Jehoshaphat the Victory through Worship
TEACHER
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Lesson 9
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
2 Chronicles 17.1-6, 9-12
BASIC BIBLE TEXT
1 Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel.
2 He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals
1 Kings 17.1-3
BASIC BIBLE TEXT
2 Chronicles 11.4-6
4 but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.
5 The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.
6 His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
BASIC BIBLE TEXT
2 Chronicles 11.4-6
9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.
10 The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat.
11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.
12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah
GOLDEN TEXT
2 Chronicles 20:20b
Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”
AIMS
• Know the main features of Jehoshaphat's reign;
• Understand that Old Testament battles foreshadow the spiritual battles that Christians face on a daily basis;
• Become aware that worship promotes greater communion with the Most High.
INTRODUCTION
In the biblical text, the proportion of chapters destined to the narratives of the periods of government of kings Ahab – Northern Kingdom (1 Kgs 16.28,29) – and Jehoshaphat – Southern Kingdom (1 Kgs 15.23,24; 1 Kgs 22.41,42) – indicates the importance of this era for the history of Israel (MALAFAIA, S. Central Gospel, 2015, p. 42).
In this lesson, we will introduce an emblematic character in the construction of Israelite history: the compassionate King Jehoshaphat of the Southern Kingdom (872 - 848 BC), known as the one who the Lord approved (1 Kings 22:1-50; 2 Chronicles 17:1 - 20:37) .
INTRODUCTION
One of the greatest battles faced by this son of Asa (2 Chronicles 17:1) was against an enemy coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir (2 Chronicles 20:10). The victory of the ruler of Judah was only possible because of his faith and his act of worshiping the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:21, 22).
1. A GOD-FEARING KING
The sacred author lets us know that God was with Jehoshaphat, because in his early years [of government] he walked in the ways that his father David had followed (2 Chronicles 17:3 NIV); as a result, all Judah brought him gifts, so that he had great wealth and honor (2 Chronicles 17:5 NIV).
1.1. The positive deeds of Jehoshaphat
Among the positive achievements of this sovereign of the South, those listed below stand out (cf. WILLMINGTON, H. L. Central Gospel, 2015, p. 108).
• Jehoshaphat continued the moral reforms and building projects that his father Asa had initiated (2 Chronicles 17:3-6).
1.1. The positive deeds of Jehoshaphat
• During his third year in power, Jehoshaphat instituted a national program of religious education, ordering the Levites throughout the land of Judah to instruct the people in Jehovah's commandments (2 Chronicles 17:7-9).
• Jehoshaphat grew in power (2 Chronicles 17:11 NLT).
2. DANGEROUSLY HARMFUL ALLIANCES
Among the negative points of Jehoshaphat's government, the alliance he established with King Ahab, one of the worst - if not the worst - monarchs of the Northern Kingdom stands out (1 Kings 22:44).
2. DANGEROUSLY HARMFUL ALLIANCES
DEVELOPMENTS OF THE ALLIANCE SIGNED BETWEEN JOSAPHÁ AND AHABE | BIBLICAL REF. |
Jehoshaphat arranged the marriage of his son Jehoram (2 Kings 8:16) to Ahab's daughter Athaliah. The purpose of that union was to establish a political alliance with Israel. | 2 Chronicles 18:1; 21:5,6; 22:2,3 |
In the military alliance that Jehoshaphat established with Ahab - at the time of the Syrian attack on Israel - Jehoshaphat almost lost his life in battle. | 1 Kings 22.32,33 |
Jehoshaphat also proved unwise to join forces with Ahaziah, Ahab's eldest son, who tried to enrich himself by importing foreign goods. The ships broke up and sank at Eziom-geber after the prophecy of Eliezer, son of Dodava of Maressa. | 1 Kings 22:49; 2 Chronicles 20:31-37 |
In the military alliance he established with Jehoram, the youngest son of Ahab, Elisha had to mediate a divine miracle (in favor of Jehoshaphat) to bring them victory against the Moabites. Elisha at that time said to Joram, I swear by the living God, the Lord Almighty, whom I serve, that if I did not respect your ally, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I would not give you any heed | 2 Kings 3:14 NLT) Kgs 3:1-27 |
2.1. Dangers arising from the act of getting involved with other people's problems
Jehoshaphat, being a pious man, risked his life to help Ahab solve his problems with the city of Ramoth-gilead (2 Chronicles 18:2,3).
Ahab, using the hands of the Syrians, was trying to eliminate Jehoshaphat so that his son-in-law, Jehoram, would also be manipulated by Athaliah. Ahab, in fact, articulated a plan to bring both kingdoms together under Baal's rule.
The alliance established between Jehoshaphat and Ahab was so harmful that [...], soon after the death of the monarch of the South, the cult of Baal dangerously infected the cradle of the Davidic dynasty (2 Chronicles 18.1; 21.5-7) (MALAFAIA, S. . Central Gospel, 2015, p. 69).
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Four hundred prophets were consulted about the outcome of the battle for Ramoth-gilead (2 Chronicles 18:5a). They all lied to Ahab, having been rebuked by Jehoshaphat, annoyed, Ahab sent for Micaiah, who without fear, declared him the truth (2 Chr 18,16,18-22).
Hearing the message from heaven spoken by Micaiah, Ahab had him imprisoned until he [Ahab] returned safe and sound from Ramoth-gilead (2 Chronicles 18:25, 26).
2.2. Dangers of listening to false Prophets
The following verses of the text of Chronicles narrate the death of Ahab (2 Chronicles 18:28-34). The ruler of the North, deciding to press ahead with the attack on Ramoth-Gilead, devised a plan to have Jehoshaphat die in battle; the Almighty Lord, however, brought him deliverance (2 Chronicles 18:28-32).
The sacred author, when recording the event, brings the idea that chance was responsible for causing an arrow to hit King Ahab between the joints of his armor, a blow that led to his death (2 Chronicles 28.33,34).
2.2.1. Ahab's death
At the beginning of chapter 19 of the second Book of Chronicles, the sacred author says that the prophet Jeu, son of Hanani, went out to meet the king on that occasion, telling him that because he had made himself a friend to his enemies, God would punish him; however, Jeu pointed out that there was something good in Jehoshaphat, for he had knocked down the poles of the goddess Asherah and sought to know God's will with all his heart (v.2).
2.3. Jehoshaphat is admonished
3. THE LESSONS OF JEHOSHAPHAT
In chapter 20 of the second Book of Chronicles, we note that when Jehoshaphat found himself facing three Gentile nations who had gathered to fight Judah, the people asked God to guide and succor them.
Jehoshaphat decided that everyone should fast for the cause. The inhabitants of the Southern Kingdom then, in common accord, cried out for divine intervention, and God accepted their prayer (2 Chron. 20:1-4).
When the enemies heard the song of adoration of the beauty of the holiness of the Lord, they were defeated (2 Chr 20,21,22).
3.1. Ask for God's Guidance
Jehoshaphat and the people worshiped the Lord before and during the battle, with instruments and voices (2 Chronicles 20:18, 19, 21, 22, 28). From this biblical episode, we learn that as long as we are worshiping the Lord exclusively, He will work in our favor.
3.2. Just worship
After experiencing God's blessing and protection in the wilderness, the men of Judah changed the name of Ziz (from Heb. Tsitz) to the valley of Beracah, meaning blessing, to remind them of God's goodness (2 Chronicles 20:26-28). ) (RADMACHER; ALLEN HOUSE. Central Gospel, 2010a, p. 701).
Jehoshaphat encouraged his troops to have faith in God; this was the key ingredient in Judah's victory. The surrounding peoples heard the testimony of such a great miracle and were terrified (2 Chronicles 20:29,30).
3.3. Have faith
CONCLUSION
Like other iconic biblical characters, Jehoshaphat also made bad choices; this in no way invaded the fact that he had sought God's guidance all his life, even though he had made wrong alliances.
Let us be inspired by the lessons learned from this character: let us know how to break destructive alliances; let us be able to hear the voice of the Lord; let us trust in Him and surrender our adoration to the only one capable of giving us victory.
God bless you!
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