“… Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9).
When Jehoshaphat returned to Judah in peace (2 Chron. 19:1-8), he tried to recover the loss which had
come upon him through his friendship with Ahab. The Lord was gracious to him, and again began to help
him to deliver him from his enemies (2 Chron. 20:1,3,22,25). The Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites
came against him as a united force. Jehoshaphat was afraid: so he proclaimed a fast and set himself to
see the Lord. God heard his prayer, and brought confusion in the army of the enemy, so that they utterly
destroyed one another, and the whole army lay dead on the battlefield. Jehoshaphat and his people had
only to go and gather the spoil, which was so much that it took them three days to remove the same.
Later on again Jehoshaphat began to reply upon his own wisdom. He entered into an alliance this time
with Ahab’s son Ahaziah. Is it not sad that Jehoshaphat should make such a mistake after all the bitter
experiences of the past? There are many like him even today. They fall into the same sin again and again,
and each time they say they will never do it again. To them life is one great cycle of falling and rising, and
confession and falling again. Jehoshaphat entered into a league with Ahab’s son!
Although at the beginning of his reign king Jehoshaphat had removed all high places, now he had become
so weak spiritually that he allowed them to remain. This brought more darkness into his life, and he
entertained his friendship with Ahab’s son Ahaziah, who compelled him to become a partner with him in
sending ships to gather gold from far-off places.
Thus we see king Jehoshaphat, who began his reign well in the fear of the Lord, making a complete failure
of his life towards the end, and even undoing the good work which he had begun. The cause of all this
was the love of money which had crept into his life, and affinity with ungodly people like Ahab which
slowly weakened him and brought about his downfall. LET US BE WARNED.
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