2CO 17-20
Mamma. The first thing that is told us of Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, is that he strengthened himself against Israel, and he was blessed for this.
Sophy. Why was it right for him to do so?
M. Because they were his relations, and therefore his most dangerous enemies, as we shall see, No people do us so much harm as those who profess the Lord's name, but who do not walk in holiness. Jehoshaphat, in the first freshness of his zeal for the Lord, treated every one as an enemy who was careless about the Lord's honor. The Lord blessed him for this, and made him to prosper in his kingdom, "For he that honoureth me I will honor, saith the Lord." But alas, when Jehoshaphat got riches and honors in abundance he joined affinity with Ahab, king of Israel. Now Ahab was a very wicked king, but he was glad to have the friendship of the king of Judah—he knew that Jehoshaphat was rich and powerful, and that the Lord was with him.
S. Why did Ahab like his friendship?
M. Because he thought he would gain something by it. A wicked man often likes a good man to join with him in things, and flatters him as Ahab did, by making a feast in his honor. But it always ends in the man of God coming down to the level of the other, and saying, like Jehoshaphat, I am as thou art.
And now Ahab persuades him to go to war with him. Jehoshaphat promises, but he would like to know the Lord's mind about it. Ahab sends for the prophets, and they all say what the king wishes them to say, "Go up, for “God will deliver it into the king's hand." But Jehoshaphat is not quite happy, though four hundred prophets have said it. He is not quite sure—he feels he is not quite in his right place. Ahab, wishing to please him, sends for another prophet, Micaiah; but Ahab said, I hate him because he always prophesies evil against me. Then the two kings sat on their thrones, with their royal robes on, to hear what the prophets said. The messenger who was sent to Micaiah told him to be sure and say the same as the other prophets had said. At first he did so, but the king begged him to tell the truth in the name of the Lord. Then he said, I have seen Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. Ahab understood what he meant, and he was much displeased, and put the prophet in prison, with only bread and water for food till he should return in peace, Then the two kings went off to battle.
S. Why did the four hundred prophets say what was not true?
M. Micaiah explains how the Lord allowed Satan to deceive the prophets of Ahab, because the Lord had said by Elijah what his end would be.
S. Oh, I remember, Elijah said the dogs should lick his blood in the same place where Naboth was killed.
M. Yes; it was God's judgment for Ahab's cruelty to Naboth, Ahab knew this, so he said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself to look like a common soldier, and you put on your robes. This was cowardly, for he thought they would kill Jehoshaphat in mistake for him. And this very nearly happened, for the king of Syria gave orders that they were to try to kill the king of Israel, and him only. But Jehoshaphat cried out that he was not the king of Israel, and the Lord helped him, and made the soldiers of Syria move off.
S. Jehoshaphat did not deserve to be helped, when he was in a wrong place.
M. True. But grace never fails, and God never turns away from the cry of distress. But the Lord was displeased with His servant, as we shall see. And as for Ahab, a man drew a bow and shot an arrow, not knowing where it would fly to, and it struck Ahab, king of Israel, between the joints of his armor, and wounded him, so that he died, as Micaiah the prophet of God had foretold. Jehoshaphat returned to his house in peace; but Jehu meets him and says, Shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore wrath is upon thee from the Lord.
After this the king set himself to make the Lord honored in his kingdom. He charged the judges and the Levites to do their duty faithfully, and he said, Deal courageously and the Lord shall be with the good.
S. Did the Lord punish him for his unfaithfulness?
M. We are only told that other enemies were allowed to come up against him, so that he was afraid. But he set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast in Judah. And the whole people came together to ask the Lord's help; with their little ones, and their wives, and their children. And Jehoshaphat prayed to the Lord to do for them as He had ever done; and to hear their cry, and help them. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon a Levite, one of the sons of Asaph, and he said: Be not afraid nor dismayed, for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow go down against them, for the Lord will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head, and all the people worshipped the Lord.
S. They believed what the Levite said?
M. Oh, yes; and the Levites and the sons of Kohath stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. Next morning, they went out early to battle, as the Lord had said. But Jehoshaphat stood still and addressed his army first; and what do you think he said to them? He did not say, as Joshua did, Quit you like men, be strong, or fight bravely. But he said, Believe in the Lord your God. Then he appointed singers to the Lord, that should praise the beauty of holiness; and say, Praise the Lord; for His mercy endureth forever. When they began to sing and to praise, the Lord fought for them and made their enemies fall upon one another, so that when they went up to the watch tower to look out, the enemies of Judah were all lying dead on the ground. They took three days to gather the spoil, it was so much; for riches and precious stones were left upon the battle field. On the fourth day they met to gether to bless the Lord, and they palled the valley where they met Herachah, which means, Blessing.
Then they returned to Jerusalem with joy, Jehoshaphat taking the lead; Because the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies. They came with psalteries and harps and trumpets to the house of the Lord. And the fear of God was on all those countries when they heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. So God gave Jehoshaphat rest round about.
Though Jehoshaphat did so Much that was right, he failed a second time in the same way, for he joined himself with another king of Israel to make ships to go to other countries. But the Lord sent him a message, that because he had done this the Lord had broken his works. And his ships were broken, so that they were not able to go.
He reigned for twenty-five years, and his son Jehoram succeeded him.