2 Chronicles 23:12

 2 Chronicles 23:12 says, Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the Lord:  When Athaliah heard all the noise of the people praising the king, she went to the temple, to see what was going on. Since she thought she had killed all those who could claim the kingship, she must have really been curious.  The people in Jesus's day thought they had killed Him, so they had to be confused when his disciples started to proclaim the He had risen, and too many people still don't believe that today, and some even come to the church to find out, but still won't believe.  Verse thirteen adds, And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.  When she got to the temple, she saw the king standing by his pillar and all the people singing and rejoicing and playing music, so then she cried out treason, treason.  On day, everyone is going to see the King, Jesus Christ, standing in His position by the right hand of God, and they may believe that they were somehow betrayed by those they believed in, but it will be too late for them to be saved, just as it was too late for her since she didn't repent of her actions.  Verse fourteen continues, Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the Lord.  Jehoiada told the captains of the forces to take Athaliah out of the temple and slay her, and do the same to anyone who followed her.  She had accused the people of treason, but she was the one who was actually guilty of it.  When Jesus Christ returns to judge the world, those who would not put their faith in Him will be sent away to everlasting punishment out of heaven, God's realm.  They will be sent away because of their own rebellion, or treason, against Him.  Verse fifteen concludes, So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.  She was taken and slain.  We are not called on to kill our enemies or the enemies of God, but one day He will send them away to everlasting punishment.  Verse sixteen states, And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the Lord's people.  Jehoiada made a covenant between all the people, the king, and himself that they should be God's people.  They all had to individually agree to this, because Jehoiada could not really make a covenant for them, just as we must all individually make a covenant with God today by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  No one else can make this decision for us, and it must be made while we are alive.  Verse seventeen adds, Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.  The people then went to the temple of Baal and destroyed all the idols to him and killed the priest of Baal.  We must destroy all idols in our lives today if we are to effectively serve God.  Verse eighteen continues, Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the Lord by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.  Jehoiada also reestablished the order of the priests in serving in the temple in accordance with the law of Moses.  We as Christians are under God's law, and we need to not only worship in accordance with His word, but we need to live life every day, no matter where we are or what we are doing, in accordance with His word under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse nineteen says, And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the Lord, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in.  Jehoiada also set up porters at the gates to make sure that nothing unclean came into the temple.  We are not called on to keep those who are sinners, or spiritually unclean, out of God's house, but to bring them in so they can hear the gospel, but we do need to make sure that we as followers of Christ do not bring anything unclean into the church, or even in to our lives as individuals, since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty adds, And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the Lord: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.  The king was then brought from the temple to the king's house, and he was set upon the throne.  Our King is already sitting on His throne, and we just need to acknowledge that fact.  Verse twenty-one continues, And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.  After this, everything was quiet in the city and the people rejoiced.  Everything in our lives as Christians should be quiet spiritually if we are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and we should continually rejoice because of that fact.

2 Chronicles 23:1

2 Chronicles 23:1 says, And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.  Jehoiada rose up in the seventh year of the reign of Athaliah's rule and began to form a covenant with others to put the God chosen person back in power, and this was a seed of David.  We may suffer under the rule of ungodly leaders today, but we must never accept this as something permanent.  We as followers of Christ must always be in a covenant relationship with Him and join with other believers to present His word to the world.  Verse two adds, And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.  Jehoiada and those allied with him gathered the Levites and chief men from throughout Judah and brought them to Jerusalem.  We as Christians may not all be gathered in one place of service to God, but we do need to be united in purpose and that is to obey God's law and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Verse three continues, And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the Lord hath said of the sons of David.  These people made a covenant with the king, the descendant of David, that he would rein as God had ordained.  We need to make a covenant with our fellow believers to always do what God has called us to do and to support those that He has put in positions of leadership in the church, but Jesus Christ is the only King we will ever have.  Verse four states, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;  Jehoiada made a plan, which started with a third of priests and Levites entering the temple on the Sabbath to be porters at the doors.  They were to control who came into the temple.  I will make the analogy that our bodies as Christians are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and we need to control what we allow into our lives.  We cannot allow the things of this world to corrupt us if we are going to be successful in our spiritual life.  Verse five adds, And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.  Another third of the the group were going to be at the king's house, and the remaining third were to be at the gate of the foundation.  I understand these thirds were to be the priests and Levites, and then the rest of the people allied with Jehoiada were to be in the courts of the house of the Lord.  We need God called leaders in the church today to be in charge of our worship services, but we all have the command to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel.  Verse six continues, But let none come into the house of the Lord, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD Only the priests and Levites were to be allowed to go into the house of the Lord, because they were considered to be holy, and the rest of the people were to keep watch for the Lord.  As believers in Christ, we are a part of the priesthood of believers and are never limited in where we can go for the Lord, and we have a responsibility to make sure that we represent God wherever we may be.  Verse seven says, And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.  The Levites were charged with keeping the king safe, and anyone other than a Levite who entered into the house, which I believe was the temple, was to be put to death.  They were to always be armed and with the king when he went in or came out.  We are to always be armed with armor of God wherever we go, and we are to remain faithful to our King, Jesus Christ.  Verse eight adds, So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.  The Levites and all of Judah did as Jehoiada had commanded, and we today as followers of Christ must do as God commands us.  We all have our calling from God, and we must obey it.  Verse nine continues, Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.  Jehoiada then gave them the armor that had been David's that was in the house of God.  We all are equipped with the armor of God as His people and are empowered by the Holy Spirit.  This is a much greater security than the armor of David could ever bring.  Verse ten states, And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.  All those who were allied with Jehoiada were placed around the temple to guard the king.  As Christians, we are allied with Him and with each other and must do our best to preserve His kingdom here on earth through being obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and if we are, we will be where God needs us to be.  Verse eleven adds, Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.  They then brought the king's son out and put the crown on him, gave him the testimony, and made him king.  Jehoiada and his sons then anointed him and said God save the king.  Our King has been forever anointed, and the heavenly Father established Him as King forever.

2 Chronicles 22:1

2 Chronicles 22:1 says, And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.  Ahaziah, who had been called Jehoahaz in the last chapter, Jehoram's youngest and only remaining son was made king of Judah after Jehoram was killed.  Matthew Henry says this is the same name, but the two parts are transposed.  Even if the name is different, it is the same person. God had promised that a descendant of David would always be on the throne, and this continued that promise.  The promise was fulfilled forever when Jesus Christ became the everlasting king of God's people.  Verse two adds, Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.  Ahaziah was forty-two when he began to rule, and he ruled for one year in Jerusalem.  Verse three continues, He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.  He followed the ways of Ahab, under the counsel of his mother, Athaliah, who was a daughter of Omri.  Those who are mother's today and are Christians need to council their children to follow God, but too often, they do not and counsel them to not do so instead.  Then, it is up to the child to decide whether to follow God or their mother.  Verse four states, Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.  Ahaziah did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, following the advice of Ahab's counselors.  God had spared his life, but he didn't follow Him.  God has spared people from everlasting punishment if they will only accept His gift of salvation, but too many people refuse to do so.  We need to pray that people today who are in positions of leadership will not follow the ways of the world but will follow the leadership and counsel of God instead.  Verse five adds, He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.  Ahaziah, following the advice of these counselors, went with Jehoram Ahab's son, to battle Hazael, the king of Syria at Ramoth-Gilead.  We should never go into battle without God telling us to.  Verse six continues, And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.  Jehoram had been wounded in the battle, and Ahaziah went to see him at Jezreel.  I guess we could say that he was at least loyal to Jehoram, but being loyal to the wrong person or thing even is not necessarily a good thing.  We as followers of Christ must be loyal to Him first, and then to others if they are following His will.  Verse seven says, And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.  Being loyal to Jehoram led to Ahaziah's destruction, because he went against Jehu, and God had chosen Jehu to replace Jehoram because he was leading the people of Israel to disobey God.  If God has pronounced His judgment on someone, we certainly don't need to ally ourselves with them.  Verse eight adds, And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.  When Jehu found the princes of Judah caring for Jehoram, he killed them as well.  We need to be careful about the company we keep as Christians and never ally ourselves with those who do not obey God's word.  Verse nine continues, And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.  Ahaziah was found hiding and brought to Jehu, who had him killed.  If we are disobeying God, there is no place to hide where He will not find us, and if we haven't put our faith in Jesus Christ, we will go away to everlasting punishment when we die.  Ahaziah was buried honorably, because he was a son or descendant of Jehosaphat who had sought God's will in what he did.  It is not going to matter how we are buried, or what our parents or grandparents believed about God, but only our relationship with God in this lifetime will matter.  Verse ten states, But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.  When Athaliah saw that Ahaziah was dead, she began to have the rest of the royal descendants killed.  She was trying to establish herself as ruler, or possibly have the people of Israel, her people, take over the kingdom of Judah.  Verse eleven adds, But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.  One of Ahaziah's sisters, Jehoshabeath, was able to rescue one of the princes, and hide him with a nurse.  God's promise to David was not going to be destroyed, and His promise to people today of everlasting life with Him will not be destroyed if they put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve continues, And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.  The child was hidden in the house of God for six years while Athaliah reigned.  This might have been a safe place because Athaliah wasn't looking to follow God and might not have gone to God's house.  I can say that the safest place for us is in God's house, which is wherever He is.

2 Chronicles 21:12

2 Chronicles 21:12 says, 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,  Jehoram received a written message from Elijah telling him what God said.  He started by saying that Jehoram had not walked in the ways of his father Jehoshaphat or King Asa.  If we are going against God today, we will only have the written message of the Bible to call us to repentance most likely.  Though God could still work through His people to send us a written message, it will be nothing that the Bible doesn't already tell us, and I really don't know of a time when He ever has.  Verse thirteen adds, 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:  Elijah then told Jehoram that God said that he had walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, who had turned to idol worship, and that he had led all of Judah to do so as well.  He had followed Ahab's ways instead of God's ways.  Elijah also reminded Jehoram that he had killed his brothers, who were better men than he was.  We can never follow the teachings of the world and be successful spiritually, even if we do remain one of God's children by our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen continues, Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:  Elijah told Jehoram that because of his disobedience to God and the people of Judah following him in it, that God was going to send a plague on them.  Our disobedience of God will always bring consequences.  Though we are forever saved as followers of Christ, we are not given a license to sin without facing any consequences.  Verse fifteen concludes, And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.  Elijah then turned to God's judgment of Jehoram himself.  The people were to be punished for their sins and Jehoram was to be punished for his.  We will never be punished for someone else's sins, nor they for ours.  Elijah said God had said Jehoram was going to get a disease of his bowels until they fell out.  I don't know what this disease was, only that it was sent by God in judgment of Jehoram.  Those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord will suffer an even greater punishment, and that is everlasting separation from God.  Verse sixteen states, Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:  God then stirred up the Philistines and the Arabians against Jehoram and Judah.  I don't really believe that God causes Christians to be punished by other people, but He can allow it if we rebel against Him.  Verse seventeen adds, 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.  The Philistines took away all of Jehoram's treasures, his wives, and all his sons except one, Jehoahaz.  When God's judgment comes, those who have put their faith in the things of this world and denied God they will lose everything.  Verse eighteen continues, And after all this the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.  God's word came true, and Ahab was struck with an incurable disease of the bowels.  We have been struck with an incurable disease of sin unless we put our faith in Jesus Christ for the cure and we will lose everything if we don't turn to Him by faith.  We cannot be healed any other way.  Verse nineteen says, 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.  It took two years of suffering for Jehoram to die.  We may never suffer in this life in such a manner because of our sins, but we will suffer forever when God's judgment comes if we never accept His salvation through putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Jehoram was not buried the same way as the other kings of Judah were.  Verse twenty adds, 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.  Jehoram ruled for eight years, but the last two were when he was suffering great pain.  He was buried in Jerusalem when he died, but not in the sepulchers of the Kings.  It is not where we are buried that is important, but where we will live forever.  We cannot live with those Christians who have gone before us if we are not born-again Christians.

2 Chronicles 21:7

2 Chronicles 21:7 says, Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.  God would not totally destroy the house of David because of His promise to David, and that promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  He is a descendant of David and is forever on the throne.  Verse eight adds, In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.  During Jehoram's reign the Edomites revolted against him and declared their own king.  People are still revolting against God, which is not to claim that Jehoram was anywhere near to being God.  People also still rebel against earthly rulers if things get bad enough.  Verse nine continues, Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.  Jehoram attempted to put the uprising down by going against them at night.  As far as those who go against God, He will ultimately put down their rebellion by shining the Light, Jesus Christ, on them.  Those who rebel against earthly rulers will often find their rebellion unsuccessful.  Verse ten states, So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.  Though Jehoram had put the rebellion down somewhat, the Edomites continued to rebel and others joined in the rebellion.  Continuing to equate this with those who rebel against God. there will always be people who rebel against God, but they have already been put down. Verse eleven adds, Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.  Jehoram not only rebelled against God, but he forced Israel to do so as well, partly by worshipping in the high places.  No one can force us to worship anyone but God, but they can make it easy to do so or a threat if we don't.  Still, the decision is always ours to make, just as it was for the people of Judah.   

2 Chronicles 21:1

2 Chronicles 21:1 says, Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.  Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his ancestors just as we will all one day die if Jesus Christ doesn't return first.  Jehoram his son replaced him as king, and someone will take our place in the church today after we die.  Verse two adds, And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.  Jehoram had several brothers, but there could only be one king.  We as followers of Christ are said to be His brothers and sisters, but He is the only King.  We will never be equals to God but even if we are called the children of God as Christians, we will also always be His servants.  Verse three continues, And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.  The other sons of Jehoshaphat had been given great gifts, but the kingdom was given to Jehoram as the first born.  God may give us great gifts as Christians today, but the kingdom will always belong to Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.  Verse four states, Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.  When Jehoram had established himself in power, he killed all his brothers and several other princes throughout Judah.  We are not told that they attempted to take the throne from him, but he just had them killed out of fear they might.  We should not be surprised if people of the world today attempt to kill Christians, not because we have threatened them but simply because they are afraid that we are somehow going to be a threat to them.  Vere five adds, Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.  Jehoram was thirty-two when he became king, and he ruled for eight years.  He did not have a long reign even though he had all those he feared would be a threat to him killed.  No matter how long people who do not put their faith in God may be in power, their rule will be short from the eternal perspective, but Jesus Christ will reign forever.  Verse six continues, And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.  Jehoram was married to one of Ahab's daughters and he followed the ways of Ahab instead of the ways of God.  Sometimes, Christians will marry non-Christians and begin to follow their beliefs, but we should never allow this to happen.  If we as followers of Christ do marry a non-Christian, we need o stand firm in our belief in God and follow His word.  We can never compromise and be successful in our spiritual life.

2 Chronicles 20:26

 2 Chronicles 20:26 says, And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.  After three days of gathering the spoils of war, the people of Judah gathered in the valley of Berachah on the fourth day and blessed, or I believe praised the Lord.  If we have been blessed by God, we should never get so caught up in the blessings that we forget to give God thanks and praise.  Verse twenty-seven adds, Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.  Then they all returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, rejoicing that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies.  We need preachers leading us in rejoicing that God has given us victory over our enemies today, and we need to join in rejoicing with them.  Verse twenty-eight continues, And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord.  They came playing many different music instruments, and we need to praise God with music as well today.  Verse twenty-nine states, And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel.  The fear of God was on all the countries around them.  There are many countries today who not only don't fear God, but they stand in open defiance against Him, but one day, they will learn how wrong they were.  We are not to serve God out of fear, but out of knowing that He loves us enough that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die for us.  Verse thirty adds, So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.  The realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet because God gave him rest.  God has already given Christians the victory today, so our lives should be lived quietly at rest in Him, no matter what is going on in the world.  Verse thirty-one continues, 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.  Jehoshaphat reigned for twenty-five years.  Verse thirty-two says, 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.  Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of God as Asa his father had done, not departing from it.  We also need to walk in the ways of God, as Christians before us did, not departing from His truth.  Verse thirty-three adds, Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.  Still, he didn't take away the high places, we are told because the people hadn't prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.  We may be close to being spiritually correct today, but if anything, outside of God's will has been allowed into the church, we need to be prepared in our hearts to get rid of it.  Verse thirty-four continues, 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.  As with other kings of Israel and Judah, we are told that the rest of his acts are written in a book, this one another one that that we don't have, but we do have all that we need to know in the Bible.  People can never know everything about God in this lifetime, but we have a record of all that we need to know recorded in the Bible and preserved by God.  Verse thirty-five states, And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:  Once more, Jehoshaphat joined in a pact with the king of Israel, this time with Ahaziah, who was said to have done very wickedly.  We may want to be united with others who profess to be Christians, but if they are doing things that go against God's word, we need to stay apart from them.  Some religions sound good, but if they do not acknowledge God for Who He really is or change Who Jesus Christ is, we should never join with them.  Verse thirty-six adds, And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber.  Jehoshaphat joined in this pact with Ahaziah to send ships to trade with other people.  I don't know if he was just looking for greater riches or what, but it seems he didn't ask God about this first.  Even if someone is promising us riches today, we should never join them just for earthly riches.  We need to always seek God's will first, and then do everything in accordance with His will.  Verse thirty-seven continues, Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.  Eliezar a prophet of God came to Jehoshaphat and told him that since he had joined with Ahaziah that God had broken his works and the ships were broken.  God is never going to bless anything that is not done in accordance with His word and under His leadership, even if we prosper in the world.  All that we do outside of God's will ultimately will be destroyed.