Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? - 2 Corinthians 6:14
Last week we began our discussion on King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He was a good ruler who led the southern kingdom to revere and follow the LORD. His dominion was strong and well respected by the surrounding nations. Unfortunately, he allied himself and his forces with Israel in their campaign to reclaim Ramoth-gilead from the Aramaens. Their alliance was soundly defeated, King Ahab was killed, and Jehoshaphat narrowly escaped with his life.
This week we will learn more details about Jehoshaphat's reign. We will pick up right where we left off last Sunday. Most of the Biblical information about Jehoshaphat is recorded in the book of Chronicles, so for the sake of today’s message we will spend more time there than in the book of Kings (where we normally are).
I. REBUKE & REFORM (2 Chronicles 19)
Following the death of Ahab and their combined army’s failure to retake Ramoth-gilead, Jehoshaphat returned to his palace in Jerusalem. Jehu the prophet went out to meet him. This was the same Jehu who had prophesied against King Baasha of Israel around 30 years earlier (1 Kings 16:7). Jehu rebuked Jehoshaphat for assisting the wicked and idolatrous King Ahab. Still, he did recognize and acknowledge the good things that Jehoshaphat had done.
Perhaps somewhat convicted by his foolish choice to fight alongside Ahab, Jehoshaphat renewed his efforts to reform Judah in its obedience to God. He appointed judges to serve in cities throughout his kingdom who were fair, impartial, upright, and righteous. He also appointed some Levites, priests, and respected household leaders to resolve disputes among the people in Jerusalem. He instructed them to render judgments in the fear of the LORD. In short, he reformed the court system of Judah, placing it under the headship of Amariah, the chief priest, and Zebadiah, the king’s official.
II. INVASION & PRAYER (2 Chronicles 20:1-13)
Up to this point, Judah had been at peace throughout the entirety of Jehoshaphat’s reign. However, in the wake of his defeat against the Aramaens, the traditional enemies of Judah again became emboldened. A large army, made up mostly of soldiers from Moab and Ammon, along with a few others, came up against Judah. Their invading forces camped at En-gedi, an oasis located on the western shore of the Dead Sea.
Jehoshaphat was frightened so he declared a fast throughout Judah and summoned his people to come seek the LORD. He stood before a large assembly who had gathered at the temple in Jerusalem and began to pray. As he did so, Jehoshaphat remembered how God had brought His people out of Egyptian captivity and settled them in the Promised Land. He spoke of how their ancestors had left the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites alone for the most part during those former days and lamented that these nations had now risen up against them. As all of Judah’s families listened intently to his prayer, Jehoshaphat pleaded with God to deliver his powerless kingdom from their enemies’ mighty hands.
III. ASSURANCE & SUCCESS (2 Chronicles 20:14-30)
Then, in the midst of the assembly, the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the prophet. He assured Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah that God would deliver them from the invading multitude. He foretold the path by which the enemy would approach and instructed the army of Judah to meet them for battle. However, Jahaziel prophesied that Judah would not need to fight, but rather simply watch and behold God overthrow the opposition. Upon hearing the message, Jehoshaphat, the Levites, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem joyfully praised and worshiped the LORD.
Early the next morning, the army of Judah went out to meet the approaching adversary. Jehoshaphat encouraged them to trust in the LORD and the word of His prophets. He appointed singers to go before the soldiers singing songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. As soon as they began singing, the multitude of Moabites, Ammonites, and others were overcome with supernatural confusion and began fighting each other
When the men of Judah came near they looked from a distance. They saw that the enemy had completely destroyed itself and slain bodies were scattered across the landscape. It took 3 days for Jehoshaphat and his troops to gather the abundant spoils that were left on the battlefield, including various goods, garments, and valuables.
On the 4th day, Judah’s army assembled in the valley of Beracah and blessed the LORD. Then they returned triumphantly to Jerusalem, singing and playing musical instruments as they came. When word spread of how God had fought for Judah, the surrounding nations were again filled with dread and resumed their previous policy of keeping the peace with Jehoshaphat.
IV. DISPLEASED & DESTROYED (1 Kings 22:47-50; 2 Chronicles 20:31-37)
Sometime later Jehoshaphat engaged in a joint initiative with Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, king of Israel. Together they built a fleet of merchant ships to travel to Tarshish and import gold from Ophir. However, Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahaziah was displeasing to God, just as his alliance with Ahab had been. Eliezer the prophet told him that the LORD would destroy his fleet. Sure enough, for reasons not stated in Scripture, the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.
CONCLUSION
Jehoshaphat was a good, righteous king who initiated and oversaw many reforms in Judah to bring his people closer to God. That said, he seemed to have a tendency to entangle himself in bad alliances. As we read last week, he foolishly joined forces with wicked King Ahab to fight against Aram. After being decimated and barely escaping with his life, Jehoshaphat was rebuked for his poor decision. His reputation of strength was damaged, which may have been a motivation for the invasion of the Moabites and Ammonites which we studied this morning. Though God delivered him, apart from his alliance with Ahab the LORD’s intervention may not have been necessary.
A few years later, seemingly having learned nothing from his previous misstep, Jehoshaphat teamed up with Ahab’s contemptible son Ahaziah to build a merchant fleet of ships, apparently to serve both Judah and Israel. Once again, he was rebuked for his foolishness. God destroyed the ships so that they were rendered unusable and the project was a failure.
These aren’t the only outcomes of Jehoshaphat’s unwise alliances with Ahab and his corrupt family. He allowed his son Jehoram to marry Athaliah, Ahab and Jezebel’s awful daughter. This decision would result in disastrous consequences also, as we will discover in a few weeks.
The Bible teaches us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This command is often applied to marriage, but it is also appropriate in many other circumstances. We should avoid becoming allied, partnered, or contractually bound with evil, ungodly people or groups. Such associations and relationships are a recipe for trouble.
Last week we began our discussion on King Jehoshaphat of Judah. He was a good ruler who led the southern kingdom to revere and follow the LORD. His dominion was strong and well respected by the surrounding nations. Unfortunately, he allied himself and his forces with Israel in their campaign to reclaim Ramoth-gilead from the Aramaens. Their alliance was soundly defeated, King Ahab was killed, and Jehoshaphat narrowly escaped with his life.
This week we will learn more details about Jehoshaphat's reign. We will pick up right where we left off last Sunday. Most of the Biblical information about Jehoshaphat is recorded in the book of Chronicles, so for the sake of today’s message we will spend more time there than in the book of Kings (where we normally are).
I. REBUKE & REFORM (2 Chronicles 19)
Following the death of Ahab and their combined army’s failure to retake Ramoth-gilead, Jehoshaphat returned to his palace in Jerusalem. Jehu the prophet went out to meet him. This was the same Jehu who had prophesied against King Baasha of Israel around 30 years earlier (1 Kings 16:7). Jehu rebuked Jehoshaphat for assisting the wicked and idolatrous King Ahab. Still, he did recognize and acknowledge the good things that Jehoshaphat had done.
Perhaps somewhat convicted by his foolish choice to fight alongside Ahab, Jehoshaphat renewed his efforts to reform Judah in its obedience to God. He appointed judges to serve in cities throughout his kingdom who were fair, impartial, upright, and righteous. He also appointed some Levites, priests, and respected household leaders to resolve disputes among the people in Jerusalem. He instructed them to render judgments in the fear of the LORD. In short, he reformed the court system of Judah, placing it under the headship of Amariah, the chief priest, and Zebadiah, the king’s official.
II. INVASION & PRAYER (2 Chronicles 20:1-13)
Up to this point, Judah had been at peace throughout the entirety of Jehoshaphat’s reign. However, in the wake of his defeat against the Aramaens, the traditional enemies of Judah again became emboldened. A large army, made up mostly of soldiers from Moab and Ammon, along with a few others, came up against Judah. Their invading forces camped at En-gedi, an oasis located on the western shore of the Dead Sea.
Jehoshaphat was frightened so he declared a fast throughout Judah and summoned his people to come seek the LORD. He stood before a large assembly who had gathered at the temple in Jerusalem and began to pray. As he did so, Jehoshaphat remembered how God had brought His people out of Egyptian captivity and settled them in the Promised Land. He spoke of how their ancestors had left the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites alone for the most part during those former days and lamented that these nations had now risen up against them. As all of Judah’s families listened intently to his prayer, Jehoshaphat pleaded with God to deliver his powerless kingdom from their enemies’ mighty hands.
III. ASSURANCE & SUCCESS (2 Chronicles 20:14-30)
Then, in the midst of the assembly, the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the prophet. He assured Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah that God would deliver them from the invading multitude. He foretold the path by which the enemy would approach and instructed the army of Judah to meet them for battle. However, Jahaziel prophesied that Judah would not need to fight, but rather simply watch and behold God overthrow the opposition. Upon hearing the message, Jehoshaphat, the Levites, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem joyfully praised and worshiped the LORD.
Early the next morning, the army of Judah went out to meet the approaching adversary. Jehoshaphat encouraged them to trust in the LORD and the word of His prophets. He appointed singers to go before the soldiers singing songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. As soon as they began singing, the multitude of Moabites, Ammonites, and others were overcome with supernatural confusion and began fighting each other
When the men of Judah came near they looked from a distance. They saw that the enemy had completely destroyed itself and slain bodies were scattered across the landscape. It took 3 days for Jehoshaphat and his troops to gather the abundant spoils that were left on the battlefield, including various goods, garments, and valuables.
On the 4th day, Judah’s army assembled in the valley of Beracah and blessed the LORD. Then they returned triumphantly to Jerusalem, singing and playing musical instruments as they came. When word spread of how God had fought for Judah, the surrounding nations were again filled with dread and resumed their previous policy of keeping the peace with Jehoshaphat.
IV. DISPLEASED & DESTROYED (1 Kings 22:47-50; 2 Chronicles 20:31-37)
Sometime later Jehoshaphat engaged in a joint initiative with Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, king of Israel. Together they built a fleet of merchant ships to travel to Tarshish and import gold from Ophir. However, Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahaziah was displeasing to God, just as his alliance with Ahab had been. Eliezer the prophet told him that the LORD would destroy his fleet. Sure enough, for reasons not stated in Scripture, the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.
CONCLUSION
Jehoshaphat was a good, righteous king who initiated and oversaw many reforms in Judah to bring his people closer to God. That said, he seemed to have a tendency to entangle himself in bad alliances. As we read last week, he foolishly joined forces with wicked King Ahab to fight against Aram. After being decimated and barely escaping with his life, Jehoshaphat was rebuked for his poor decision. His reputation of strength was damaged, which may have been a motivation for the invasion of the Moabites and Ammonites which we studied this morning. Though God delivered him, apart from his alliance with Ahab the LORD’s intervention may not have been necessary.
A few years later, seemingly having learned nothing from his previous misstep, Jehoshaphat teamed up with Ahab’s contemptible son Ahaziah to build a merchant fleet of ships, apparently to serve both Judah and Israel. Once again, he was rebuked for his foolishness. God destroyed the ships so that they were rendered unusable and the project was a failure.
These aren’t the only outcomes of Jehoshaphat’s unwise alliances with Ahab and his corrupt family. He allowed his son Jehoram to marry Athaliah, Ahab and Jezebel’s awful daughter. This decision would result in disastrous consequences also, as we will discover in a few weeks.
The Bible teaches us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This command is often applied to marriage, but it is also appropriate in many other circumstances. We should avoid becoming allied, partnered, or contractually bound with evil, ungodly people or groups. Such associations and relationships are a recipe for trouble.