All of Jehoshaphats male children and grandchildren were killed save one. First, Jehoshaphat allied himself with Ahab by taking Ahab's daughter . He sometimes followed the world's ways, such as making alliances with questionable neighbors. The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, clothed in their robes, sat each on his throne; and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. King Jehoshaphat led a mostly prosperous life. Without God's help, we can do nothing worthwhile. Ahab, the father of the daughter, attempts to draw king Jehoshaphat into a war that God does not approve of. King Jehoshaphat instituted another round of reforms . More importantly, he undid the pagan rituals and monuments other kings who came before him had practiced and worshipped. Who Was Isaiah & Why Was He Important? As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak: The assistant of King Ahab tried to persuade Micaiah to speak in agreement with the 400 other prophets. The prayer was answered. He ruled for 25 years. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Romans 1-8: Word Biblical Commentary [WBC] Retail: $52.99. He is Micaiah the son of Imla. Ahab did so because he hated God and his ways. . Jehoshaphat did so because he did not want to offend Ahab. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. 1 Kings 22:29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. Asa, his father, followed in the footsteps of God until the end of his reign. During Jehoram's reign, Edom successfully revolted against Judah (2 Kings 8:20-22; 2 Chronicles 21:8-10). Putting anything ahead of God is idolatry. He concluded with a foot disease instead of a bang on the throne. Sunday (2 Chronicles 18-23) Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab. This must have been a vivid and entertaining presentation. ii. They butchered great numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the feast. We will look at this briefly to set the stage. d. The king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot, facing the Syrians until evening: Ahab faced the end of his life bravely, dying proppedup in his chariot to inspire his troops. He required these judges to be just, impartial, and take no bribes, for they "do not judge according to man but the Lord" (see 2 Chronicles 19:4-10). I mean here, serious, committed relationships with unbelievers dating, marriage, business whatever. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. These are but some of Jehoshaphat's achievements. Paul says about this, Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. i. Ahab is basically threatening God here with consequences. 2 A prophet, Jehu son of Hanani, went to meet the king and said to him, Do you think it is right to help those who are wicked and to take the side of those who hate the Lord? So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead? And he answered him, I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.. 1 Thessalonians, Dangerous Partnerships: The story of Jehoshaphat & Ahab. Jehoshaphat established for his kingdom a very strong fighting force, reaching astounding numbers of fighting men. He blew a trumpet as they carried the ark of God toward the city. Believers and unbelievers have different values and commitments. . He said that not only would Israel be defeated, but also that their leader (shepherd) would perish. Ahab determined that he should take the city of Ramoth-Gilead back from the Syrians. 31 So when they saw King Jehoshaphat, they all thought that he was the king of Israel, and they turned to attack him. This was in fulfillment of what Isaac foretold many centuries before (Genesis 27:39,40). All rights reserved. Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek: Zedekiah responded the way some do when they are defeated in an argument he responded with violence. And then we have one of the most interesting stories in the Bible, which we cant get into in detail, but with regard to our focus . Jehoshaphat himself stepped before the congregated crowd and fervently implored Gd for help in this hour of distress, for the sake of His own glory and the salvation of His people. Ahab, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel, was an evil king who, through the influence of his wife Jezebel, spread pagan practices and Baal worship. . Last week I said Jehoshaphat was Ahab's son-in-law, that is wrong. Probably this man already had shot many arrows, and he went on in his simplicity, little knowing that this particular arrow was to be guided through all the confusion straight to its mark by the unerring knowledge and power of God. After all, bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). "Who Is Jehoshaphat in the Bible?" Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. After that, they began to align with Ahab uncritically. He attempted to have Elijah arrested (2 Kings 1:9). Jehoshaphat then asked if there was not a prophet of the Lord to . According to 1 Kings 16:30, 33, Ahab was worse than all of the kings of Israel that . Answer (1 of 3): The tone of the book, especially in that chapter, shows Jehoshapat as a humble man who obeys God, and Ahab as a reckless man who does only as he thinks right, without thinking of anything but what he means to do. I got my facts mixed up. He was buried at age 60 in the City of David in Jerusalem. We can be certain that every eye was on Zedekiah when he used the horns of iron to powerfully illustrate the point. The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.. Only through the intervention of God did Jehoshaphat escape. a. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. An enormous army of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites gathered at En Gedi, near the Dead Sea. Lets begin by getting oriented. Just as Jehoshaphat allied himself with a wicked king. Unsurprisingly, Ahab throws Micaiah in prison on bread and water rations. . So Ahab summoned about 400 prophets to his court. We need to learn this. Romans 12:19-21, A true test of character: How you treat those weaker than you, Come to Jesus and find rest. He was a weak man, the tool of a crafty, unscrupulous, and cruel woman: and some of the worst crimes that have ever been committed have been wrought by weak men, at the instigation of worse but stronger spirits than themselves. (Meyer), After some years he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria; and Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead. Ahab knew in his heart that Micaiah would not fear or flatter him, but only declare the word of Jehovah. Ahab. 3. But Jehoshaphat gave a shout, and the Lord God rescued him and turned the attack away from him. b. We will see what we can learn from this. 1. The Bible doesnt really say, but we can assume he died of old age. Jehoshaphat in the Bible was the fourth king of Judah. We will join you. 4 Then he added, But first let's consult the Lord., 5 So Ahab called in the prophets, about four hundred of them, and asked them, Should I go and attack Ramoth, or not?, Attack it, they answered. In this article, well explore the life of Jehoshaphat (the good and the bad), well lightly touch on a place known as the valley of Jehoshaphat, and discuss what lessons we can learn from the fourth monarch from the kingdom of Judah. 28-29). He walked in God's ways - "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. Well quote each of the verses below. He not only considered it . He has Jehoshaphat dress like the king, while Ahab disguised himself. (He) sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.". LICENSEE shall reproduce the following trademark and trademark notice on the copyright page of each copy of the Licensed Products: Read the surrounding text of 2 Chronicles 18:1-19:11. 4-5 - Jehoshaphat agrees to go, BUT he has a request first. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Article Images Copyright , Lessons From the Bible Story of King Jehoshaphat. Using traveling teachers, he educated the people on God's laws. He seeks after Gods own heart throughout his reign. 1) Jehoshaphat the faithful. Although Jehoshaphat didnt die from the friendship, he made a massive mistake by trusting the wrong person. He drove out the male cult prostitutes and destroyed the Asherah poles where the people had worshiped false gods. (1 Chronicles 17: 1-6, 10) However, although he could have relied totally on God to protect him, Jehoshaphat allied himself with the evil king of Israel, Ahab. Jehoshaphat in the Bible was the fourth king of Judah. When Jehoshaphat arrived in Samaria, Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to join with him in battle against Ramoth Gilead. Jesus stays behind in the temple. We are first introduced to him in 1 Kings 15:24 but are told nothing more than that he succeeded Asa. As a consequence, God sent the prophet Elijah to the king and informed him that he would not be healed (2 Kings 1:1-6, 15-17). Jehoshaphat stumbles as well. a. Handling problems in Christian relationships, Letters to the Seven Churches in Revelation, Paul to the Thessalonians. Some other examples include a recorder for both king David and Solomon (2 Samuel 8:16) and a purveyor for Solomon (1 Kings 4:17). Since Ahab wanted to be deceived, God would give him what he wanted, using a willing fallen angel who worked through willing unfaithful prophets. It is less easy to understand why King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to this battle with Ahab. 1 Kings 16:29-33 tells us just how bad Ahab was. To honor his ally's request, Ahab had Micaiah brought to the court. And now what joy could Ahabs black soul, ready to depart, have of his ivory house? Chapter 22. Then Ahab persuades Jehoshaphat to go into battle dressed in his royal robes, whilst Ahab disguises himself so he cannot be recognised in battle (vv. Ramoth Gilead belonged to Israel by the word of God but Ahab was out of the will of God. 2 A few years later he went to Samaria to visit Ahab, who prepared a great banquet for him and his officials. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. c. With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed: Zedekiah used a familiar tool of ancient prophets the object lesson. Pingback: Joining Forces with Ahab - CRIES from among US! When Micaiah said this, his tone was probably mocking and sarcastic. But the one we want to focus on today reigns a little after the time of Solomon and David, long after the kingdom splits into two. Jehoshaphat made some poor choices but he did have a heart for the Lord and "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (20:31.) Hatred of the messenger of God is clear evidence of willful wickedness. (Morgan), Then Micaiah said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left. Jehoram did evil in God's sight, but not to the extent that his father Ahab had, as he did put away his father's sacred pillar of Baal (verses 2-3). He cried out to the LORD and was rescued when they turned back from pursuing him. Because this king had God's interests at heart, for the most part, his reign was prosperous. i. Instead, Jehoshaphat removes places of worship to foreign gods such as Asherah poles, and he fortifies Israels defenses against their enemies. Jehoshaphat was a powerful, prosperous king ( 2 Chr. When Jehoshaphat took over the throne, he quickly established himself as a righteous ruler who feared the Lord. God gave the evil spirit permission to entice Ahab, and the evil spirit . For so it was, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. Jehoshaphat goes forward with the plan. d. I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets: Apparently, one of the fallen angels volunteered for this task. b. I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes: Going into the battle, Ahab did not want to be identified as a king and therefore be a special target. A Divine message reached the king and people through Jehaziel, a Levite, upon whom the spirit of Gd had descended. . And so we can learn from him. So Jehoshaphat fortified his borders and increased his troops (vv. Our Price: $5.99. To pry into the future King Ahab religiously consulted his false prophets, about four hundred of them. The Levites have the responsibility of seeing that the decisions of the courts are carried out. After all, the dangerous one he made almost got him killed. Answer. He makes a bad alliance by marrying his son to the wicked king of Israels daughter. After King Ahaziah's death (1:18), his brother Jehoram (called Joram in 8:25), another son of evil King Ahab, became king over Israel since Ahaziah himself had no son (1:17; 3:1). Learn Religions. He went out with Ahab in battle, and was rebuked by Jehu the son of Hanani. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. b. To honor Jehoshaphat and those with him, Ahab had a large number of sheep and cattle slaughtered for a feast. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. Of course, there may be some business arrangements where such matters would never be at issue. Three years later they were willing to prophesy lies to Ahab if that was what he wanted to hear. But he himself has decreed that you will meet with disaster!, 23 Then the prophet Zedekiah went up to Micaiah, slapped his face, and asked, Since when did the Lord's spirit leave me and speak to you?. That brought further stability to his kingdom. The King of Syria had instructed his men that the
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