why did jehoshaphat ally himself with ahab

I. Ahab's proposal (18:1-3) As Jehoshaphat celebrated a feast with the most ungodly king Israel would know, Ahab hits him with a request. Vs. 28 - Micaiah does not back down. LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JEHORAM, THE SON OF JEHOSHAPHAT - Klang Church Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil? 1 Kings 16:15-20 describes how Ahab's father, Omri, was the Israelite army's commander, who rebelled against the . This made some sense because Ramoth Gilead was only 40 miles from Jerusalem. He said similar words to the 400 unfaithful prophets, but delivered a completely different message. Zavada, Jack. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.. His warnings are still the same today: How can two walk together unless they are agreed? i. "Please, inquire of the LORD today.". These are but some of Jehoshaphat's achievements. If there's one mistake Jehoshaphat made, it's the time he decided to ally himself with King Ahab of Israel, the devious Jezebel's husband. He allied with Ahab against Syria, nearly losing his life as a result (18:2ff.). But if you do your duty, you will not be guilty. Please click here to learn how. He led the people to be faithful as well (like his father Asa). a. Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance: Because of his personal godliness (2 Chronicles 17:1-4) and public godliness (2 Chronicles 17:7-10), God blessed Jehoshaphat and exalted him among neighboring nations. We should not love the world. Jehoshaphat made a bad alliance with King Ahab, one of the most wicked kings in Israels history. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Jehoshaphat and Peer Pressure - Part 2 - Shepherd Press In order to succeed, he solicited the help of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Here is the Bible's explanation: "for the daughter of Ahab was his wife" (2 Kings 8:18). 7-27) should have alerted Jehoshaphat to the true character of the man he had befriended. Please inquire for the word of the LORD today: Considering the generally adversarial relationship between Ahab and the prophets of Yahweh, this was a bold request of Jehoshaphat to ask of Ahab. King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah to help him in this dispute against Syria. 1 Chronicles 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Jehoshaphat established for his kingdom a very strong fighting force, reaching astounding numbers of fighting men. A Lesson in Stupidity: Jehoshaphat and Peer Pressure - Part 1 Soon after this, Moab, Ammon and Edom declared war against Jehoshaphat. Micaiah was brought out from prison (1 Kings 22:26 indicates that he came from prison). He ruled for 25 years. When Micaiah said this, his tone was probably mocking and sarcastic. Putting anything ahead of God is idolatry. 400 prophets predict that they should go out to war for they will be successful. Jehoshaphat prayed to God, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, who prophesied that the battle was the Lord's. By marriage he allied himself with Ahab: This manner of linking kingdoms by the bond of marriage was common in the ancient world, yet it was an unwise policy for Jehoshaphat. Like Jehu told Jehoshaphat about his seeking an alliance with Ahab, he should not love those who hate the Lord. He was not satisfied with what God had given him, but was longing for something else among the nations around him. He accomplishes a great deal in the last 25 years of his life, ushering Israel into a time of prosperity and military fortitude. The alliance is - in my opinion - an example of Jehoshapat trying t. c. Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead? b. Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him: Finding himself as the only identifiable king in the battle, Jehoshaphat found himself quickly in danger. Ahab, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel, was an evil king who, through the influence of his wife Jezebel, spread pagan practices and Baal worship. Jehoshaphat was a powerful, prosperous king ( 2 Chr. Thus doth the unthankful infidel repay the mercy of his late victorbut God had a holy hand in it. (Trapp). When choices come along, you may want to keep your commitment to God, but you have to act in a way that works for the unbeliever as well. He did have some kind of conscience. If there's one mistake Jehoshaphat made, it's the time he decided to ally himself with King Ahab of Israel, the devious Jezebel's husband. Let's go over some of the things he did. His love for God greatly benefited the kingdom of Judah. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. I mean here, serious, committed relationships with unbelievers dating, marriage, business whatever. One of these rulers, King Jehoshaphat, is a great example to learn from. . Ramoth Gilead belonged to Israel by the word of God but Ahab was out of the will of God. The people enjoyed a great measure of prosperity and the blessing of God under Jehoshaphat. 2 Kings 1 - After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel. Now This king of Judah dared to do the right thing. This was in fulfillment of what Isaac foretold many centuries before (Genesis 27:39,40). Many commentators believe these prophets were pagan prophets, perhaps representatives of Asherah or other pagan gods or goddesses. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. 28 Then King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to attack the city of Ramoth in Gilead. Ahab pretended herein to honour Jehoshaphat, but intended to save himself, and to elude Micaiahs prophecy. (Trapp). He was 35 years old when he sat as king and reigned for 25 years until his death at age 60. https://www.learnreligions.com/jehoshaphat-king-of-judah-4114131 (accessed May 1, 2023). "Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. "Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. When his death became known the battle was over. Why did Ahab hate Micaiah? d. The king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot, facing the Syrians until evening: Ahab faced the end of his life bravely, dying proppedup in his chariot to inspire his troops. 18:1 Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected. Jehoshaphats life was half over by the time he took the throne, but that didnt stop God from moving in his life. He became one of the country's most successful rulers for one simple reason: He followed the commands of God. b. Jehoram marries Athaliah the daughter of King Ahab and Jezebel b. . Asa also did what was right in God's eyes and led Judah in a series of religious reforms. r. Vs. 29-40 describes the battle. Mindful of the fact that Judah was bordered by Moab, Ammon, and Israelall hostilehe knew he needed a strong and well-positioned military. He had a total of more than 1.1 million fighting men in his core force, in addition to those he had placed in different areas (see 2 Chronicles 17:14-19). Chapter 22. Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire for the word of the LORD today. Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain? So they said, Go up, for God will deliver it into the kings hand. But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him? So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. i. Zedekiah had the agreement of 400 other prophets (all the prophets prophesied so). Jehoshaphat's Defining Flaw. Ahab (1 Kings 22.1-38; 2 Chr 18.1-19.3) Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahab began when he "had riches and honour in abundance" (2 Chr 18.1). Go up, for God will deliver it into the kings hand: When Ahab gathered the prophets, they were not faithful prophets of the LORD. They prophesied favorably, saying: "Go up, and Jehovah will give it into the king's hand." The phrase bread of affliction and water of affliction may be translated bread and water of scant measure. (Dilday), c. If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me: The prophet Micaiah made one final and ultimate appeal. God does not want us to enter into binding partnerships with the wicked that could conflict with our commitment to Him and His ways. Handling problems in Christian relationships, Letters to the Seven Churches in Revelation, Paul to the Thessalonians. i. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. 4 Things You May Not Know About Abraham in the Bible 20 Facts You May Not Know About Moses from the Bible Who Was Mary Magdalene in the Bible? Romans 12:19-21, A true test of character: How you treat those weaker than you, Come to Jesus and find rest. Ahab and his wife, Queen Jezebel, had well-deserved reputations for wickedness. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. A bold and faithful follower of Yahweh, Jehoshaphat consulted God's prophets before making decisions and credited God for every victory. In fact, Jehoshaphat was so blessed that aside from different nations or groups bringing tribute to him, he built citadels and storehouses in Judah, signifying much abundance. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Our Price: $5.99. Zavada, Jack. We have different frameworks and directions to our lives. 46 views, 7 likes, 0 loves, 3 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Eubank Church of Christ: The Minor Prophets (22) Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab. An enormous army of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites gathered at En Gedi, near the Dead Sea. Ahab is basically threatening God here with consequences. [1] One of the "good" kings in the Bible, he was a descendant of David, and his mother's name was Azubah . But I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me; it's always something bad.. Acts 6:1-6, Four things to remember in times of trial. (He) sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments. Though Jehoshaphat had already committed himself to the enterprise (2 Chronicles 18:3), and though he went on to disregard the guidance that was given him (2 Chronicles 18:28), he still retained the religion of Yahweh to the extent that he insisted on seeking the counsel of the Lord. (Payne). He repented when he did wrong. i. . Commentary - - BibleGateway.com This must have been a vivid and entertaining presentation. i. So Ahab summoned about 400 prophets to his court. Joining Forces with Ahab - CRIES from among US! Now when Jehoshaphat learned a great army has come against him ( 2 Chronicles 20:1-2 ), he immediately realized three things. But we also know that only some good kings came from the Kingdom of Judah, Jehoshaphat being one of them. Then he said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. This might have daunted the good prophet, but that he had lately seen the Lord sitting upon His throne with all the host of heaven standing by Him, and hence he so boldly looked in the face these two kings in their majesty; for he beheld them as so many mice. (Trapp). Jehoshaphat, the fourth king of Judah, followed after his father, King Asa, and David's footsteps. Who Was Isaiah & Why Was He Important? So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. Jehoshaphat made a disastrous treaty with AHAB (as in Ahab and Jezebel). The Lord will give you victory., 15 But Ahab replied, When you speak to me in the name of the Lord, tell the truth! . But he also received a word of judgment: Jehu says, Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord 19:2. b. Paul says about this, Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. They butchered great numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the feast. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Only through the intervention of God did Jehoshaphat escape. He set up a group of priests and qualified people to go around, teaching the people from God's laws (see 2 Chronicles 17:7-9). For God had previously caused the "fear of the Lord [to fall] over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat" (2 Chron. Jehoshaphat and Ahab cemented their relationship by arranging a marriage between Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram, and Ahab and Jezebel's daughter, Athaliah. And the Lord said, These men have no leader; let them go home in peace., 17 Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, I told you that he never prophesies anything good for me; it's always something bad!, 18 Micaiah went on: Now listen to what the Lord says! Jehoshaphat made some poor choices but he did have a heart for the Lord and "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (20:31.) What accord has Christ with Belial? Well quote each of the verses below. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him. Ahab entered into a military alliance with Jehoshaphat for the purpose of recovering the ancient Israelite city of Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians (22:1-4). This suggests that Jehoshaphat was a strong and effective leader, who worked hard to consolidate his power and improve Judah's position. Micaiah who always prophesies bad things about Ahab. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. We will see what we can learn from this. Jehoshaphat failed to foresee the long-term consequences of his bad decisions. There is a well-intentioned but mistaken teaching that God can allow no evil in His presence, meaning that Satan and other fallen angels could not be in His presence. 3 But even so, there is some good in you. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Enduring Word Bible Commentary 2 Chronicles Chapter 18 Although God protects Jehoshaphat, the king should not have made this friendship in the first place. Ahab had wanted to restore back what materially belonged to them but spiritually he . It just happened, says the man of the world. He allied with Ahab's house by marrying his son (Jehoram) to Ahab's daughter (Athaliah) (18:1). God wanted to bring judgment against Ahab, so He asked this group of the host of heaven for a volunteer to lead Ahab into battle. According to tradition, Jehoshaphat was buried in a magnificent manner to mimic the actions of King David. a. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead: It is easy to understand why King Ahab of Israel went to this battle; he didnt want to believe that Micaiahs prophecy was true and wanted to courageously oppose it. This show of friendship to Ahab was in reality hatred towards God (2 . First of all, the king shows us that we all can make mistakes of judgment. Of course, there may be some business arrangements where such matters would never be at issue. His story is told in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 17-20. Bible Reading Plans - Old/New Testament - NLT - May 6, 2023 - BibleGateway Daniel 3, The Parable of the Vineyard Tenants. PDF Why Did Ahab Go To Battle? 1 Kings 22 - Rose Avenue The Lord will give you victory., 12 Meanwhile, the official who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, All the other prophets have prophesied success for the king, and you had better do the same., 13 But Micaiah answered, By the living Lord I will say what my God tells me to!, 14 When he appeared before King Ahab, the king asked him, Micaiah, should King Jehoshaphat and I go and attack Ramoth, or not?, Attack! Micaiah answered. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? To solidify devotion to God, Jehoshaphat sent prophets, priests, and Levites throughout the country to teach people God's laws. a. To be sure, this is a case of misguided judgment. Probably this man already had shot many arrows, and he went on in his simplicity, little knowing that this particular arrow was to be guided through all the confusion straight to its mark by the unerring knowledge and power of God. . God looked with favor on Jehoshaphat, strengthening his kingdom and making him wealthy. However, because this was an aberration from Jehoshaphat's usual stance of faith and obedience, the LORD did not punish Jehoshaphat. He introduced the worship of completely new, pagan gods. 2 A few years later he went to Samaria to visit Ahab, who prepared a great banquet for him and his officials. It is less easy to understand why King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to this battle with Ahab. (NIV), 2 Chronicles 20:15He said: Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! 16, 2022, learnreligions.com/jehoshaphat-king-of-judah-4114131. Christian family to appeal after court dismisses school Pride parade complaint, British public don't want a secular coronation, poll finds, Relic of crucifixion cross to be used in King Charles' coronation, Challenged by the faith of those who suffer. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Jehoshaphats name means Jehovah judged. This is similar to Daniels name of may God be my judge. Both were very godly men. We see a prophet in rags and chains stand before two kings, ready to speak on behalf of the LORD. a. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing: King Ahab and others at the court found it hard to explain how one prophet could be right and 400 prophets could be wrong. Jehoshaphat strengthened Judah militarily by building an army and many forts. How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life 4 Things You May Not Know About Abraham in the Bible, 20 Facts You May Not Know About Moses from the Bible, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He sometimes followed the world's ways, such as making alliances with questionable neighbors. But just in case, he disguises himself and also encourages Jehoshaphat to wear his royal attire, thus making him the target of the enemy. We may not name our children after this king, but we can certainly look to his example and his trust in God during his reign. Check out her books at hopebolinger.comfor clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. Hatred of the messenger of God is clear evidence of willful wickedness. (Morgan), Then Micaiah said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left.
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