Although God protects Jehoshaphat, the king should not have made this friendship in the first place. 2 A prophet, Jehu son of Hanani, went to meet the king and said to him, Do you think it is right to help those who are wicked and to take the side of those who hate the Lord? 2 Chronicles 18 tells the story of an unlikely partnership: Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah, and Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, joined together to make war against Syria.Before going to battle, Jehoshaphat was intent on asking God's will. C. We can be certain that every eye was on Zedekiah when he used the horns of iron to powerfully illustrate the point. First, Jehoshaphat just went and visited Ahab. 18:1 Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected. Jehoshaphat believed prayer is a Rapid Response. (NIV). Jehoshaphat came onto the scene after this. The prayer was answered. He led the people to be faithful as well (like his father Asa). During most of Jehoshaphat's reign, Ahab was ruling Israel. Ahab wanted Micaiah imprisoned and deprived (feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction). Jehoshaphat's Compromise, 2 Chr 17-20 - Bible Believers Baptist Church Jehoshaphat was an ancient king, but he is not so different than us, for we do similar things in our lives. The way people who live righteously think is as different from those who disregard God's laws as day is from night (compare 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Zedekiah had the agreement of 400 other prophets (all the prophets prophesied so). If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Bible Reading Plans - Bible in 90 Days - NIV - April 27, 2023 Since he knew his words were true, it was fitting for him to cry out as they dragged him back to prison, Take heed, all you people!. An Unholy Alliance. So Ahab brings out . Christian family to appeal after court dismisses school Pride parade complaint, British public don't want a secular coronation, poll finds, Relic of crucifixion cross to be used in King Charles' coronation, Challenged by the faith of those who suffer. b. He used horns of iron to illustrate the thrust of two powerful forces, armies that would rout the Syrians. Week 39. 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). 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.. Jehoshaphat established for his kingdom a very strong fighting force, reaching astounding numbers of fighting men. He builds many forts and attempts to help the kingdom prosper in a financial sense. . After that, they began to align with Ahab uncritically. In general, Christians can't work effectively in close relationships with unbelieversin godly peace and harmonyany more than mismatched animals can make a useful plowing team for a farmer. He concluded with a foot disease instead of a bang on the throne. Ahab, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel, was an evil king who, through the influence of his wife Jezebel, spread pagan practices and Baal worship. Ahab did so because he hated God and his ways. Jehoshaphat, though a brilliant king, fell down in all three, not only allying himself with Ahab, but also with his two sons. He thought this would help protect him against Micaiahs prophecy of doom. The people enjoyed a great measure of prosperity and the blessing of God under Jehoshaphat. 2 Chronicles 20:35 Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance 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). We should not make partnerships with the world. Ahab got King Jehoshaphat of Judah to ally himself with him in war against Ramoth-gilead then held by the Syrians. The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, clothed in their robes, sat each on his throne; and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. His wife was Jezebel, the infamous queen. 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. We are first introduced to him in 1 Kings 15:24 but are told nothing more than that he succeeded Asa. Jehoshaphat immediately agreed to go, but asked that they first inquire of the Lord. Three years later, Aram had failed to return the cities that Ben-hadad promised and so Ahab decides to go and take them for himself. Please inquire for the word of the LORD today: Considering the generally adversarial relationship between Ahab and the prophets of Yahweh, this was a bold request of Jehoshaphat to ask of Ahab. 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. Jehoshaphat's Big Mistake - Israel My Glory He sometimes followed the world's ways, such as making alliances with questionable neighbors. 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. After Jehus rebuke, Jehoshaphat got back on track. This is the same word that I Chronicles 21:1 says about Satan enticing David to sin by means of the census. No-one did more to educate the people of God than this man and that's why he's often known as Judah's great teacher, or Judah's teacher-king. Only through the intervention of God did Jehoshaphat escape. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. He died at 60? And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.". Perhaps he was either not very smart or he had very great faith. Carmel, and he killed all the prophets of Baal. Luke 2:40-52, How to overcome evil with good. He prioritized the worship of Yahweh, the true God of Israel. 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. Ahab is basically threatening God here with consequences. Apparently Micaiah seems to assume among his hearers a working knowledge of the Book of Job. (Payne), ii. He became one of the country's most successful rulers for one simple reason: He followed the commands of God. Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel. So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel! Therefore they surrounded him to attack; but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God diverted them from him. The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.. He walked in Gods ways The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. . 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?. Thus says the LORD: These unfaithful prophets (such as Zedekiah) prophesied in the name of the LORD, but they did not prophesy truthfully. Jehoshaphat and Ahab. i. God does not want us to enter into binding partnerships with the wicked that could conflict with our commitment to Him and His ways. Jehoshaphat: A Godly Compromiser - Proclaim & Defend Now when Jehoshaphat learned a great army has come against him ( 2 Chronicles 20:1-2 ), he immediately realized three things. They prophesied favorably, saying: "Go up, and Jehovah will give it into the king's hand." A. To honor Jehoshaphat and those with him, Ahab had a large number of sheep and cattle slaughtered for a feast. 18 Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab's daughter. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. The LORD said to him, In what way? So he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so. Therefore look! Answer (1 of 3): The tone of the book, especially in that chapter, shows Jehoshapat as a humble man who obeys God, and Ahab as a reckless man who does only as he thinks right, without thinking of anything but what he means to do.

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