2 Chronicles 17:1

2 Chronicles 17:1 says, And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.  After Asa died, his son Jehoshaphat became king of Judah.  It says he strengthened himself against Israel.  When we have a change in the leadership in the church, which should be by God's direction, we need to strengthen ourselves against the enemies of God, but hopefully we won't be at war with other Christians.  Verse two adds, And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.  Jehoshaphat stationed troops throughout Judah, including in the cities of Ephraim that Asa had taken from Israel.  We need to do all that we can to strengthen churches throughout the world today and not just put our time and effort into our local congregation.  Verse three continues, And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;  God was with Jehoshaphat because he followed Him like David had done and didn't worship false gods, with Baalim being mentioned in particular.  We need to follow God like those Christians who have gone before us and not be led away from Him by any false god, and when we do, He will bless us spiritually.  Verse four states, But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.  Jehoshaphat followed the Lord God of his father and didn't follow what are called the doings of Israel, which would have been based on the worship of idols.  These were all God's chosen people, and some were following Him, and some were rebelling against Him.  As Christians, we need to be like the people of Judah in that day and not like the people of Israel.  Verse five continues, Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.  God blessed Jehoshaphat and all of Judah brought him presents, so he had riches and honor.  We don't serve God for material wealth, but if we are faithful to Him, He will give us spiritual wealth, which has nothing to do with material things but with an everlasting relationship with Him.  Verse six continues, And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.  Jehoshaphat went even further in removing any worship practice that wasn't in accordance with God's law, removing the high places and groves.  These were places where idols were worshipped according to Matthew Henry.  We need to remove anything from the church today that becomes more important than the worship of God in accordance with His word.  Verse seven says, Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.  Jehoshaphat also sent out people to teach about God in the cities of Judah, and we as followers of Christ today need to send out teachers into the world, but into the church in particular.  We need to make sure that what we are doing is based on the word of God.  Verse eight adds, And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.  He sent the Levites, those who served in the church doing the necessary work, and we still need people supporting those who are preaching and teaching today.  Verse nine continues, And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.  Those sent by Jehosaphat to the cities of Judah taught God's word, and that is what we must do today.