What are you doing? Do it better

March 7, 2026

Scripture

“Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, ‘Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you. There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.’ Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.’”

— 2 Chronicles 19:2–7

Observation

King Jehoshaphat had just returned from a battle where he formed an alliance with King Ahab, an evil king who opposed God. The prophet Jehu rebuked Jehoshaphat and told him that because he had helped the wicked and loved those who hate the Lord, the wrath of the Lord was upon him.

Despite this severe rebuke, Jehoshaphat did not turn away from God. Instead, he responded by strengthening justice throughout the land. He appointed judges and reminded them that they were not judging for people but for God, who is perfectly just and shows no partiality or bribery.

Application

How do we respond when we receive a severe rebuke from God? Jehoshaphat was told that the Lord’s wrath was on him, yet he did not become bitter or defensive. Instead, he accepted the correction and continued to pursue what was right.

This response reflects a principle found throughout Proverbs:

“A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.” (Proverbs 17:10)

A wise person listens to correction and changes course, but a fool rejects advice and continues down the wrong path. Jehoshaphat responded like a wise man. He accepted the rebuke and renewed his commitment to lead the people toward God and justice.

When God corrects us, our response should not be anger or defensiveness but humility and obedience. Even when discipline is painful, we can trust that God’s judgment is fair and meant to guide us back to Him. Like Jehoshaphat, we should accept correction and continue doing what is right.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help us to respond to your correction with humility and trust. Give us the wisdom to accept rebuke and the courage to continue doing what is right. Amen.