracles, signs and |
| will heal and restore you. | | | | wonders. He could heal the sick, raise the dead. More |
| But look at Job: This that I see around me is lousy. I | | | | than that, He was not from questionable Galilee, but he |
| wish I had never been born. But I know my redeemer | | | | was a true Jew, from Judah itself, the only one of the |
| lives. I know when all this awfulness is over, I'll come | | | | twelve who could make that claim. To the very night |
| out as pure as gold. | | | | of the betrayal, no one suspected that it was he who |
| Look at me guys, I am righteous. I'm a good man. I've | | | | would be the one Jesus was talking about in such |
| blessed so many. I've obeyed God's ways. I don't | | | | negative ways. Religion fools people. Judas was |
| understand this. I suffer, wicked people prosper. But it | | | | deceived by himself, and by the religion of his day. It |
| will turn out good. | | | | happens. |
| When it was all over Job had to repent and admit he | | | | We look next time at apostles who are held up as |
| didn't really know God or himself, though he had heard | | | | straight sticks next to some very questionable men. |