Nyi Roro Jonggrang wrote:
> Jehoshaphat
> Until called to the throne at the age of thirty-five, Jehoshaphat had
before
> him the example of good King Asa, who in nearly every crisis had done
"that
> which was right in the eyes of the Lord." 1 Kings 15:11. During a
prosperous
> reign of twenty-five years, Jehoshaphat sought to walk "in all the ways
of
> Asa his father; he turned not aside."
>
> In his efforts to rule wisely, Jehoshaphat endeavored to persuade his
> subjects to take a firm stand against idolatrous practices. Many of the
> people in his realm "offered and burnt incense yet in the high places."
1
> Kings 22:43. The king did not at once destroy these shrines; but from
the
> beginning he tried to safeguard Judah from the sins characterizing the
> northern kingdom under the rule of Ahab, of whom he was a contem****ary
for
> many years. Jehoshaphat himself was loyal to God. He "sought not unto
> Baalim;
>
> Page 191
> but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in His
commandments,
> and not after the doings of Israel." Because of his integrity, the Lord
was
> with him, and "stablished the kingdom in his hand." 2 Chronicles 17:3-5.
> "All Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor
in
> abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord." As time
> passed and reformations were wrought, the king "took away the high
places
> and groves out of Judah." Verses 5, 6. "And the remnant of the
Sodomites,
> which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land."
1
> Kings 22:46. Thus gradually the inhabitants of Judah were freed from
many of
> the perils that had been threatening to retard seriously their spiritual
> development.
>
> Throughout the kingdom the people were in need of instruction in the law
of
> God. In an understanding of this law lay their safety; by conforming
their
> lives to its requirements they would become loyal both to God and to
man.
> Knowing this, Jehoshaphat took steps to ensure to his people thorough
> instruction in the Holy Scriptures. The princes in charge of the
different
> ****tions of his realm were directed to arrange for the faithful ministry
of
> teaching priests. By royal appointment these instructors, working under
the
> direct supervision of the princes, "went about throughout all the cities
of
> Judah, and taught the people." 2 Chronicles 17:7-9. And as many
endeavored
> to understand God's requirements and to put away sin, a revival was
> effected.
>
> Page 192
> To this wise provision for the spiritual needs of his subjects,
Jehoshaphat
> owed much of his prosperity as a ruler. In obedience to God's law there
is
> great gain. In conformity to the divine requirements there is a
transforming
> power that brings peace and good will among men. If the teachings of
God's
> word were made the controlling influence in the life of every man and
woman,
> if mind and heart were brought under its restraining power, the evils
that
> now exist in national and in social life would find no place. From every
> home would go forth an influence that would make men and women strong in
> spiritual insight and in moral power, and thus nations and individuals
would
> be placed on vantage ground.
>
> For many years Jehoshaphat lived in peace, unmolested by surrounding
> nations. "The fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands
that
> were round about Judah." Verse 10. From Philistia he received tribute
money
> and presents; from Arabia, large flocks of sheep and goats. "Jehoshaphat
> waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of
> stores. . . . Men of war, mighty men of valor, . . . waited on the king,
> beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all
Judah."
> Verses 12-19. Blessed abundantly with "riches and honor," he was enabled
to
> wield a mighty influence for truth and righteousness. 2 Chronicles 18:1
>
> Some years after coming to the throne, Jehoshaphat, now in the height of
his
> prosperity, consented to the marriage of his son, Jehoram, to Athaliah,
> daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. By this union there was formed between the
> kingdoms
>
> Page 195
> of Judah and Israel an alliance which was not in the order of God and
which
> in a time of crisis brought disaster to the king and to many of his
> subjects.
> On one occasion Jehoshaphat visited the king of Israel at Samaria.
Special
> honor was shown the royal guest from Jerusalem, and before the close of
his
> visit he was persuaded to unite with the king of Israel in war against
the
> Syrians. Ahab hoped that by joining his forces with those of Judah he
might
> regain Ramoth, one of the old cities of refuge, which, he contended,
> rightfully belonged to the Israelites.
>
> Although Jehoshaphat in a moment of weakness had rashly promised to join
the
> king of Israel in his war against the Syrians, yet his better judgment
led
> him to seek to learn the will of God concerning the undertaking.
"Inquire, I
> pray thee, at the word of the Lord today," he suggested to Ahab. In
> response, Ahab called together four hundred of the false prophets of
> Samaria, and asked of them, "Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or
shall
> I forbear?" And they answered, "Go up; for God will deliver it into the
> kings's hand." Verses 4, 5.
>
> Unsatisfied, Jehoshaphat sought to learn for a certainty the will of
God.
> "Is there not here a prophet of the Lord," he asked, "that we might
inquire
> of him?" Verse 6. "There is yet one man, Micaiah to son of Imlah, by
whom we
> may inquire of the Lord," Ahab answered; "but I hate him" for he doth
not
> prophesy good concerning me, but evil." 1 Kings 22:8. Jehoshaphat was
firm
> in his request that the man of God be called; and upon appearing before
them
> and being adjured by Ahab to tell "nothing but that which
>
> Page 196
> is true in the name of the Lord," Micaiah said: "I saw all Israel
scattered
> upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said,
These
> have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace." Verses
16,
> 17.
> The words of the prophet should have been enough to show the kings that
> their project was not favored by Heaven, but neither ruler felt inclined
to
> heed the warning. Ahab had marked out his course, and he was determined
to
> follow it. Jehoshaphat had given his word of honor, "We will be with
thee in
> the war;" and after making such a promise, he was reluctant to withdraw
his
> forces. 2 Chronicles 18:3. "So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the
king
> of Judah went up to Ramothgilead." 1 Kings 22:29.
>
> During the battle that followed, Ahab was shot by an arrow, and at
eventide
> he died. "About the going down of the sun," "there went a proclamation
> throughout the host," "Every man to his city, and every man to his own
> country." Verse 36. Thus was fulfilled the word of the prophet.
>
> From this disastrous battle Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem. As he
> approached the city, the prophet Jehu met him with the reproof:
"Shouldest
> thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is
wrath
> upon thee from before the Lord. Nevertheless there are good things found
in
> thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast
> prepared thine heart to seek God." 2 Chronicles 19"2, 3.
>
> The later years of Jehoshaphat's reign were largely spent in
strengthening
> the national and spiritual defenses of Judah.
>
> Page 197
> He "went out again through the people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim,
and
> brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers." Verse 4.
> One of the im****tant steps taken by the king was the establishment and
> maintenance of efficient courts of justice. He "set judges in the land
> throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city;" and in the
charge
> given them he urged: "Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man,
but
> for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the
fear of
> the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with
the
> Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts." Verses 5-7.
>
> The judicial system was perfected by the founding of a court of appeal
at
> Jerusalem, where Jehoshaphat "set of the Levites, and of the priests,
and of
> the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgement of the Lord, and
for
> controversies." Verse 8.
>
> The king exhorted these judges to be faithful. "Thus shall ye do in the
fear
> of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart," he charged them.
"And
> what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their
> cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes
and
> judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the
Lord,
> and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye
shall
> not trespass.
>
> "And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the
> Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the
>
> Page 198
> ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the
Levites
> shall be officers before you.
> "Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good." Verses 9-11.
>
> In his careful safeguarding of the rights and liberties of his subjects,
> Jehoshaphat emphasized the consideration that every member of the human
> family receives from the God of justice, who rules over all. "God
standeth
> in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth among the gods." And those
who
> are appointed to act as judges under Him, are to "defend the poor and
> fatherless;" they are to "do justice to the afflicted and needy," and
"rid
> them out of the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:1, 3, 4.
>
> Toward the close of Jehoshaphat's reign the kingdom of Judah was invaded
by
> an army before whose approach the inhabitants of the land had reason to
> tremble. "The children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them
> other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle." Tidings
of
> this invasion reached the king through a messenger, who appeared with
the
> startling word, "There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond
the
> sea on this side Syria: and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is
> Engedi." 2 Chronicles 20:1, 2.
>
> Jehoshaphat was a man of courage and valor. For years he had been
> strengthening his armies and his fortified cities. He was well prepared
to
> meet almost any foe; yet in this crisis he put not his trust in the arm
of
> flesh. Not by disciplined armies and fenced cities, but by a living
faith in
> the God of Israel, could he hope to gain the victory over these
>
> Page 199
> heathen who boasted of their power to humble Judah in the eyes of the
> nations.
> "Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a
fast
> throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask
help of
> the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the
Lord."
>
> Standing in the temple court before his people, Jehoshaphat poured out
his
> soul in prayer, pleading God's promises, with confession of Israel's
> helplessness. "O Lord God of our fathers" he petitioned, "art not Thou
God
> in heaven? and rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and
in
> Thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to
withstand
> Thee? Art not Thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this
land
> before Thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham Thy
friend
> forever? And they dwelt therein, and have built Thee a sanctuary therein
for
> Thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment,
or
> pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Thy presence,
(for
> Thy name is in this house,) and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then
Thou
> wilt hear and help.
>
> "And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom
Thou
> wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt,
but
> they turned from them, and destroyed them not; behold, I say, how they
> reward us, to come to cast us out of Thy possession, which Thou hast
given
> us to inherit. O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? for we have no might
> against this great
>
> Page 200
> company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes
are
> upon Thee." Verses 3-21.
> With confidence Jehoshaphat could say to the Lord, "Our eyes are upon
thee."
> For years he had taught the people to trust in the One who in past ages
had
> so often interposed to save His chosen ones from utter destruction; and
now,
> when the kingdom was in peril, Jehoshaphat did not stand alone; "all
Judah
> stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their
> children." Verse 13. Unitedly they fasted and prayed; unitedly they
besought
> the Lord to put their enemies to confusion, that the name of Jehovah
might
> be glorified.
>
>
> "Keep not Thou silence, O God:
> Hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God.
> For, lo, Thine enemies make a tumult:
> And they that hate Thee have lifted up the head.
> They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people,
> And consulted against Thy hidden ones.
> They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from
> being a nation;
> That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
> For they have consulted together with one consent:
> They are confederate against Thee:
> The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites;
> Of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
> Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek. . . .
> Do unto them as unto the Midianites;
> As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: . . .
> Let them be confounded and troubled forever;
> Yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
> That men may know that Thou, whose name alone is
> Jehovah,
> Art the Most High over all the earth."
> Psalm 83.
>
> Page 201
> As the people joined with their king in humbling themselves before God,
and
> asking Him for help, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, "a
Levite of
> the sons of Asaph," and he said:
>
> "Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou King
> Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by
> reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
> Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of
Ziz;
> and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of
> Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand
ye
> still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and
Jerusalem:
> fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord
will
> be with you."
>
> "Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah
and
> the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, wor****ping the Lord.
And
> the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of
the
> Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on
> high."
>
> Early in the morning they rose and went into the wilderness of Tekoa. As
> they advanced to the battle, Jehoshaphat said, "Hear me, O Judah, and ye
> inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be
> established: believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper." "And when he
had
> consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that
> should praise the beauty of holiness." 2 Chronicles 20:14-21. These
singers
> went before the army, lifting their voices in praise to God for the
promise
> of victory.
>
> Page 202
> It was a singular way of going to battle against the enemy's
army--praising
> the Lord with singing, and exalting the God of Israel. This was their
battle
> song. They possessed the beauty of holiness. If more praising of God
were
> engaged in now, hope and courage and faith would steadily increase. And
> would not this strengthen the hands of the valiant soldiers who today
are
> standing in defense of truth?
>
> "The Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount
> Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the
children
> of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir,
utterly to
> slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants
of
> Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.
>
> "And when Judah came toward the watchtower in the wilderness, they
looked
> unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the
earth,
> and none escaped." Verses 22-24.
>
> God was the strength of Judah in this crisis, and He is the strength of
His
> people today. We are not to trust in princes, or to set men in the place
of
> God. We are to remember that human beings are fallible and erring, and
that
> He who has all power is our strong tower of defense. In every emergency
we
> are to feel that the battle is His. His resources are limitless, and
> apparent impossibilities will make the victory all the greater.
>
>
> "Save us, O God of our salvation,
> And gather us together,
> And deliver us from the heathen,
> That we may give thanks to Thy holy name,
> And glory in Thy praise."
> 1 Chronicles 16-35.
>
> Page 203
> Laden with spoil, the armies of Judah returned "with joy; for the Lord
had
> made them to rejoice over their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with
> psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord." 2
Chronicles
> 20:27, 28. Great was their cause for rejoicing. In obedience to the
command,
> "Stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord: . . . fear not, nor
be
> dismayed," they had put their trust wholly in God, and He had proved to
be
> their fortress and their deliverer. Verse 17. Now they could sing with
> understanding the inspired hymns of David:
>
>
> "God is our refuge and strength,
> A very present help in trouble. . . .
> He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
> He burneth the chariot in the fire.
> Be still, and know that I am God:
> I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted
> in the earth.
> The Lord of hosts is with us;
> The God of Jacob is our refuge."
> Psalm 46.
> "According to Thy name, O God,
> So is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth:
> Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
> Let Mount Zion rejoice,
> Let the daughters of Judah be glad,
> Because of Thy judgments. . . .
>
>
> "This God is our God for ever and ever:
> He will be our guide even unto death."
> Psalm 48:10-14.
>
> Through the faith of Judah's ruler and of his armies "the fear of God
was on
> all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the Lord
> fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was
quiet:
> for his God gave him rest." 2 Chronicles 20:29, 30.
>
>
>
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>
> [Table of Contents] [Chapter 14] [Chapter 16]
>
>
Amen. May you testicles become rounder than ever
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