Jehoshaphat – Part 6 – A Long Way Home

Jehoshaphat

Part 6

A Long Way Home

And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 19:1)

And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. ( 2 Chronicles 19:2)

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. (Psalm 137:5)

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. (Psalm 137:6)

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:11)

The Three Denials of Jehovah in the Old Testament by Jehoshaphat

Jehoshaphat returned in defeat (be sure, your sins will find you out) to Judah and his beloved Jerusalem, the city on the hill, the holy hill of Zion. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6) The way seemed longer then his trip down to Samaria. The Spirit of God was retracing each step of the failed endeavor. The Spirit of God was echoing (in his conscience) the words that he had spoken to Ahab, I am as thou [art], my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. Not only three specific denials of God in Jehoshaphat’s one statement, but three times his three denials are mentioned in the Scriptures. (1 Kings 22:4l; 2 Kings 3:7; 2 Chronicles 18:3) Jehoshaphat in these words acknowledged Baal and denied that Jehovah was God of Judah, and that He was the God of Jerusalem, and that He was the God of Israel. Over and over Jehoshaphat’s words must have echoed in the depth of his soul and heart. We break here and travel through time to the New Testament . . . .

The Three Denials of God’s Christ in the New Testament by Peter

Place yourself in the palace of the high priest warming yourself at the fire. The Lord of all glory standing in the midst of His fallen creation, man, and as they buffet Him, and spit upon Him, Peter is asked, Are you not one of His disciples? Peter replied, I am not, and continued to deny Him till the cock crowed twice.

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: (Mark 14:66)

And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. (Mark 14:67)

But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. (Mark 14:68)

And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. (Mark 14:69)

And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. (Mark 14:70)

But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. (Mark 14:71)

And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. (Mark 14:72)

Peter’s heart was smitten with his own worthlessness for he had denied His Lord.

And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. (John 18:25)

One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? (John 18:26)

Peter once more denies the Lord of glory. This was a long way in time and spirit from the mount of transfiguration, God’s holy mount. Peter had traveled from the mountain high to the lowest valley of despair. He had traveled to his own Samaria. He had declared by his own denial, like Jehoshaphat, I am as thou art. Peter had removed his person from the one who held out His hand in the raging sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. (Matthew 14:26)

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.(Matthew 14:27)

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (Matthew 14:28)

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.(Matthew 14:29)

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.(Matthew 14:30)

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?(Matthew 14:31)

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.(Matthew 14:32)

Peter was undone by his own flesh, and had joined the ungodly in his denial of Christ. Jehoshaphat cried out and was delivered by Jehovah.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. (Psalm 39:12)

O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.(Psalm 39:13)

Jehoshaphat cried out like the psalmist, and Jehovah heard him and delivered him. Now Jehoshaphat faced a long journey home, and the Holy Spirit traveled with him to remind him of his unfaithfulness. Jerusalem was not that far away, but to this disobedient king, it must have seemed like an eternity. He was in the hands of Jehovah, and Jehovah was sifting him like wheat. We have a divine record of Peter’s denial recorded once in each gospel; we are reminded four times of not only Peter’s verbal rejection, but we have in the number four the rejection of God’s Christ by the world. The Lord had told him that he would be sifted as wheat, and now the Lord had revealed the depth of the heart of man. We have the look of the Lord Jesus when Peter denied Him.

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. (Luke 22:55)

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. (Luke 22:56)

And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. (Luke 22:57)

And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. (Luke 22:58)

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. (Luke 22:59)

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. (Luke 22:60)

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Luke 22:61)

And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:62)

We have a stare of sympathy from the Lord, and the burning look of conviction. The eyes of eternity looked straight at Peter to the center of Peter’s conscience and his heart twisted within him; thus, Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. (Matthew 26:69)

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.(Matthew 26:70)

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.(Matthew 26:71)

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.(Matthew 26:72)

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.(Matthew 26:73)

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.(Matthew 26:74)

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.(Matthew 26:75)

The Long Journey Home by the Men of Faith

Peter’s heart was smitten to it’s core, and from this point of despair he would begin his long journey home.

There are many examples in the Old Testament of men of faith who were betrayed by their own flesh, and have to start their own long journey home. Abraham, a man of faith, went down into Egypt and lied about his wife Sarah; telling the Egyptian sovereign that Sarah was his sister, his faith wavering in the failure of his flesh. The most high God sent a dream to the Egyptian ruler, and Abraham began his own long journey home. Even though Abraham came out of Egypt with more possessions and wealth than when he had went into Egypt this did not remove the stinging harsh rebuke by the ruler of Egypt, and Abraham had to endure the prodding of the Holy Spirit all the way home.

David failed in the matter of Uriah, the Hittite, when David took Uriah’s wife in adultery, and then to cover up his sin and the result of his sin sent this honorable man, Uriah, to die at the front of the battlefield. Then God exposed David’s sin in God’s light and judgment through the prophet Nathan when Nathan accused David of his heartless act and said Thou art the man. David started his long journey home when he declared of his dead infant son, I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. In relationship to this time in David’s life, I often think of Psalm 51, it seems to enlighten us of David’s difficulty in his long journey home, especially verse 17, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17) David’s heart was broken over his own sin. His spirit was in dire straights and in verse 11, we hear his cry, Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. (Psalm 51:11) What trouble in David’s soul. The result of his sin caused him to weep on his bed. We hear the cries of his conscience in verses 2 – 4.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:2)

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. (Psalm 51:3)

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalm 51:4)

David cried out over his transgression and his sin against Jehovah. He looked far deeper into the cause and who he had sinned against. He had sinned against the Lord, and it must be God’s mercy that will return him, once more, to stand on higher ground. Read Psalm 51 in it’s entirety. I call this wonderful Psalm, the Psalm of the heart. For the Psalm exposes all that man is and man’s sin; yet, God’s mercy and grace is in every line. You can almost see the tears of the conscience, and the twisting of the heart, as the God of glory reached down out of heaven and set the soul of David on higher ground.

Overcome but not Overthrown

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. (Psalm 37:23)

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. (Psalm 37:24)

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37:25)

He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. (Psalm 37:26)

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. (Psalm 37:27)

For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. (Psalm 37:28)

We have an advocate with the Father through Jesus Christ, the righteous one, who is always there to minister to us. If we allow our eyes to wander away from faith, and away from the prize, if we think too much of the world and our own flesh then we, like the men of the Old Testament, set ourselves in the Valley of Despair. Thank the good Lord that He is the God of the mountain, and the God of the valley. It is from the mountain that we get a clear look at this evil world; however, down in the deep and dark valley we get a good look at ourselves. In the walk of faith we climb up the mountain and from there we can look into the promise land — yea, even into heaven itself. Although we have traveled a long way into the darkness of the valley of despair of this world, we can always look up and through faith climb back to the top of the mountain. We have received God’s grace and each day that grace is sufficient for us.

The still small voice of the Holy Ghost is always present if we would just listen to Him. God the Holy Spirit will bring us home to sweet fellowship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Shouldest thou help the ungodly?

Verse 1 of 2 Chronicles, Chapter 19 is not a contradiction. Jehoshaphat would have peace around him, his kingdom would be at peace for a season, but Jehoshaphat after his experience in Samaria would have a long road before he would experience peace in his own heart. Jehoshaphat was in the valley of despair, he knew in the very depth of his heart what he had done. He may have thought (like many today) that God does not see everything, or every detail. Jehovah sent a seer, he sent Jehu, the son of Hanani; Jehu met Jehoshaphat with the word of God. The words from the seer were quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) The seer went out to meet him. I believe this was before Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem. This sin of Jehoshaphat had to be dealt with outside the camp. Before he could return to his throne he had to be made to feel the depth of his sin. God was not going to let him escape all judgment, but with God’s judgment there would be mercy. God first reveals the sin, Shouldest thou help the ungodly? Consider these words, these are words of Spirit and truth. The Holy Spirit of God is speaking through the seer. He is revealing that God knew the transgression of Jehoshaphat. Should we consider this truth? Even though Israel was divided were they still not the sons of Jacob, or Israel? They were Jehoshaphat’s brethren, and surely, our hearts would say that we must help our kin and our brethren. No, not according to God’s word, not according to Jehu (the seer) and the word of God that he proclaimed. The psalmist also knew the evil, and evil men, and the depth of the ungodly.

Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? (Psalm 94:16)

Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.(Psalm 94:17)

When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.(Psalm 94:18)

It is quite evident that Jehoshaphat did not spend time in the word of God, for if he had, he would have known more about the depth of the evil heart of man. The psalmist knew the danger of man and the ungodly. So why, today, do Christians commit themselves to the ungodly? Nothing has changed throughout time. The ungodliness of Jehoshaphat’s day is the same ungodliness of today. Do Christians think they will change the ungodly? I think not. Listen once more to the words of the seer. Shouldest thou help the ungodly?

What has this done in our modern age? It is given us a delusional and diluted brand of Christianity; a second gospel (another gospel) not given of God, but based on the social works of man with the ungodly. This will never stand, nor will it ever have God’s consent and approval. Did Ahab throw up his hands and say to Jehoshaphat, I am as thou art? No, it was Jehoshaphat who threw up his hands and said, I am as thou art. The prophet reminded Jehoshaphat of his betrayal of God. Let’s look at Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. God’s vision is not impaired, He has greater than 20/20 vision. All things are open and naked to Him and exposed in the fullness of His light. He sees all, whether it be in the light, and His all seeing eyes penetrates the darkness as well. Jehoshaphat, the king, was blinded to the evil of Ahab. The minute that Jehoshaphat gave the approval of his sons’s marriage to Athaliah he was out of the will of God, and began a great descent all the way to Samaria. With Jehoshaphat’s approval did his son, Jehoram, throw up his hands and worship Jehovah? No. He converted to Baal and followed his wife Athaliah into the darkness of the occult. Did Athaliah throw up her hands for Jehovah? No. Was the house of Ahab sympathetic to Jerusalem? No. Baal, eventually, would sit on the throne in Jerusalem in the person of Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his son after him would also become a worshiper of Baal. This marriage alliance of Jehoram to Athaliah would bring evil to the throne of Judah for generations. Athaliah would eventually reign over Jerusalem after she killed all the seed royal except one. She usurped the throne of Judah for herself and for Baal. Scripture teaches us the source of evil, the acts of evil, and the fruits of evil.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (Mark 7:21)

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: (Mark 7:22)

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mark 7:23)

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)

Hate the Evil Within and the Evil Without

This is a reminder to the saints, not to trust an evil world. We are reminded to hate evil! If Jehoshaphat had hated the evil of Ahab, who had sold himself to evil, then Jehoshaphat would never have left Jerusalem to meet with Ahab. When we identify the evil of this world in those around us, we are not to join ourselves to that evil. No matter what their story, or their pledge, or plea, their motives are to entice us into their evil. They will never surrender themselves to the righteousness of God. In the familiar saying ‘for the better good’ consider the lips that propagate such lies. These are from the lips of ungodly people and ungodly leaders that know not God. They are in opposition to God in every way. No matter what their spiel they cannot be trusted, for they will not throw their hands in the air and say, I am as thou art, but they will do everything in their power to deceive you so that you may feel that you have something in common with them. Don’t be lured by the political or religious element of this world. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord. The argument that they present is that there is some good in them, or in their works. Paul contradicts them for there is no good in man, and there is none good, no not one. Only God and God alone is good. In light of God’s word, they should be ashamed at what they call, ‘the better good.’ You can’t have a better good of evil. Evil is just what it is, and that is — evil. They promote this saying to cover their deception. After all if they say it tastes good then it must be true, and many believe without questioning because they know not the word of God. They promote their ‘better good’ as if it was truth, and they deny the truth of the word of God as not being relevant, or applicable in our present day. Their hearts are like as stone. It has stopped all spiritual beats from the flow of sin. The prophet, Jehu, said ‘shouldest’ why would you help the ungodly? The king is exposed for his betrayal of Jehovah. When Jehoshaphat first came to the throne he walked in the first ways of David, and he sought not after Baalim. In the eyes of the seer, this was a king who now had a son who was a Baal worshiper, and had the blessings of his father. Even though Jehoshaphat had sent out the princes and the Levites with the priests to teach the book of the law to all of Judah, there is no record of Jehoshaphat’s making a copy for himself. According to Deuteronomy 17 every king was to write a copy of the book of the law for himself.

And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: (Deuteronomy 17:18)

And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: (Deuteronomy 17:19)

That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:20)

The Trail of Faith

If Jehoshaphat had written a copy of the law for himself and, like the psalmist, mediated on the word of the law day and night then he would have known the evil around him, and the evil in his presence. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:2) When we look at this verse in Psalm 1 we see the strength of verse 1 for if you mediate day and night in the word of God you will not walk in the way of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful; so one’s delight is in the law of the Lord, and Jehoshaphat should have been meditating on that law day and night. This very thought leads us to ourselves. Should we, as Christians, read and study the Word of God? Should we meditate day and night on the very words that God has given from His high and lofty throne? Yes, and we should be without excuse. When one only hears the preacher’s words, one is chewing another man’s food. This is not the same as the ‘spirit speaketh expressly’ you cannot live or grow on the faith of others. Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. (Proverbs 5:15) You must set your own trail of faith. You need a good compass, and that compass is the Word of God, and the Spirit of God will be your Sherpa, and He will lead you to the highest peaks of spiritual life and light. The Spirit of God will shine light on your path, He will lead you home to the Prince of Peace. As we live this life on earth the believer has a special place. Most have forgotten or have ignored this place. It is in the bosom of the Father. (John 1:18) No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. This presence in the bosom of the Father is open to all who walk by faith. The Lord Jesus declared that we are in Him, and He is in us. As He is in the Father — so are we.

This is a spiritual realization, and it is not upheld by the flesh. John continued and followed after the Lord Jesus and his devotion never wavered. When we see him on Patmos he is in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. He saw the Lord and beheld Him in the great vision of the Alpha and the Omega. He heard the very words of his risen and glorified Savior, and the Lord Jesus revealed His personal revelation that He had received from God the Father. In Chapters 1 through 3 of the Book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, He deals with the past and the present, and the history of the Church to it’s finality on earth in Chapter 3. Then in Chapter 4, a door is opened in heaven, and John (like Paul in the Spirit) becomes part of the witness of the glory of God around His majestic throne. John beheld the Lamb that had taken away the sin of the world, and only the Lord Jesus was worthy to open the book.

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (Hebrews 10:5)

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. (Hebrews 10:6) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (Hebrews 10:7)

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; (Hebrews 10:8)

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.(Hebrews 10:9)

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:5)

John beheld the Lord Jesus not on the mount of transfiguration (for that was past), but now he beheld Him in the full radiance of His glory in the fullness of His Light, and the seal of His blood was still present for he saw the Lamb as it had been slain before the foundation of the world. The mysteries of God were laid out before John. The truth of the Spirit of God and the encrypted spiritual thoughts and actions were given for us to behold the wonders of God Almighty.

Shouldest thou . . . love them that hate the LORD?

So we ask, like Jehu, to those who profess Christ having the revelation of God in our hands. Shouldest thou help the ungodly? Now to the second part of the question that Jehu asked Jehoshaphat Shouldest thou . . . love them that hate the LORD? We have a dilemma here for Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat’s son was a Baal worshiper, to be a Baal worshiper one must hate Jehovah. Could Jehoshaphat still love his son? His heart was divided between his son and Jehovah. One must listen once again to the words of the Lord Jesus.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (John 15:18)

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19)

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20)

But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. (John 15:21)

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37)

Lovest Thou Me More Than These

Peter had denied the Lord three times. The Lord brings this up by asking Peter three times, lovest thou me more than these.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (John 21:15)

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:16)

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)

At the third time, Peter was grieved. He must have remembered the crowing of the cock. He overcame his grief with the statement, that the Lord Jesus knew all things, and that the Lord Jesus knew that Peter loved Him. In contrast we are not to love the world, neither the things that are in the world. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness (1 John 5:19).

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21)

Responsibility to God First

The understanding that we have in Christ is that we are to communicate the love of God to a lost world. We should have a love for the perishing soul. This does not mean compromising, or joining with, or approving the evil of the world, or even the evil within our own family. We have been separated unto God by the royal and regal blood of the Son of God. Those who hate the Lord have made their own bed, and they will feel the flames of their sin throughout all eternity. The seer reminds Jehoshaphat of his responsibility to Jehovah that his responsibility to Jehovah must come first even above any family member. In Deuteronomy 13, under the economy or government of Jewish law, we have the understanding of what Jehovah thought of the relationships of friends and family in regard to the consent and approval of evil by the faithful to Jehovah.

If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;(Deuteronomy 13:6)

Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; (Deuteronomy 13:7)

Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: (Deuteronomy 13:8)

In the age of grace, the Lord Jesus clearly states God’s place above friendship and family relationships. All that God is must come first, no exception. To be a follower of Christ places all those who are bought with His blood in a place of knowing who you serve, and who has the pre-eminent place in all matters of judgment, approval, and consent. It is the Lord of glory who must have the first place in the heart. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. (Mark 12:30)

Once again, Jehoshaphat is reminded in his conscience of his near miss with death on the battlefield. He had been disobedient to the Lord, but it all began with his son. He did not bring his son up under the word of God, and faith in Jehovah. Jehoshaphat by not having a love of the book of the law missed an opportunity to become more than a father to his son. By the absence of the word of God, Jehoram went further away until he left Jehovah all together. Then he festered a hate for Jehovah and worshiped Baal; thus, Jehoram was lost to Jehoshaphat and lost to Jehovah. In the New Testament we have the stern reminder of Paul in Hebrews 10:28-31.

He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (Hebrews 10:28)

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (Hebrews 10:30)

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense,It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)

The world has trampled under foot the blood of Christ. Read carefully the last days of Jehoram.

The Last Days of Jehoram

And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, (2 Chronicles 21:12)

But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself: (2 Chronicles 21:13)

Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: (2 Chronicles 21:14)

And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day. (2 Chronicles 21:15)

Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians: (2 Chronicles 21:16)

And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king’s house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. (2 Chronicles 21:17)

And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. (2 Chronicles 21:18)

And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. (2 Chronicles 21:19)

Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings. (2 Chronicles 21:20)

You see the judgment of God on one who hated Jehovah with all his heart and soul. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:13) The final history of Jehoram is a man who had not the fear of Jehovah in him. The Holy Spirit closing Jehoram’s life declared in 2 Chronicles 21, verse 20, that Jehoram departed without being desired. What could be the level of evil that no one desired this king of Judah? Most likely even Athaliah did not desire him, he was just a pawn for the house of Ahab. He was not desired by God or man. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. (Psalm 37:35) Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. (Psalm 37:36) Jehoshaphat would not see the last days of his son. Jehoshaphat could have changed the first days of his son, the words to his son could have come from Proverbs 3:1-4.

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: (Proverbs 3:1)

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. (Proverbs 3:2)

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: (Proverbs 3:3)

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:4)

Jehoshaphat should have been convicted by Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. As father to a son, Jehoshaphat could have changed the history of Judah and passed his throne to a godly king, but that was not to be for he neglected the youth of his son. By the time Jehoshaphat was ready to deal with the evil ways of his son, it was too late. The scripture does not say ‘ bring up a child,’ but ‘train up a child.’ Train him to discern between evil and good, to know right from wrong, to know the righteousness of God; a child that is able to recognize sin without and within is to bring him into the nurture of a love for the word of God. To do right when all around are doing wrong, to walk in the footsteps of the Spirit of the Lord, and most of all to reveal Christ to them at an early age. I believe that if one speaks the word of God while the child is still in the womb that they can hear and understand each and every word to their living soul. When John the Baptist was in the womb of Elizabeth and when Mary entered into the room and gave her salutation, the living soul in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy. (Luke 1:41, 42) All of John’s members were written in God’s divine book. Life is given of God and should not be denied by man. Through hate for life children have been ripped out of the womb, and their heads have been dashed upon the stones by evil hands. May the God of all the earth send judgment on all those who abide this evil. May nations be overturned from within and from without for this shedding of innocent blood by the evil. May the leaders, one and all, who have brought this evil on this world be judged like Jehoram and depart not being desired. May their judgment be severe.

The Formula for a Happy Life

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. (Proverbs 22:2)

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. (Proverbs 22:3)

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. (Proverbs 22:5)

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

In Proverbs 22, verses 1-6 we have a formula for a happy life in the Lord for both young and old. In verse 3, it is the prudent man who hides himself from evil although it be all around him. You ask how, the answer is within the Word of God.

Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. (Isaiah 32:1)

And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. (Isaiah 32:2)

And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. (Isaiah 32:3)

The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. (Isaiah 32:4)

A Place to Hide from Evil

In Isaiah 32 we have a hiding place, although we walk in this evil world we have a place of love and safety. It is in the Rock that is higher than high. It is the Rock of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our great Rock in a weary land, and we abide in Him, and He abides in us. The message of the Almighty that He would give His Son for a hiding place for the soul who loves Him.

The Steps of Jehoshaphat Downward

Jehoshaphat, at one time, knew this place when he walked in the first ways of David, but he had turned aside and took counsel from the ungodly. He listened to his son instead of his son listening to him and the word of God. By listening to his son, he joined an affinity with the house of Ahab and Jezebel. The first step was allowing his son to rule a father. The second step was allowing a subject to rule a king. The third step was allowing the son to be joined to Athaliah. The fourth step was taking the throne of Judah down to Samaria. The fifth step was placing his throne beside an evil king. The sixth step was looking at Ahab on his throne and declaring, I am as thou [art], my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. Jehoshaphat was overcome by evil, but thanks be to God he was not overthrown. God delivered him, and in humble defeat Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem. The seer Jehu delivered the painful part of the message from God. He looked with eyes of steel into the eyes of Jehoshaphat and declared, therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. The judgment of God is never pleasant, but it is necessary. If one is disobedient one is judged. If one is a child of God then God claims His right to chasten His children.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6)

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Hebrews 12:7)

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8)

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Hebrews 12:9)

The Good Things Found

The work of chastening Jehoshaphat had already begun; when he was on the battlefield and the Syrian host was in hot pursuit, his chastening had already begun. When he cried out in battle he was already under the rod of God, but God is a God of mercy, and He spared the rod and spared Jehoshaphat — for nevertheless there are good things found in thee. (2 Chronicles 19:3) Although Jehoshaphat had failed — Jehovah had found the good part within him. Although Abraham had failed — the most high God found the good part in him. Although David failed — the Lord the Chief Shepherd of the sheep found the good part in him. Although Peter failed — the Lord Jesus found the good part in him. May the God of Lights and Perfections find that good part, the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ in you. Amen.

© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh

Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)