Old Testament reading: 2 Chronicles 20-22
The prayer of Jehoshaphat (20:5-12). This is a most moving text in light of the circumstances. The king offered up this prayer in the sight of all of Judah (v 4). Speaking of the enemies of God and His people, Jehoshaphat closed with these words: “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; or do we know what do, for our eyes are upon You.” What followed was “the greatest victory never fought.” God’s enemies were destroyed before their eyes without Judah so much as drawing a sword (20:14-25).
New Testament reading: 2 Timothy
It is a beautiful thing to witness families who have produced several generations of gospel preachers. I think of the families of Wendell Winkler and Jerry Jenkins and others who have a legacy of producing faithful gospel preachers, with each generation preaching the same timeless truths as the one before. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul gives the following charge: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” In this text we find four “generations” of preachers. First, there is Paul who beget Timothy, his “true son in the faith (1 Tim 1:2). Then there is second generation Timothy committing these same truths to the third generation of preachers, who in turn will be able to teach others (fourth generation) also. In reality, we might even consider Paul as being not the first, but the second generation, since he was taught by direct revelation of Christ Himself (cf Gal 1:11-12). Finally, this procession of preachers refutes the commonly held error that men can preach differing doctrines with all of them being faithful to God. Paul taught exactly what he had learned from Jesus. He taught these same things “in every church” (1 Cor 4:17). Timothy would have heard only one doctrine coming from Paul, so Timothy would have heard and believed exactly what Jesus taught Paul. Paul said to “commit these things” to faithful men who would teach others also. All four generations in this verse would have been taught and believed the exact same doctrine. Paul had earlier charged Timothy to warn some “that they teach no other doctrine” (1 Tim 1:3). There is only one truth to be taught and believed.
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