2 Chronicles 18:4
Ahab and Jehoshaphat were sitting together. They were friends, and they were kings of two neighbouring kingdoms, Israel and Judah, which lived at peace for quite some time. The two kings had a good time together. Then Ahab came up with a suggestion: They could do something together, something a bit adventurous, something that he would have liked to do since the longest while: go to Ramoth in Gilead and re-conquer it from the Syrians. Gilead is east of Jordan, and Ramoth is on the border between Syria and Israel. At the time it belonged to Syria. Jehoshaphat is willing to go with him and to form an alliance with him. Ahab is in the swing and in the mood, just to go. Jehoshaphat however cautions not to jump head over heels into such an adventure.
He says: Inquire first for the word of the Lord.
When in the early years of the Moravian Church a decision was to be taken, for example to start a new mission work somewhere in the world, and they were not sure if this really would be the will of the Lord or if human ambitions and earthly interests were driving them, they paused, they prayed, and they inquired of the word of the Lord by casting the lot, which would answer either with “yes” or “no” or show a blank paper, which meant: reconsider the matter prayerfully again.
We do not use the lot anymore. However, we are still well advised before beginning something, before taking a far reaching decision, to inquire for the word of the Lord, to follow the star and not other guides.
Note that Jehoshaphat and Ahab inquired of the prophets. 400 of them said: ‘Go ahead!’, but one, Micaiah the son of Imla, warned against marching into war – Israel and Judah were defeated in the war against the Syrians, and Ahab died in the battle (2.Chronicles 18).
Prayer:
Lord, before we begin something, let us first inquire for your word. Keep us from unhallowed ambitions, save us from untimely projects, but let us first look at you, the word, which became flesh. Let us ask whenever we begin something, what you would think about it. Amen.
(see also Litany, First Order, pg 5)
When in the early years of the Moravian Church a decision was to be taken, for example to start a new mission work somewhere in the world, and they were not sure if this really would be the will of the Lord or if human ambitions and earthly interests were driving them, they paused, they prayed, and they inquired of the word of the Lord by casting the lot, which would answer either with “yes” or “no” or show a blank paper, which meant: reconsider the matter prayerfully again.
We do not use the lot anymore. However, we are still well advised before beginning something, before taking a far reaching decision, to inquire for the word of the Lord, to follow the star and not other guides.
Note that Jehoshaphat and Ahab inquired of the prophets. 400 of them said: ‘Go ahead!’, but one, Micaiah the son of Imla, warned against marching into war – Israel and Judah were defeated in the war against the Syrians, and Ahab died in the battle (2.Chronicles 18).
Prayer:
Lord, before we begin something, let us first inquire for your word. Keep us from unhallowed ambitions, save us from untimely projects, but let us first look at you, the word, which became flesh. Let us ask whenever we begin something, what you would think about it. Amen.
(see also Litany, First Order, pg 5)
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