Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat. strengthened himself against Israel, and placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, that Asa his father had taken.
This was an excellent beginning, but it is not enough to begin well; it is even more important to go on well, and to finish well. Jehoshaphat, nevertheless, was blessed of God on account of his early faithfulness, as Asa had been. God is never in the debt of His people; they are always His debtors!
As to Jehoshaphat, we learn that he walked in the first ways of his father 'David, and sought not unto the Baals—the idols from which the land was never free-but he sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. This commendable course resulted in the kingdom's being established in his hand, all Judah gave gifts to him, and he had riches and honor in abundance.
Encouraged, and recognizing the favor of God in what had befallen him, Jehoshaphat went on in the ways of God, and he removed the high places and "groves" (Asherahs) out of Judah-traces of idolatry which Asa had allowed to remain, (see chapter 15:17).
In the third year of his reign, he sent his princes to teach in the cities of Judah, and with them Levites and priests, and they went about through all the cities and taught, having the book of the law of the Lord with them,—the same Word of God that is ours today,—the books of Moses. This meant strength for those who would learn humbly from God's Word, and so it was that the terror of the Lord was upon all the kingdoms of the land that were round about Judah, and they made no war upon the country and its godly king. (Dependence upon God's Word brings strength to all who make it their own). Some of the Philistines and Arabians even brought Jehoshaphat gifts.
The seventeenth chapter presents a happy picture; in it, all is well; peace and prosperity were in evidence; at the same time there was a preparedness for war, for enemies were all around.
Of one of the military leaders, Amasiah, the Holy Spirit Who is the true Author of the Scriptures, has told us that he "willingly offered himself unto the Lord" (verse 16).
O, nothing escapes the All-seeing eyes of the Lord, that is truly done for Him, or will miss His commendation in the day that is fast approaching. Would that more of the Lord's people were exercised about a larger measure of devotedness to Him!