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 contemporary for many years. Jehoshaphat
himself was loyal to God. He "sought not unto Baalim;
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 portions 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.
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
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
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.
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 important 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
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
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
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.