Our readers will know that Jehoshaphat was king of Judah at the same time that “Ahab, the son of Omri,” was king over Israel. When David and Solomon reigned, “Israel” included the twelve tribes. After Solomon’s death, the kingdom came to Rehoboam, his son.
The young reader will remember that “all the congregation” of Israel came to Rehoboam and complained that Solomon had made their “yoke grievous”; they desired a more gentle rule. So the “old men” of experience were consulted; the young men Also were asked to give counsel. The advice of the aged men was to act tenderly, and with consideration towards the people, adding that if the king acted in this manner “they will be thy servants forever” (1 Kings, 12:7). This advice was good. On the other hand, the young men advised Rehoboam to say to the people, “My father chastised you with whips; but I will chastise you with scorpions,” a cruel instrument of punishment, a long and heavy scourge armed with numerous knots and with spikes of metal. As people grow older they generally become kinder and more thoughtful for the sorrows and afflictions of others.
“Speak gently, it is better far
To rule by love than fear”;
And we have read that “you do not alienate men by allowing them opportunities of improving their condition, and a slack chain is less easily broken than a tight one.” Well, Rehoboam drew the chain so tightly that it broke. In other words, the people revolted. “So Israel rebelled against the house of David, unto this day.” It was only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin that clung to Rehoboam; the ten tribes, now called “all Israel,” made “Jeroboam, the son of Nebat,” their king.
Accordingly from this time, we read of kings of Israel and of kings of Judah, and of these kings on both sides, some were good and others were bad kings.
Among the kings of Israel you will remember Ahab, the son of Omri, of whom it is said that “he did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.” While of Jehoshaphat, who reigned over Judah at the same time it is written, “And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the ways of his father David.” As Israel was going on badly, Jehoshaphat strengthened himself against them. In those days riches were a sign of the favor of the Lord, but it does not follow that those so favored made a right use of the riches with which they were entrusted. It is to be noticed that Jehoshaphat’s having “riches and honor in abundance” is connected with his joining “affinity with Ahab,” and we shall see what trouble this affinity or fellowship brought him into, though he did not get into trouble all at once. People seldom do. “After certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria” (2 Chron. 18:11Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. (2 Chronicles 18:1).)
In the fable of the owl and the moth, the latter inquired of the owl how she should act with regard to the candle which had singed her wings; the owl counseled the moth to keep away from the candle, saying, “Don’t so much as look at the smoke.” You scarcely know where the first wrong step in bad company will lead you, but certainly it will lead you away from God, and from happiness. Ahab was evidently very much pleased to get Jehoshaphat down to Samaria, and as people say, he made a good deal of him. Young reader, be careful of those who would make a good deal of you, for when this is the case we are inclined to make a great deal of ourselves, and Satan then often entraps those who are filled with self-importance. Would you not rather be like the violet than the showy poppy? It was easy enough for poor Jehoshaphat to be “persuaded” to go up with the wicked King Ahab to Ramoth Gilead, after being so feasted and feted. And now, he who had strengthened himself against Israel and refused to walk in their godless ways, says to one of their wickedest kings, “I am as thou art, and my people as thy people, and we will go with thee in the war.”
This was just what Ahab wanted. Ahab may have said something like this, “Now you are what I call large-minded and liberal, not like those narrow-minded people who will not join with one in well-intentioned schemes.” Yet, however Ahab might flatter, Jehoshaphat was far from feeling comfortable. He had been in the habit of seeking the Lord’s mind before engaging in any enterprise. “Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord today. It was serious that Jehoshaphat had not done this before he went down to see Ahab. Let us learn to do the right thing at the right time. How many mistakes in life are made because young people do not inquire “at the word of the Lord” first, but perhaps think of it when too late. Of Ahab’s four hundred false prophets we hope to speak another time.
(To be Continued.)