Jehoshaphat – Part 18
This Is The Sum
And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. (2 Chronicles 20:31)
And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD. (2 Chronicles 20:32)
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. (2 Chronicles 20:33)
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel. (2 Chronicles 20:34)
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;(Hebrews 8:1)
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (1 Peter 1:24)
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25)
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Our section begins with the word ‘And,’ the Holy Spirit is going to add to, and through His voice we are going to understand more of the life of Jehoshaphat. We cannot ignore the smallest word, nor the smallest verse, nor the smallest phrase because all has been given by divine intelligence by the Person of the Holy Spirit. What does the Spirit want to add here in the life of Jehoshaphat? This is at the end of his life, how can we be instructed by the final words of the Spirit in regard to Jehoshaphat and his people? Remember that Jehoshaphat’s name means ‘Jehovah is judge.’ We should always respect this divine position of our God. The Lord Jesus is not only a savior, but by His death He paid the price to not only receive the purchased possession, but to be in the position as the Divine Judge over all men. He has judged the Church; in the history of the Church He has interceded and judged those things that are contrary to His divine nature, and He will judge all men at the great white throne judgment; these are not the children of God, but the children of Adam. And they will endure everlasting fire by His divine judgment.
The Summation of the life of Jehoshaphat
When Jehoshaphat returned from his defeat at Ramothgilead where Ahab was judged and killed by Jehovah (for it was God’s divine arrow that took Ahab’s life), he returned with the witness of God’s judgment against Ahab still very fresh in his mind. The words of Micaiah (the prophet) may still have been echoing in his heart the prophecy that Ahab would not return to Samaria from Ramothgilead. And as Jehoshaphat approached Jerusalem Jehu, the seer, came out to met him. (There were two men in scripture named Jehu that were connected with this time period of Jehoshaphat: one was a seer in Judah, and the other was a warrior who became king of Israel). Jehu, the seer, stood before the king and rebuke Jehoshaphat for helping the ungodly and loving them who hate the Lord. This was a strong rebuke from the seer; however, this voice was the voice of the Spirit of God, and the rebuke would be accompanied by the judgment of God. Jehoshaphat accepted not only the rebuke but also the judgment to come for it would be from the hand of the Lord. When God deals with His own He not only looks for that which is not of faith, but He looks for the good part: the things of God that are found in His Beloved. In Jehoshaphat’s day the law and commandments and the Levitical offerings were the rule of life for the Israelite; and yet, as one reads Israel’s history we see the abundant mercy that God poured out to His people. We see that mercy in the life of Jehoshaphat, where God found a good part in him. Now in this summation at the end of Jehoshaphat’s reign, the Holy Spirit wants us to muse over what we have learned from the life of Jehoshaphat. We would like to say that Jehoshaphat never gave up his position with the Lord, but that would be a fantasy on our part. It was God who never gave up on Jehoshaphat, and it was the cloud of sin that hovered over his walk that led him into conflict with the Lord of glory.
The Three Denials
The issues that caused Jehoshaphat’s conflict were in the three denials of Jehoshaphat:
(1) the alliance with Ahab, And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war, (2 Chronicles 18:3);
(2) the second alliance was with Ahaziah, Ahab’s son, Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. (1 Kings 22:48) Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not,(1 Kings 22:49);
(3) the third alliance was with Jehoram, Ahab’s son, And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. (2 Kings 3:6) And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. (2 Kings 3:6)
Throughout the scriptures God required of His servants, whether they be a king, or a serf, they are to be found faithful. The declaration that God made concerning Moses was that he was found faithful and all his house. (Hebrews 3) Through all the follies of Jehoshaphat Jehovah never gave up on His servant. Jehoshaphat might sit as a king over man, but in reality he is a servant of Jehovah. The true King of kings was the greatest servant, and He left us the Holy Spirit to guide us.
The Numbers
The Holy Spirit has dealt with the whole span of Jehoshaphat’s kingdom. He gives out a series of numbers that we might muse on them. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five (35) years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for twenty-five (25) years. These numbers are very important, both numbers are divided by five (5) which is the number of grace. And do we not see God’s grace displayed in Jehoshaphat’s life. Had Jehoshaphat earned in anyway God’s unconditional grace? No, but God gave it freely. Did the people of Judah and Jerusalem earn God’s grace? No, God gave it freely.
Grace: Past – Present – Future
In the number 35 we have the number 5 seven (7) times, (5+5+5+5+5+5+5).This is the fullness of grace, the abundance of grace, for grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. This fulfillment of grace in Christ is only the fulfillment of God’s past grace to the nation of Israel, and the present grace when He was manifested, and the future grace that we enjoy today in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ; truly, the fullness of grace and the glory of God is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
In the number twenty-five (25) we have the spiritual square five times five (5 x 5, 5^2, 5²). This presents to us grace to all men, or into all the world, north, south, east, west. This give us the four (4) sides of grace. In the number thirty-five (35) we see the number three (3) as a number of divine intercession. On the part of Jehoshaphat, three times God applied His grace when this king aligned himself with the house of Ahab and Jezebel. We also have the number two (2) which is the divine witness of the Spirit of God through both Jehu and Hanani, the two seers involved in the life of Jehoshaphat.
How One Exists
Hanani was the seer who witnessed to Jehoshaphat’s father, Jehoshaphat would know the story well, how his father had put Hanani in prison for his rebuke to king Asa. Hanani’s son, Jehu, did not waiver when the Holy Spirit sent him to rebuke Jehoshaphat. Jehu’s name means, ‘existence’ or ‘how one exists.’ A humble meaning for a messenger of God, and does this not reflect the One who said of Himself, “I am that I am,’(Exodus 3:14) the self-existent One who is God Almighty. Do we not see in this self-existent One the humility of His manifestation among men, His lowly walk through His nation, and His humble message to a world of lost men? He who existed before the foundation of the world came to display all of God’s grace so that man in Him might have eternal life.
My Grace
Jehu’s father’s name (Hanani) means, ‘my grace,’ or ‘gracious.’ Paul reflecting on the thorn in his flesh that God had allowed described God’s grace as being sufficient for all. And that God’s grace was sufficient in every way for his need and his life. Can we not hear the Spirit’s voice through these names? Does not the Spirit of God gather these names here in this section of scripture at the end of Jehoshaphat’s reign?
Forsaking
We are re-introduced to Jehoshaphat’s mother, Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. His mother was the daughter of Shilhi, she was also the wife of Asa, her name Azubah means ‘forsaking,’ we see this in the last days of Asa, Jehoshaphat’s father. For he ended his life with disease in his feet, and would not seek after the Lord, he sought the hand of the physician instead of the hand of the Lord. And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. (2 Chronicles 16:12) Asa’s name means ‘healer.’ You would expect that with this God given name Asa would rely on the healing power of Jehovah. Could the Holy Spirit be relating to us that God’s healing power is ever present, but we are to apply ourselves to it. Asa did not seek the healing power of the Lord, he cast himself upon man in the physician and not the Lord.
My Weapon
The last name that we have in our reference is Shilhi, the meaning of this name is ‘my weapon.’ We must embrace that Jehovah had said to Israel many times that He would fight for them even from heaven. That He would be their weapon, it would be Jehovah who would destroy the enemies of Israel. Jehovah had also declared to Israel that if they would not follow after Him then He would fight against them. He would be the minister of judgment if they would not obey Him, and He would fight for them if they obeyed Him; and if they disobeyed He would be a weapon against them.
Your Faithfulness Measured
Today we treat membership to man’s rule as faithfulness. This is a great mistake. This is what stumbled Jehoshaphat. This is sin in the eyes of the Almighty God. It is the Spirit of God who brings you into the body of Christ. It is also the Spirit of God who keeps you each and every day of your sojourn on earth. He expects of His servants, whether king or serf, that they would be found faithful to the Almighty God. When your work is done it will be your faithfulness that is measured, and that faithfulness can only be to the Lord Jesus Christ. From this position of faithfulness all other action fall into the proper place in God’s divine will. The religions of the world are not faithful to the divine will of God; truly, many organizations that are called religions are in reality cults of evil. When a name, or a group, or men attempt to divide the body of Christ, how can they be united to Christ? The body of Christ is not divided, but when one divides they are committing sin. They are siding with Ahab and Jezebel, and they (sadly to say) will receive God’s judgment.
What Happened to Ahab’s Offspring
Let us look briefly on the judgment of Ahab’s posterity beginning with the prophecy that Jehovah gave to Elijah.
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: (1 Kings 19:15)
And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. (1 Kings 19:16)
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. (1 Kings 19:17)
Even though this prophecy was given to Elijah it was passed on to Elisha by the Spirit of God. (2 Kings 9)this whole chapter of 2 Kings 9 deals with the fulfillment of the Elijah’s prophecy. Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:. (2 Kings 9:36)
And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. (1 Kings 21:20)
Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, (1 Kings 21:21)
And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. (1 Kings 21:22)
And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. (1 Kings 21:23)
Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. (1 Kings 21:24)
But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. (1 Kings 21:25)
Synopsis of the Judgment Against the House of Ahab
Jehovah began with the head of the evil house of Ahab, which is also called the house of Omri. But Ahab was more wicked than his father Omri, and Ahab would be the first of his house to receive divine judgment. He would be wounded in Ramothgilead by the arrow of the Lord, and at his death God would send and anoint Jehu king over Israel. Jehu would be anointed in the place of Ahab’s judgment in Ramothgilead, and it would be this Jehu who would fulfill the prophecy spoken by Elijah to Ahab. The prophecy was passed on through Elisha, and Elisha sent one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu. This took place where God used His divine judgment against evil king Ahab; thus, the house of Omri would be completely judged, Ahab’s sons would fall to Jehu, Jezebel (Ahab’s wife) would be cast down in Samaria by Jehu’s command, and Ahab’s seventy (70) sons would be judged in Jezreel, the very site of righteous Naboth’s murder. Jehu dispatched a letter to the elders or rulers of Jezreel, and he requested (ordered) that they would send the 70 heads of Ahab’s sons in a basket to him. Jehu was now the king of Israel, the ten tribes, and every one of Ahab’s sons would have to meet his final judgment of God. Even though the death of Ahab’s 70 sons was not by the direct hand of Jehu, his letter to the elders and their actions fulfilled the prophecy of Elijah. The judgment was now complete. This was in retribution for the murder of righteous Nabath and his sons. Read the entire Chapter 21 of 1st King to see the depth of evil in the government of Ahab and Jezebel. Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take [and] cast him into the plat [of ground], according to the word of the LORD. (2Ki 9:26) There would only be one left out of the house of Ahab, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, Athaliah. She was now dwelling in Jerusalem with her husband, Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s son. Her judgment would come after the death of Jehoram who departed not being desired, and Ahaziah (Jehoram’s son by Athaliah) would also be judged by Jehu. After the death of her son, Athaliah seized the throne of Judah in Jerusalem, and this wicked woman reigned in Jerusalem for seven (7) evil years. But Jehovah was not finished with His final chapter of judgment against the house of Ahab. Although Athaliah tried to destroy all the seed royal, the Lord divinely saved one child named Joash. After God’s final judgment upon Athaliah and the house of Ahab, Joash would rule and be anointed king over Judah. The people of Judah and Jerusalem had endured seven long years of the evils of Athaliah and the cult of Baal. As Ahab had sold himself to do evil, his daughter continued that evil until the entire house of Ahab was completely cut off.
Think what effect these three evil alliances had on the posterity of Jehoshaphat, and on the people of Judah and Jerusalem; God continued to judge by giving Jehoshaphat’s son a disease in his inner parts until they fell out of his body. The last mention of his son is that he departed not being desired. The sum of the matter: all perished in Ahab’s posterity, and almost all perished in Jehoshaphat’s posterity. Jehoshaphat’s three evil alliances caused the death of most of his descendants. Joash (although being of the seed royal) was not completely of the house of Jehoshaphat. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:. (1 Peter 1:24)
And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. (2 Kings 11:1)
But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. (2 Kings 11:2)
Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. (2 Kings 24:1) (God brings in another line by Joash’s mother Zibiah of Beersheba, once again the seed of the woman is brought in under divine intervention, a child out of the line of Jehoshaphat/Ahaziah, but not of the line of Omri/Ahab/Jezebel/Athaliah). Joash’s ascent to the throne was the end of Athaliah’s reign and the last of the descendants of Ahab and Jezebel. All this misery and evil in the family of Jehoshaphat was because of the alliances of Jehoshaphat with the house of Ahab.
The Testimony and Message of the Grace of God
In verse 32 of Chapter 20 of 2nd Chronicles we read: And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD. (2 Chronicles 20:32) the Spirit of God reminds us once again that Jehoshaphat’s desire was to walk in the ways of the Lord. I believe that this closing part of the testimony of Jehoshaphat is truly a message of grace to us from the Holy Spirit of God.
The Continuous Battle
We see in Jehoshaphat the age old battle of flesh versus spirit; and this battle is further revealed in the New Testament in both Romans 8 and Galatians 4. The flesh wars against the spirit, and the spirit wars against the flesh. Many of us do not avail ourselves of the full power of the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God has been given to keep us, to instruct us, and when we stumble like Jehoshaphat, the Spirit of God is there to lift us up. In the Spirit’s dealings with the sons of God He wants us to have full and continuous fellowship with Him, and with the Lord Jesus Christ. We have to comply to the Spirit’s voice that we are not of this world, that our life is hid in Christ in God. We must make this the very reality of both heart and soul. The world and those against us have not this great power, only God can keep us in this present evil world. Because of our surroundings we are tempted every day, we must keep the temptation without and not let it in. This is the work of the Holy Spirit of God, to convict us at the very point of temptation. Even our imaginations have to been kept under control by the Spirit of God. Remember when Jehoshaphat was walking with the Lord in the first ways of David, the eyes of the Lord were upon him; also remember, when he made his evil alliance with Ahab, the eyes of the Lord were upon him, and because he was a divine appointment of God (when he found himself on the battlefield surrounded by the enemy) and cried out to God and God delivered him. We cannot live our spiritual lives in the realm of man, we have to separate ourselves to heaven above. Any authority that is given to us must come from the Man in heaven, and not from the man of the earth. The very alliance with Ahab was an alliance with the earth, even though Israel is God’s earthly people they were connected to heaven by the temple in Jerusalem, and the glory of God from above.
The Called Ones
Today, the world of religion is afraid of the divine calling of God. Religion feels that it should be able to dictate to God who is called. This is completely opposite to the work of the Spirit of God. Throughout the life of Jehoshaphat’s life, and with all the ups and downs of his life, we would cast him off, but because he was God’s chosen representative God continued to both chasten him, and lift him back on his feet (in the spiritual sense). How does this apply to us today? Consider Hebrews 12:4-11.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:4)
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: (Hebrews 12:5)
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)
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (Hebrews 12:10)
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11)
The Reward of Chastening
In Hebrews Chapter 12, we have a direct reference to the sons of God, and being sons, God will chasten us. He will also fill our hearts with the presence of the Spirit of God that we might rejoice in the day of temptation. As we come to a close in Hebrews Chapter 12, verse 11, we see that the chastening from God yields a reward and that reward is the peaceable fruit of righteousness. This is a wonderful position, it might have been obtained by a hard correction, nevertheless, it is a wonderful position to be in with God Almighty that we might have the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Also consider 1 John 1:7-10.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:9)
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)
In Hebrews 12 we have God’s part in our chastening. In 1 John, Chapter 1 we have the work of the Holy Spirit within us convicting us of our sin. If I may use the example, when Jehoshaphat made his league with Ahab, and returned to Jerusalem it was the Holy Spirit who sent Jehu to rebuke Jehoshaphat. In the present day we have His presence within us, and He rebukes our sin and chastens directly related to our response to that sin, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. This also includes his chastening power, He uses this to bring us to the peaceable fruit of righteousness. This revealing nature of the Holy Spirit of God in the child of God separates him from the world around him.
Ahab and Jehoshaphat Compared
In comparison to Jehoshaphat we have Ahab: Ahab would not repent of his wickedness. The Spirit of God proclaimed that Ahab sold himself to do evil. And Ahab would not repent of that evil. In 1 Kings it is recorded that Ahab humbled himself before the Lord, but this was not true repentance for he did not change his direction, but continually proceeded in his path of evil. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house. (1 Kings 21:29) The Lord staid His hand of judgment for a season; however, the Lord saw no part of repentance of remorse on the part of Ahab. He was a man with a hardened heart who had sold himself to do evil. On Jehoshaphat’s part we see him repenting and turning to the Lord to walk in the ways of the Lord; therefore, at the end of Jehoshaphat’s reign we see peace in his kingdom; thus, his life ended on a high plain with the Lord. But his sin and his alliance with evil had an effect on all his family and on all his people. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. (2 Chronicles 20:33) This was the effect of Jehoshaphat’s sin: Jehovah had done all to put him in a position of grace when the Spirit of God writes his final description of the kingdom of Jehoshaphat, the high places of idol worship still surrounded Jerusalem and the country side. The mount of corruption that Solomon had built to pagan gods was still standing and would continue to stand till the days of Josiah, the last godly king of Judah. And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. (2 Kings 23:13) And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men. (2 Kings 23:14)
The Words Burning Through Time
The abominations of the world both past and present are deeply rooted in the hearts and souls of men. It is only the grace of God through the new birth that will free man from this bondage. After all the grace that was displayed to Jehoshaphat and to his people, idolatry still had a part in their hearts; the words of the Spirit of God expresses the spiritual condition of the people, for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. Here we see the outreaching effect of the alliance of Jehoshaphat with evil. The alliance effected his entire kingdom, his son became an evil man and a murder of his brethren, and his people followed in the ways of idolatry. How profound were the words that Jehoshaphat spoke to Ahab that they still echo through time. And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. (1 Kings 22:4)
I Am As Thou Art
The first declaration, I am as thou art can be compared to 1 John 2:15-16, and 1 John 4:1-3.
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)
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16)
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (1 John 4:2)
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:3)
If Jehoshaphat had the opportunity to read these verses in 1 John, would he have walked away from the alliance with Ahab? We are blessed today to have the Spirit’s voice in these matters. The Spirit of God has opened our eyes that we live in a present evil world, and we should love not the world neither the things that are in the world. In Jehoshaphat’s case, if he had been convicted by these verses in 1 John he would have been spared much grief. Even in our age, it is easy to be swallowed up by the world. Remember, both Ahab and Jezebel were both very religious, in fact, they were so religious that they had 450 prophets of Baal, and 400 priests of Baal. There was absolutely no mention of Jehovah in their every day life. It was Ahab, the religious king, who asked Jehoshaphat, the godly king, to go up with him to Ramothgilead. Consider Leviticus 26:1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. Jehoshaphat, while sitting in the gate of Samaria, could look around and see the idols to Baal, and still Jehoshaphat declared, I am as thou art. In our age we live in a coagulated world (sin has been solidified and blood touches blood), and because the world is united in opposition to God, the Holy Spirit tells us, as the children of God, to try the spirits. To find those who are of God, and who love the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul gives us one simple rule in Galatians 2:6, But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:. If one claims to be of Christ, and claiming to represent Christ they should add, not detract from the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. I say this, although, it is not believed by many today, that when God the Holy Spirit introduces you to someone of like faith you will know that you have come into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. When a person has the Spirit of Christ he will enrich you through God’s word, he will add to your faith and not diminish it. There will be no formalism of man for the Spirit of God will exhort both and share His presence through the word of God with each. When this happens don’t be quick to leave, enjoy the moving of the Spirit of God in your heart and soar with the Spirit of God. Let no man detract from the wonderful gift of God in Jesus Christ. He has given His Spirit for all saints. This is a supernatural gift and this gift is to open to us the supernatural word of God. If we abide by the Spirit’s voice we will never use words concerning the world as, I am as thou art.
My People As Thy People
In the second phase of Jehoshaphat’s denial, he spoke for his people that they were the same as Ahab’s people, my people as thy people. Jehoshaphat had descended to evil, but this was not enough, now he declares his people as the same as Ahab’s people; thus, dragging them down to the same level of the kingdom of Ahab. What do I, as a believer in Jesus Christ, represent? I should represent His holiness and His righteousness, I should represent the God of creation, that all things were created by and for Jesus Christ. In this position one must do everything he can to bring the children of God into close communion and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every Christian should know the presence of heaven, and have fellowship with them who are walking with the Lord Jesus Christ in a heavenly walk. We must always be aware of how we affect the world. We are here to affect them and infect them with the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. There are many today who do not have the understanding and the presence of the Spirit of God. Let us desire to walk as Enoch walked with God. His walk became an everlasting presence with God in eternity. Jehoshaphat declared that his people were the same as the people of Ahab. Our testimony should be that we are a celestial people, and that we are far different from the world that we live in. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17)
My Horses As Thy Horses
In Jehoshaphat’s allegiance with evil Ahab you think that would have been enough, but now Jehoshaphat declared my horses as thy horses. Here we have Jehoshaphat compromising the strength and power of his military. The kingdom stood because of their mighty army, however, it was only mighty when God was in it. Take God out of the mighty host, and Jehoshaphat would have to run for his life at Ramothgilead. Paul, through the Spirit of God, tells us to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10) We should remember that the collective is made up of the individuals’ faithfulness to Christ. One’s faithfulness must contain the Spirit of God, and the power of the Lord Himself. The only strength we have is in Jesus Christ. Let us read on in Ephesians, Chapter 6, verses 11-18.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Ephesians 6:14)
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:15)
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16)
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)
Here we have the armor of God. This armor should never be compared to Ahab’s armor, or the armor of the world. The armor of the world is the armor of the devil. It is witchcraft, variance, pride, vanity, evil communications, lasciviousness, greediness, fornication.
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,(Romans 1:29)
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ,(Romans 1:30)
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: ,(Romans 1:31)
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. ,(Romans 1:32)
All these were seen in the house of Ahab; yet, Jehoshaphat lowered himself, then he lowered his people, then lastly he lowered the power and the majesty of his kingdom. I will close with the wonderful truth found in 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
We are to always see ourselves in this position with God. We are responsible to the exact text that we have just seen out of Corinthians. The effect on us should be the great price that the Lord Jesus paid for us. It is not our glory but His glory, and in some ways it is not our self-consciousness, but His consciousness within us. When we understand this we will cleave closer to Him for we continually desire His presence and His guidance through the Spirit of God.
The Books Sealed and the Books Unsealed
Verse 34 of 2 Chronicles, Chapter 20 closes with a reminder from the Spirit of God, Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel. The Spirit of God reminds us to search the scriptures, He is also revealing to us that He is a divine Person, and He is the Divine Editor of God’s word. He declared that there is the book of Jehu; yet, it is not present in the canon of Scripture, neither is the book or the writing that Daniel was told to close up, or the book that John was told to close up in the Book of Revelation. It is the Spirit of God who is the editor of the word of God. He has decided to give us 66 books to ward off the works of the devil, and to save and illuminate precious souls. This is a reminder to us that all scripture is given by inspiration of God. All scripture makes a whole; therefore, we should study as the Lord tells us line upon line, and precept upon precept. If we study the word of God then we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. 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)