Chapter 178. 2 Chron. 17. Jehoshaphat.
AT the death of Asa, king of Judah, his son, Jehoshaphat, reigned in his stead. He was a good man and sought to serve and honor God. The first thing we are told that he did was to strengthen himself against Israel, from whom he had most to fear. Being of the same people and both bearing the name of the Lord, it would seem that they could not have better neighbors than each other. Such was not the case, however, for Israel, after rebelling against the house of David, whom the Lord had set over them, had so forgotten God that under the rule of wicked Jeroboam down to the still more wicked Ahab, they had bowed down to idols and done as badly as any of the heathen nations around them.
For this reason, in the freshness of his zeal for the Lord, Jehoshaphat looked upon the Israelites as enemies who shamefully dishonored His Lord. The Lord blessed him for this and made him prosper in his kingdom, for “he that honoreth Me, I will honor,” says the Lord. Jehoshaphat became very rich, for God put it in the hearts of all Judah to bring him presents in abundance.
He was anxious that his people should serve the Lord; therefore, after having torn down all the groves and high places where Baal had been worshiped, he sent princes and Levites and priests throughout all his kingdom to teach the people the law of the Lord.
God never forgets to reward faithfulness. Jehoshaphat soon found out what a wonderful Master he was serving. The fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, and nobody dared to make war with him. The Philistines brought him silver for tribute, and the Arabians thousands of sheep and goats. He built cities and castles to store his riches, and fenced cities in which he placed armies of valiant men of war that they might be ready to defend the country in time of need.
How happy was King Jehoshaphat as long as he walked before God and in His fear. Yet not more happy than those who, knowing Jesus as their Saviour, seek to please Him in all they do or say.
ML 05/27/1917