Today in God's Word—February 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
February 27, 2 Chronicles 17
The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. - 2 Chronicles 17:3-4
Parents sometimes choose a Bible name for their children. So we know of Adams, Noahs, Abrahams, Isaacs, Jacobs and Davids. But I don't think I ever heard of a parent who named their child after Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa who succeeded him on Judah's throne.
Jehoshaphat made a great start when he became king. Some of the old-timers who could remember Asa's first years might have seen something reminiscent of Asa in his son. He sought God's ways and walked in them. He was more like David than any king had been since David. From the beginning of his reign, he had nothing to do with the Baals or any other pagan gods. He did not follow the influence of Israel's obsession with idols. Instead he devoted himself to the ways of the LORD.
The LORD was with Jehoshaphat and blessed him. He increased the king's wealth and honor among his people. All the families and clans of Judah brought tribute and gifts to Jehoshaphat. The people admired his courage as he led them in following God's commands. Jehoshaphat accomplished a difficult thing that his father had not been able to do -- he drove the worshipers of Asherah out of the country and destroyed all the high places where they had sacrificed to their pagan deities.
Jehoshaphat began a program to instruct the people of Judah in the Lord's commandments. He sent priests and Levites out from Jerusalem into all the cities of Judah. After generations of neglect, he knew a grassroots program of basic instruction in the law of Moses was the best way to produce fresh faith and trust in God among his people. They needed to know the difference
between God and the idols. In a culture that had been so strongly influenced by idolatry, they needed to learn of God's strict prohibition against worshiping any other god.
Jehoshaphat built up Judah's military strength during his reign. But the emphasis was on defensive strategy, not offensive aggression. He built outpost cities for defending the border with Israel. He stocked them with supplies and stationed troops in those cities, in addition to the regular army that grew to more than 1.1 million men of valor in the early years of Jehoshaphat's reign.
Israel was Judah’s closest neighbor, nearest kin and most persistent threat in the days of Jehoshaphat. Israel was of the same blood, but of a very different spirit. The pagan neighbors got along well with Judah, bringing Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute. But Israel threatened the peace and prosperity of Judah and the house of David.
Because the Lord blessed a nation and its king when that king honored him, Jehoshaphat's Judah grew. They grew economically, militarily and most of all, they grew spiritually. Would the growth and prosperity continue throughout the years Jehoshaphat sat on Judah's throne? That depended to a large degree on what Jehoshaphat did as the years passed.
When you and I want a better life for ourselves and our people, we should follow Jehoshaphat's example from this chapter. God blesses people who seek him and are loyal to him. So many blessings flow out of obeying God's commands. We are not kings or queens, but there's still nothing better for us or our people than doing what God says to do.
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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