2 Chronicles 19:1

2 Chronicles 19:1 says, And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.  After Ahab was killed, Jehosaphat returned to Jerusalem in peace.  He shouldn't have been in the war to begin with.  We are to help our fellow Christians, but not if they are going against God in their actions.  Verse two adds, 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.  Jehu, Hanani's the seer's son, came to Jehoshaphat and asked if he should love those who hated God and said because he did, the wrath of God was upon him.  We have to assume that God had called Jehu, and that he didn't just assume the calling as a seer because his father had been one. We are called by God to serve in whatever capacity He calls us for and are not to serve a certain role simply because our father or mother did.  Also, we are called on to love other sinners, but to hate their actions.  I believe Jehosaphat's sin was getting involved in the sinful actions of Ahab, and not in Loving Ahab himself.  We need love sinners as Jesus Christ did, and he died for their salvation.  Verse three continues, Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.  Jehu told Jehosaphat that even though he had done wrong in helping Ahab, that he had also done good in removing the groves from Judah and had prepared his heart to seek God.  Whether we do good or bad is not going to be a balance sheet to put us in a covenant relationship with God.  Only a relationship with Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord will.  Verse four states, And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers.  Jehoshaphat continued to reign in Jerusalem, but he went throughout Judah bringing people back to the Lord.  Wherever we live, we need to go out in the community and try to bring people back to God by sharing the gospel with them.  Verse five adds, And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,  Jehosaphat also set up judges in all the fenced cities.  We need to get the gospel into all the world and do our best to have those who trust in God in charge in them, though we will often fail.  We also need to pray that those in charge will be guided by God in their actions.  Verse six continues, And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment.  He gave the judges a warning to judge in accordance with what God said and not what men said.  We today have the same responsibility as followers of Christ, and again need to pray that those in power will do the same thing.  Verse seven says, Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.  Jehosaphat told these judges to take heed of how they judged, because God has no iniquity in Him and He is not a respecter of people.  We will never be without having at least had sin in our lives, but we are not to be a respecter of people either when we encounter other people.  We are to share the love of God with everyone, even those who may hate us.  Verse eight adds, Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.  He placed the Levites, the priests, and the chief fathers of Israel in charge of judging for the Lord and settling controversies.  We as a part of the priesthood of believers need to always look to God for guidance if we are in a dispute with someone else.  Verse nine continues, And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.  Like Jehoshaphat said to those who were judging then, we need to faithfully do everything with respect to God's word and with a perfect heart.  This means that we are to be at peace with God because we are following His will.  Verse ten states, And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in your cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.  There was also a warning to those who were in positions to judge.  They were not to go against God in their judgments, and neither should we.  They were warned that they would have the wrath of God on them if they did, and so will we.  They were also told that if they obeyed God's word and not man's that they wouldn't trespass against God, and neither will we if we obey God's word.  If we are in a position where we have to obey God's law or man's law, we need to always obey God, even if it goes against manmade laws.  Verse eleven adds, And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good.  Jehosaphat placed Amariah as the chief-priest over them in matters concerning God and Zebadiah who was referred to as the ruer of the house of Judah over the king's matters.  We as Christians have but one high-priest, and that is Jesus Christ, and we must follow His guidance through the leadership of the Holy Spirit in all that we do.  I don't believe that we can divide life into the things related to God and the secular but must treat everything in life as being devoted to God.

2 Chronicles 18:28

2 Chronicles 18:28 says, So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.  Having listened to the false prophets, Jehosaphat and Ahab went to fight against Ramoth-Gilead.  Ahab was doing what he wanted to do, and Jehosaphat, in spite of Micaiah's warning, was going along with him.  It does us no good for God to reveal the truth to us if we don't listen to Him.  Verse twenty-five adds, And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and I will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.  Ahab told Jehoshaphat to dress in his robes so he could be identified as king and then said he would disguise himself and go into the battle.  I don't know if Ahab was attempting to make Jehoshaphat more of a target and himself less of one, but that would seem to be the case.  Matthew Henry says there never was a greater example of treachery.  I do know that we as followers of Christ should never attempt to hide who we are in our relationship to God, even if it might be safer to do so, and especially if we put someone else in danger by doing so.  Verse thirty continues, Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.  The King of Syrian had ordered the captain of the Syrian army not to fight with anyone but the king of Israel.  This exposed Jehoshaphat to great danger, since he would have been seen as the king of Israel.  If we go against the word of God and follow the people of the world, we will always expose ourselves to great danger.  Verse thirty-one states, And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.   When the Syrian troops saw Jehosaphat in his royal robes, they thought he was the king of Israel and surrounded him.  He called out, and God protected him.  Matthew Henry says it isn't clear if he called out to God or if he called out to his troops, but I believe he called out to God.  It would have been too late for his troops to help him.  Even if we have gone against God's word, if we find ourselves surrounded by danger in the world, if we as Christians call out to Him, He will hear us and rescue us.  That doesn't mean that we will never die for our faith though.  Verse thirty-two adds, For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.  The captains of the chariots realized he wasn't Ahab, so they stopped pursuing Jehosaphat.  I won't say that if we identify as followers of Christ that we will always be spared in this lifetime, but I will say that we will always be forever safe spiritually.  Verse thirty-three continues, And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.  A Syrian archer fired an arrow at no one in particular, just hoping to hit someone, and hit Ahab in where he had no armor.  His deception had not worked.  Ahab asked his chariot man to carry him out of the battle since he was wounded.  I have to wonder if he was wishing at this time that he had listened to Michaiah.  The only thing that is going to protect us spiritually in the world is listening to God's word and putting on His armor.  Verse thirty-four concludes, And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.  The battle raged on, but Ahab was not a part of it.  Later that day, he died as Michaiah had said he would.  God's word is always going to be the truth.  It is up to us whether we believe it or not. 

2 Chronicles 18:18

Verse eighteen says, Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the Lord; I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.  Micaiah then began to tell Ahab the rest of what God revealed to him.  God will always show us what is right and what is wrong if we are listening to Him, and then we must always share His truth with the world.  Verse nineteen adds, And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.  Micaiah said he saw the Lord asking who would entice Ahab to go against Ramoth-Gilead and fall, and different ones said they would do it by various methods.  God always knows what is going on in the world and will always let us know what we should do if we look to Him for the answers.  Verse twenty continues, Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith?  Then, a lying spirit came before God and said he would entice Ahab, and God asked him how he was going to do that.  First, God does not have to ask how any part of His creation is going to do anything, but he may give us an opportunity to attempt to justify what we are doing.  Second, if God doesn't allow it and we put our faith in that fact, no one nor anything can entice us to turn away from Him, but He still gives us free will to do so even as Christians.  Verse twenty-one states, And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.  The lying spirit said he would entice Ahab by being a lying spirit in the mouths of the prophets, and God gave him permission to do so.  God still gives Satan and his forces power in the world today, but they have no power over us if we are followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-two adds, Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.  Micaiah then told Ahab that God had put a lying spirit in the mouths of his prophets, but the Lord had spoken evil against him.  Once more, I believe it would be more accurate to say that God had allowed an evil spirit to influence the false prophets.  People today may claim that they are speaking for God and instead be guided by an evil spirit, which would be anything that goes against what God's word says, but God will never be the One to send them.  Verse twenty-three continues, Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?  Zedekiah the hit Michaiah and asked him when the Spirit of the Lord left him and went to Micaiah.  Zedekiah was saying he spoke for God and Micaiah didn't.  Some people may sincerely believe that they are speaking for God when they are only saying what the people of the world want to hear and become angry if we as Christians disagree with them.  Verse twenty-four states, And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.  Micaiah said that the truth of God would be revealed when Zedekiah went into the inner chamber to hide himself.  The truth of God will ultimately be revealed when Jesus Christ returns, and there will be no place for those who have not repented and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord to hide.  Verse twenty-five adds, Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;  Verse twenty-six continues, And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.  For his faithfulness in speaking the truth of God, Micaiah was returned to Amon the governor of the city where he had been and put in prison with a diet of bread and water.  He could have avoided this by simply telling Ahab what he wanted to hear.  We must never compromise the truth of God even if it causes us to suffer at the hands of the government today.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.  Micaiah answered that if Ahab returned in peace, he would know that Micaiah had been wrong, and he asked all the people to remember that.  We can only present the truth of God and then let people decide if we are telling the truth.  If we are speaking the truth of God, what we say will always come true, even if it isn't in our lifetime here.  

2 Chronicles 18:9

2 Chronicles 18:9 says, And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.  Ahab and Jehoshaphat both sat on their thorns and the prophets prophesied in front of them.  These were not God's prophets, but prophets of Baal and other false gods.  Verse ten adds, And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.  Zedekiah one of the false prophets told the kings what Ahab wanted to hear, making horns of iron and telling them that God said with them they would push Syria.  As followers of Christ, we should never just tell people what they want to hear to keep us from getting in trouble but must always tell them the truth of God.  Verse eleven continues, And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.  All the other prophets told them to go to Ramoth-Gilead and prosper.  Once more, all these prophets were just telling Ahab what he wanted to hear, and Jehoshaphat was hearing the same thing because he had allied himself with Ahab.  As Christians, we must always stand apart with God and never listen to anyone else in deciding what to do in life.  Verse twelve states, And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of their's, and speak thou good.  The messenger that went to Micaiah told him that the words of the prophets were good and asked him to agree with them.  The words may have been good to gain Ahab's approval, but they were not good in God's sight.  We may be tempted to just go along with the crowd to make peace in the world, but we as Christians must always stand for what God's word says.  Verse thirteen adds, And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.  Micaiah said as the Lord lived, he would speak the truth that G9d revealed to him.  That is what we must do today.  Verse fourteen continues, And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.  Micaiah then told Ahab what he wanted to hear, though I am not sure if he said it in scorn or what.  We should never tell people just what they want to hear but must always tell them the truth of God.  Verse fifteen continues, And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord?  Evidently, however Micaiah said it, the king didn't believe that he was actually telling him what he believed to be God's word and told him to tell him the truth as he always asked him to.  This was in spite of the fact that he wouldn't act in accordance with what Micaiah said.  Just because people ask Christians to tell them the truth about God today doesn't mean that they are going to believe what they say. Verse sixteen says, Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.  Then, Micaiah told Ahab what he really saw, which was the people of Israel scattered as sheep without a shepherd.  This is what we as followers of Christ will be like if we listen to the world's truth instead of God's truth, and we cannot afford to just go along to get along.  Verse seventeen adds, And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?  Ahab told Jehosaphat, who had asked if there were a prophet of God, that he knew that Micaiah was not going to prophesy anything good, which was whatever Ahab wanted to hear.  We may still be accused of not predicting anything good for those who do not follow God's will in their life, but it God's word still always be the truth.  

2 Chronicles 18:1

2 Chronicles 18:1 says, Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.  Jehoshaphat had many riches and a lot of honor among the people, and he joined in an alliance with Ahab, a very bad king of Israel.  Matthew Henry says this presents Ahab in a better light than anywhere else in the Bible and that it is the one blemish on Jehosaphat's record that he entered into an alliance with such a bad man.  If people who call themselves Christians today do things that go against God's law, especially if they claim there is another way to salvation other than through faith in Jesus Christ, we do not need to join with them.  Verse two adds,  And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.  Jehosaphat went to Samaria after several years to see Ahab, and Ahab put on a feast for him and those with him.  He was seemingly at peace with Judah, and people who are outside of God's will, may still try to entice us to enter into an alliance with them.  Verse three continues, 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. Then, Ahab asked Jehosaphat to join him in war to recover Ramoth-Gilead.  We would think that God's people working together to reclaim something that has been lost by the church would be a good thing, but we need to first make sure that it is something that God leads us to do.  Jehoshaphat said that he was with Ahab and that his people were as Ahab's people, but they really weren't.  The people of Israel were following false god's under Ahab's rule.  They all needed to be under the leadership of God alone to be God's people and as one in the world.  Verse four states, And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.  To his credit, Jehosaphat asked that Ahab inquire of God what they should do.  This should always be our first step in doing anything.  We should inquire of God whether He would have us do it or not.  Verse five adds, Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.  Ahab gathered four hundred prophets to inquire whether they should go to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead, and they said go.  The only problem was these were not prophets of God.  There are still people today who claim to have some new revelation from God and who would lead Christians way from God's will if they joined with them.  Verse six continues, But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?  Again, to his credit, even though four hundred prophets had said go, Jehosaphat asked if there was not a prophet of God that they might ask as well.  No matter how many people may claim something is being done in the name of God, that doesn't mean it is necessarily true.  As followers of Christ, we need to always make sure we are following God's will, and I believe the Holy Spirit will always guide us to the truth, if we rely on Him.  Verse seven states, And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.  Ahab said there was yet one man who could prophesy of God, but he hated him because he never said what Ahab wanted him to say.  People of the world still hate what Christians have to say if it goes against their desires.  Jehoshaphat didn't let that stop him but told Ahab to send for him.  We need to always seek someone that we know is speaking the truth of God when we are trying to decide what we need to do and want advice from some other person who also follows God.  Verse eight adds, And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.  This prophet of God was in prison because he would not prophesy what Ahab wanted.  There may come a time in America as it already is in many countries when proclaiming the truth of God will cause us to be imprisoned, but we can't allow that to stop us from doing so.  Ahab sent guards to bring Micaiah to them.

2 Chronicles 17:10

2 Chronicles 17:10 says, And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.  All the people around Judah were afraid of the power of God so they didn't go to war against Jehoshaphat.  They didn't put their faith in God, but they recognized His power.  There are still people who do not put their faith in God, but are afraid to act against Him because they fear his power.  This may be a good thing, but we want people to put their faith in Jesus Christ because they recognize that only He can redeem them, and not to just be afraid of God.  Verse eleven adds, Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.  The Philistines and the Arabians who had nearly always been at war with Judah even brought Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute.  Verse twelve continues, And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.  During this time, Jehoshaphat became great, building castles and storage cities.  This was all because he was obedient to God, and if we as Christians would be great spiritually today, it can only happen because we are obedient to God.  Verse thirteen concludes, And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem. Business was good throughout Judah and the mighty men of war were in Jerusalem.  Whether business is good or not, we need mighty men and women of God throughout the world today to share the gospel of Christ, and not just to go to war.  Verse fourteen states, And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.  The next several verses simply give us the numbers of the people by house, or family, starting with those who were from the tribe of Judah.  Verse fifteen adds, And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.  Verse sixteen continues. And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.  Verse seventeen says, And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.  Then we have those from the house of Benjamen.  Verse eighteen adds, And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.  Verse seventeen continues, These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.  These were all near Jehoshaphat to wait on him, and there were even more in the other cities.  We as Christians may be scattered throughout the world, but we are all a part of the same family of God and are called to serve and witness for Him and to help on another.

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.