A Courageous Heart

Speaking of King Jehoshphat, "... his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD..." (his heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD) is the way another translations puts it. Those seem like completely different statements. To "delight' or to be "courageous" cannot possibly have similar meaning, or can they?

This delighting in the ways of the LORD moved Jehoshpat courageously in the direction of faithfully executing the destruction of things that dishonored God and brought His wrath; toward acting on things that honored God and brought His blessing. Delight in the LORD leads to courage. And yet another translations says, "his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD."

That must sound familiar because the Scripture repeats by defining again and again individuals whose, "heart was lifted up against the ways of the LORD." When you read these accounts you see the actions of such men towards idoltry and enmity towards the things of God.

All of this takes me back to Romans 8, "those who are in the flesh cannot please God." They are also, not delighting in Him, nor indeed can they.

Biblical courage, that God alone is willing to give comes ONLY from delighting in the LORD, taking Courage in Him and lifting your heart in the ways of the LORD." Three statements that have one impetus LOVE for the LORD through obedience.