Seek & Find = Joy 15:2 Hear me, Asa: The LORD is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 for a long season Israel had been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. 4 But when in their trouble they returned to the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 8 Asa took courage, and put away the abominable idols...repaired the altar of the LORD 11 And they offered to the LORD...700 oxen an 7,000 sheep 12 they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD with all their heart and with all their soul; 13 That whoever would not seek the LORD should be put to death...15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found by them: and the LORD gave them rest on all sides. 17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days

Stop doing something else; Expect God's promise; Expend the effort; Keep at it until you succeed.

Repent (mind); Encourage yourself; "NO" to the old; Enter cov't with others; Worship; All your heart; Laugh & live in the light

Hide & Hurl = Pain in the Foot 16:7...Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God...8 Weren't the Cushites...a huge army...yet, because You relied on the LORD, he delivered them into thy hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. In this you have done foolishly: therefore from henceforth you shall have wars 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer... 12 Asa...39 year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was very grievous: yet in his disease he sought not the LORD, but the physicians

Follow the Leader Upstream 17:1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. 3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not to Baalim; 4 But sought to the [LORD] God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. 5 Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; he had riches and honor in abundance

Simon Says 9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. 10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that [were] around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

Father May I 18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and allied himself with Ahab by marriage. 4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray you, at the word of the LORD to day. 31...Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them from him. 19:2...Should you help the wicked, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon you from before the LORD. 3 Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the idols out of the land, and have prepared thy heart to seek God.

Capture the Flag 20:2 told Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes a great multitude against you 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD...seek the LORD. 6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? and don't you rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? and in thy hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand you? 7 Are you not our God...drove out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and give it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8...sanctuary in it for thy name, saying, 9...evil comes upon us...we stand...in thy presence...cry to you in our affliction, then you will hear and help. 10 behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade...come to cast us out of thy possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, wilt you not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon you.

Kick the Can 20:15...Thus saith the LORD to you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's. 16 To morrow go you down against them...17 You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with face to the ground...all fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. 20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth...Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall you prosper. 21 ...he appointed singers to the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army...Praise the LORD; for his mercy endures for ever.

The Attack of the Killer Hymnals 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the children of Ammon...23...every one helped to destroy another. 24 And when Judah came...dead bodies fallen to the earth. 25 Jehoshaphat and his people...were three days in gathering the spoil, it was so much. 26...they blessed the LORD...called, The valley of Berachah, to this day. 27...Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest on all sides. 32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing right in the sight of the LORD. 33 But the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts to the God of their fathers.

Pin the Tail on the Donkey 37 Eliezer prophesied against Jehoshaphat:Because you have joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD has broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. How do we forsake God? What causes us to wake up? How can we seek Him? How do we know if we've found Him?

2. Why does God seem to have such high standards for holiness, yet sometimes blesses the apparently undeserving? 

3. Why do we tend to shoot the messenger rather than take action on the message? How can we be more receptive?

4. How do we know if God is going to fight our battles for us? When should we fight? When should we stand?

5. What can we do to prevent ourselves (and kids) from failing to finish strong? Will you end well? Why?