2 Chronicles 17 to 21
This king of Judah had a long hard name, Je-hosh-a-phat, but there is much of interest to learn of him, for he honored the Lord and ruled many years. He sent men with a copy of the words of God which had been given to Moses, to all the cities to read and to teach them to the people. This was a great work, for the people then did not have a copy of God’s words in their homes as we have, and all could not go often to the temple at Jerusalem.
Men were also chosen to help the people judge all matters, and the king told them to do the work faithfully. The Lord blessed all this work, and the people built cities and became a strong, rich nation.
After a time some armies came in the border of their land, south of Jerusalem. When the king and people heard of this, they came to the temple to ask help of God,—there were men, women, boys, girls and little ones who all stood there and listened while the king earnestly prayed to God to help them.
God told a man who was one of the singers to say to them not to be afraid.... of the great army, but for the men to go to them the next day. He said,
“Ye shall not need to fight....stand ye still and see the salvation of God.”
Early in the morning the king and the men started for the place, but soldiers with spears and swords, did not lead the way, but men singing the praises of God. When they reached the place and sang, the fierce men began to fight among themselves, and killed one another.
So it was true as God said, the men of Judah did not fight. They stood together and thanked Him for saving them, and returned to the temple singing, and praising Him with trumpets and music of harps. After that the nations around feared to come against the men of Judah. But this good king made one sad mistake: he visited, and made friends with the wicked king Ahab, of Israel, who served idols instead of the true God. Ahab made feasts for Jehoshaphat and those with him, only because he wanted his help in war. They went to battle, although warned against it by a man of God. Jehoshphat was saved, and returned home. Then God sent a man to meet him ad say,
“Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?”
The king seemed sorry for joining with Ahab, but he later joined with Ahab’s evil sons for battle and to build ships, which God could not bless.
When this good king died, his son became king, and did great evils. His wife was of the wicked family of Ahab, serving idols, and would not honor the Lord. Their son, the next king, had learned only evil from them, yet must have sometimes heard God’s words from a prophet, or in the temple, but he did not change and was soon killed.
Perhaps Ahab and his family seemed very pleasant, but those who refuse it, honor the Lord always lead others to sin, although in our land, they do not have idols made of gold and silver.
ML 08/27/1939