I'm wounded! he cried out to his chariot driver. He had amassed "riches and honor in abundance" ( 2Chronicles 18 . The prophet Elijah had previously prophesied evil concerning Ahab. In this article, well explore the life of Jehoshaphat (the good and the bad), well lightly touch on a place known as the valley of Jehoshaphat, and discuss what lessons we can learn from the fourth monarch from the kingdom of Judah. So Ahab brings out . 2 Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, " Go, inquire of c Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, d whether I shall recover from this sickness. Neighboring kings paid tribute to him because they feared his power. This chapter lists King Davids bodyguards, a variant form of the name Jehoshaphat within the mix. I mean here, serious, committed relationships with unbelievers dating, marriage, business whatever. Romans 12:19-21, A true test of character: How you treat those weaker than you, Come to Jesus and find rest. Jehu ( , Yehu " The Lord is he") was king of Israel, 842-815 B.C.E. Ahab got King Jehoshaphat of Judah to ally himself with him in war against Ramoth-gilead then held by the Syrians. Perhaps these were true followers of Yahweh who were seduced by Ahabs sincere but shallow repentance three years before (1 Kings 21:27-29). King Jehoshaphat comes to Samaria to visit with Ahab. 1 Chronicles 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. God orchestrated the unintended actions of man to result in an exercise of His judgment. Ahab, whose wife was the infamous Jezebel, was possibly the most wicked king who ever ruled over Israel. And the LORD said, These have no master. It was an opportunity to walk away, but he did not take it. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. Jehoshaphat, the fourth king of Judah, followed after his father, King Asa, and David's footsteps. For so it was, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. His love for God greatly benefited the kingdom of Judah. Without God's help, we can do nothing worthwhile. 1 King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem. Michelangelo's 'Asa-Jehoshaphat-Joram.' 17:10-13 ). Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel: Ahabs previous mercy to Ben-Hadad (1 Kings 20:31-34) did not win any lasting favor with the rulers of Syria. So he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded. The battle increased that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening; and about the time of sunset he died. 1. Jehoshaphat made a bad alliance with King Ahab, one of the most wicked kings in Israels history. The world will draw you in: And, when you waver, it will pressure you to conform (like Ahab bringing out 400 prophets to 1). He prioritized the worship of Yahweh, the true God of Israel. Ahab asked Micaiah whether they should go up to Ramoth God looked with favor on Jehoshaphat, strengthening his kingdom and making him wealthy. Jehoshaphats life was half over by the time he took the throne, but that didnt stop God from moving in his life. But, not only that, so many times our sin ends up wounding those we love more than us. At sunset he died. He strengthened himself against Israel [2 Chr 17:1], the Lord was with him [2 Chr 17:3], his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord [2 Chr 17:6], he authorized the teaching of the words of God throughout Judah [2 Chr 17:7-9], the fear of God . One of these rulers, King Jehoshaphat, is a great example to learn from. He was willing to be judged by whether his prophecy came to pass or not. He builds many forts and attempts to help the kingdom prosper in a financial sense. King Jehoshaphat led a mostly prosperous life. He went out with Ahab in battle, and was rebuked by Jehu the son of Hanani. The Lord will give you victory., 12 Meanwhile, the official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king, and you had better do the same., 13 But Micaiah answered, By the living Lord I will say what my God tells me to!, 14 When he appeared before King Ahab, the king asked him, Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?, Attack! Micaiah answered. Ahab decides to disguise himself so that he will not be recognized, but tells Jehoshaphat to dress as a king. Ahab asks him if he would go with him to take the city of Ramoth in Gilead from Syria. He sometimes followed the world's ways, such as making alliances with questionable neighbors. It will party with you (like Ahab with Jehoshaphat), It will give you honor and acceptance (like Ahab gave to Jehoshaphat), It will entice you to make compromises (like Ahab did with Jehoshaphat). Putting anything ahead of God is idolatry. If there's one mistake Jehoshaphat made, it's the time he decided to ally himself with King Ahab of Israel, the devious Jezebel's husband. Ahab did so because he hated God and his ways. Meet King Pharaoh: Arrogant Egyptian Ruler, Biography of King Solomon: The Wisest Man Who Ever Lived, Battle of Jericho Bible Story Study Guide, Scripture Readings for the Fourth Week of Lent, Crossing of the Jordan River Bible Study Guide, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. "Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. King Ahab said that he wanted the truth but he couldnt handle the truth. But he himself has decreed that you will meet with disaster!, 23 Then the prophet Zedekiah went up to Micaiah, slapped his face, and asked, Since when did the Lord's spirit leave me and speak to you?. Stay up to date with the latest Christian news! By marriage he allied himself with Ahab: This manner of linking kingdoms by the bond of marriage was common in the ancient world, yet it was an unwise policy for Jehoshaphat. Scholars have variously dated his reign to around 873-849 B.C.E. The name Jehoshaphat means means "Jehovah has judged," Yahweh judges, or Yahweh establishes the right.". You compromise your faithfulness to God, but you will get nothing from it. . When battle is joined, Ahab's plan seems to work. He also had a lot of property. 8 So King Ahab called in a court official and told him to go and get Micaiah at once. Of course you'll win. Lets explore some of these verses. He attempted to have Elijah arrested (2 Kings 1:9). All rights reserved. d. The king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot, facing the Syrians until evening: Ahab faced the end of his life bravely, dying proppedup in his chariot to inspire his troops. i. i. a. I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: Micaiah was challenged to tell the truth, and now he changed his tone from mocking to serious. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Jehoshaphat's Compromise 2-Chr. Jehoshaphat goes forward with the plan. Jehoshaphat also pursued alliances with the kingdom of Israel in the North. Since Ahab wanted to be deceived, God would give him what he wanted, using a willing fallen angel who worked through willing unfaithful prophets. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". i. a. Like Jehu told Jehoshaphat about his seeking an alliance with Ahab, he should not love those who hate the Lord. He was not satisfied with what God had given him, but was longing for something else among the nations around him. 11 Amariah the High Priest will have final authority in all religious cases, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, governor of Judah, will have final authority in all civil cases. Joel 3:2: I will gatherall nationsand bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Today we begin looking at the story of Jehoshaphat. He said that not only would Israel be defeated, but also that their leader (shepherd) would perish. Recognized as perhaps the best king that the southern kingdom of Judah ever had, King Jehoshaphat did right in the sight of God with his intense desire to pursue God in his leadership. 28-29). God will give you victory., 6 But Jehoshaphat asked, Isn't there another prophet through whom we can consult the Lord?, 7 Ahab answered, There is one more, Micaiah son of Imlah. He made his son, Jehoram, marry Ahab's daughter. Go up, for God will deliver it into the kings hand: When Ahab gathered the prophets, they were not faithful prophets of the LORD. 18:1 Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected. This he construed into personal hatred. He improved the military and financial prowess of the southern kingdom. Ahab goes to war against Aram despite Micaiah's prediction. If there's one mistake Jehoshaphat made, it's the time he decided to ally himself with King Ahab of Israel, the devious Jezebel's husband. ii. The King of Syria had instructed his men that the Jehoshaphat established a very strong nation under him. . He used horns of iron to illustrate the thrust of two powerful forces, armies that would rout the Syrians. This king did great things in the name of the Lord, and yet, we dont christen any children after this king from the kingdom of Judah. Jehoshaphat and Ahab. The Bible presents to us various rulers and persons of authority, and all of them serve as examples of what Godly and ungodly leadership produces. He appointed judges that would hear cases among the people. Micaiah who always prophesies bad things about Ahab. The woman he married his son to King Ahabs daughter later, after Jehoshaphat died, killed off the line of David. But he did not do all that he should have, as he did not remove all the high places from Judah (2 Chronicles 20:33). God, however, made it very clear that He was with Elijah, and that He would protect him from the king's evil devices (2:10-15). Yet so it was. (Morgan), ii. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Jehoshaphat solidified peace between Israel and Judah. The people enjoyed a great measure of prosperity and the blessing of God under Jehoshaphat. The phrase bread of affliction and water of affliction may be translated bread and water of scant measure. (Dilday), c. If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me: The prophet Micaiah made one final and ultimate appeal. Sunday (2 Chronicles 18-23) Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab. He cried out to the LORD and was rescued when they turned back from pursuing him. Ahab will dress like a common soldier and Jehoshaphat will wear the robes of a king into battle so that Ahab won't be attacked. King Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, reigned for 25 years once he took the throne at the age of 35. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scatteredmy people among the nationsand divided up my land., Joel 3:12 Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judgeall the nations on every side.. 31 So when they saw King Jehoshaphat, they all thought that he was the king of Israel, and they turned to attack him. He allied with Ahab's house by marrying his son (Jehoram) to Ahab's daughter (Athaliah) (18:1). 10 Whenever your fellow citizens from any of the cities bring before you a case of homicide or any other violation of a law or commandment, you must instruct them carefully how to conduct themselves during the trial, so that they do not become guilty of sinning against the Lord. A victorious military leader, He was honored and made wealthy from tribute. Jehoshaphat in the Bible was the fourth king of Judah. No matter how powerful and persuasive the presentation, their message was unfaithful. We need to learn this. Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil? Jehu says, Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? 19:2. Jehoshaphat established for his kingdom a very strong fighting force, reaching astounding numbers of fighting men. We have different frameworks and directions to our lives. 46 views, 7 likes, 0 loves, 3 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Eubank Church of Christ: The Minor Prophets (22) 18 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a . Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement. And Micaiah said, As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak. Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain? And he said, Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand! So the king said to him, How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?. He had a total of more than 1.1 million fighting men in his core force, in addition to those he had placed in different areas (see 2 Chronicles 17:14-19). 1) Jehoshaphat the faithful. Jehoshaphat was a powerful, prosperous king ( 2 Chr. He left Jerusalem, his proper responsibilities as Gods regent and went to be with Ahab. Yet he was willing to listen to the king of Judah when he advised that Ahab should listen to the prophet Micaiah. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Article Images Copyright , Lessons From the Bible Story of King Jehoshaphat. Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. b. The ruse fails, in the end. The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.. a. Sat each on his throne, and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria: This illustrates the ancient custom of holding court and making decisions at the gates of the city. Asa also did what was right in God's eyes and led Judah in a series of religious reforms. a. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing: King Ahab and others at the court found it hard to explain how one prophet could be right and 400 prophets could be wrong. Only by divine intervention was one saved 2 Chronicles 22:10-12. b. He is Micaiah the son of Imla. And sure enough, the enemy all came after Jehoshaphat thinking he was Ahab and he barely escaped death. b. As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak: The assistant of King Ahab tried to persuade Micaiah to speak in agreement with the 400 other prophets. That brought further stability to his kingdom. He blew a trumpet as they carried the ark of God toward the city. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Jehoshaphat immediately agreed to go, but asked that they first inquire of the Lord. Israel and Judah had not been on good terms with each other in the years following their divide. We will join you. 4 Then he added, But first let's consult the Lord., 5 So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them, Should I go and attack Ramoth, or not?, Attack it, they answered. He tried to persuade Jehoshaphat to join him in attacking the city of Ramoth in Gilead. But their joint ventures would not prosper, since God does not generally bless such dealings (compare 2 Chronicles 20:35-37). He was 35 years old when he sat as king and reigned for 25 years until his death at age 60. ii. Theologians have squabbled over this issue for centuries, and since the passage in Joel is prophetic in nature, we cant definitely say we know what it means. (see 2 Chronicles 19). So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. Although Jehoshaphat didnt die from the friendship, he made a massive mistake by trusting the wrong person. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. c. I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil: Ahab hated the messenger because of the message. i. battle. We know of many good kings of Israel because we name our children after them: David, Josiah, Jedidiah (Solomon). . He seeks after Gods own heart throughout his reign. (NIV). i. https://www.learnreligions.com/jehoshaphat-king-of-judah-4114131 (accessed May 1, 2023). Here is the Bible's explanation: "for the daughter of Ahab was his wife" (2 Kings 8:18). Will the actions of orthodox Anglicans be as strong as their words post-Kigali? 2 Chronicles 18:1-3 "Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab." IT WAS THIS ALLIANCE That got Jehoshaphat into a battle that nearly got him . Not even his vast army is a match for the joint forces of the invaders. God's people needed three days to carry off the plunder. God straight up used that man for His own Glory. 2 A number of years later Jehoshaphat went to the city of Samaria to visit Ahab. After Jehus rebuke, Jehoshaphat got back on track. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. a. THEN he made another disastrous treaty with wicked King Ahaziah which resulted in all their ships wrecked. (1 Chronicles 17: 1-6, 10) However, although he could have relied totally on God to protect him, Jehoshaphat allied himself with the evil king of Israel, Ahab. We are first introduced to him in 1 Kings 15:24 but are told nothing more than that he succeeded Asa. Despite the riches, fame, and military might that he possessed, Jehoshaphat had a humble heart that kept inquiring of the Lord for any detail of his life and that's what makes him a really great king (see 2 Chronicles 17:3-6). i. Trapp described this gathering of prophets as, An ecumenical council.. Thats old? Indeed, in ancient times, life expectancies didnt really exceed much beyond the age of 50. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Such arranged dynastic marriages were quite common in those days. We should not love the world. Handling problems in Christian relationships, Letters to the Seven Churches in Revelation, Paul to the Thessalonians. How many times do I have to tell you that?, 16 Micaiah answered, I can see the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. Jehoram did evil in God's sight, but not to the extent that his father Ahab had, as he did put away his father's sacred pillar of Baal (verses 2-3). Ahab's treatment of Micaiah (vv. God gave the evil spirit permission to entice Ahab, and the evil spirit . It is possible that this was just a parable, but it is more likely that Micaiah had an accurate prophetic glimpse into the heavenly drama behind these events. Thankfully, Jehoshaphat repented and returned to his true love: God. The Hebrew that underlies the phrase rendered a spirit (came forward) reads literally, the (well-known) spirit, i.e., Satan the tempter (as in Job 1:6-12). Jehoshaphat did not carry a rebuke in his heart toward the wrong that was in Ahab, a man who had sold himself to do evil in the sight of God. . A more apparent weakness of Jehoshaphat can be seen in the compromising nature of his allying himself with evil rulers, a fault that became evident again near the end of his life when he allied himself with Israel's wicked King Ahaziah, son of Ahab (1 Kings 22:51-53). All rights reserved. Wait a minute! Jeremiah 27-28), based on this occasion on the horns as a symbol of strength. (Selman). 43 Jehoshaphat was a At first, the alliance worked, but Ahab drew Jehoshaphat into a war that was against God's will. Ramoth Gilead belonged to Israel by the word of God but Ahab was out of the will of God. 41 Jehoshaphat son of Asa began to rule over Judah in the fourth year of King Ahab's reign in Israel. Jehosaphat being a spiritual man wanted to know the will of God, concerning their going to Ramoth Gilead. This might have daunted the good prophet, but that he had lately seen the Lord sitting upon His throne with all the host of heaven standing by Him, and hence he so boldly looked in the face these two kings in their majesty; for he beheld them as so many mice. (Trapp). After all it was 400 to 1! A number of priests move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, including another Jehoshaphat. Be courageous and carry out these instructions, and may the Lord be on the side of the right!, Good News Translation (Todays English Version, Second Edition). Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand! Scripture tells us to exercise discernment, especially with those in whom we place our trust. An Unholy Alliance. Joining Forces with Ahab - CRIES from among US! An enormous army of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites gathered at En Gedi, near the Dead Sea. Jehoshaphat gave his son in marriage to Ahab's daughter. To solidify devotion to God, Jehoshaphat sent prophets, priests, and Levites throughout the country to teach people God's laws. He said, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.". Instead, Jehoshaphat removes places of worship to foreign gods such as Asherah poles, and he fortifies Israels defenses against their enemies. They go to battle, but Ahab tries to be deceitful. Who had not rather be a Micaiah in the jail than Ahab in the chariot? This must have been a vivid and entertaining presentation. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Turn around and pull out of the battle! 34 While the battle raged on, King Ahab remained propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians. On His right hand and His left: Since the right hand was the place of favor, this may indicate that God spoke to the combined host of heaven, both faithful and fallen angelic beings. When Jehoshaphat arrived in Samaria, Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to join with him in battle against Ramoth Gilead. And persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead: Previously, the king of Syria promised to return certain cities to Israel (1 Kings 20:34) in exchange for leniency after defeat in battle. 2 Chronicles 17:1. b. So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. Only through the intervention of God did Jehoshaphat escape. Registered in England and Wales 5090917, Christian Today, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN, God is on the move in the broken Anglican Communion, Church of England bishops urged 'to step back from the brink' on same-sex blessings, Lessons for today from the Salem Witch Trials. There is a well-intentioned but mistaken teaching that God can allow no evil in His presence, meaning that Satan and other fallen angels could not be in His presence. Ahab, the father of the daughter, attempts to draw king Jehoshaphat into a war that God does not approve of. Jehoshaphat stumbles as well. a. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Yet in chapter 18, we find that Jehoshaphat enters into a partnership with him. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. a. Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance: Because of his personal godliness (2 Chronicles 17:1-4) and public godliness (2 Chronicles 17:7-10), God blessed Jehoshaphat and exalted him among neighboring nations. After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria 18:2. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . robert stroud obituary, bm and sw color exchange chart,
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