An Alliance With Wicked Men
I Kings 22:48-50, II Chronicles 20:31-37
“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. 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. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
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.” (II Chronicles 20:31-34)
Asa had been one of the best kings Judah had, serving God wholeheartedly. Not since Solomon had they had a king who really tried to serve God. He had done a great deal to turn the people back to God, and had made Judah a great kingdom. His Son Jehoshaphat followed his example, even carrying it farther. He had set up teams of leaders and Levites to teach the people God’s word, and had done his best to eradicate the idolatry and worship of nature. Because the people chose to continue secretly, he was not able to completely eliminate it, although he did drive it underground.
“And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber. 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.” (II Chronicles 20:3537)
"Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.” (I Kings 22:48-49)
Early in his reign, Jehoshaphat had allied himself with Ahab, king of Israel. As a result he had nearly been killed, and had been severely rebuked by the prophet Jehu for helping the wicked. Thirteen years later, he made a treaty with Ahab’s son Ahaziah, joining with him in a trading venture. Like Solomon, he established a ship building center at Eziongeber, on the Gulf of Aqaba, intending to send them along the Gold Coast of Africa and over to India.
Because the prophet Eliezer warned him that God was going to cause the venture to fail because of his association with Ahaziah, he refused to allow Ahaziah’s sailors to accompany the ships. This did not save the ships and the entire fleet was destroyed while still in the harbor, probably by a tsunami or hurricane. They didn’t rebuild the fleet.
Once again we are reminded of God’s command in II Corinthians 6:14-18. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” It is very similar to what Psalm 82 says.
Far too often Christians align themselves with things that are wrong in an effort to accomplish some goal. God does not bless such actions. To go along with the wickedness brings God’s judgment on us. Proverbs 17:15 declares, “He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD,” while Proverbs 24:24-25 warns, “He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.” By ignoring their sin, we effectively approve it.
After Ahaziah’s death, in II Kings 3, Jehoshaphat allied himself with Jehoram, another wicked king of Israel against the Moabites. Like many Christians today, he never seemed to quite get it.
“And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.” (I Kings 22:50)
I Kings 22:48-50, II Chronicles 20:31-37
“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. 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. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
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.” (II Chronicles 20:31-34)
Asa had been one of the best kings Judah had, serving God wholeheartedly. Not since Solomon had they had a king who really tried to serve God. He had done a great deal to turn the people back to God, and had made Judah a great kingdom. His Son Jehoshaphat followed his example, even carrying it farther. He had set up teams of leaders and Levites to teach the people God’s word, and had done his best to eradicate the idolatry and worship of nature. Because the people chose to continue secretly, he was not able to completely eliminate it, although he did drive it underground.
“And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber. 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.” (II Chronicles 20:3537)
"Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber. Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.” (I Kings 22:48-49)
Early in his reign, Jehoshaphat had allied himself with Ahab, king of Israel. As a result he had nearly been killed, and had been severely rebuked by the prophet Jehu for helping the wicked. Thirteen years later, he made a treaty with Ahab’s son Ahaziah, joining with him in a trading venture. Like Solomon, he established a ship building center at Eziongeber, on the Gulf of Aqaba, intending to send them along the Gold Coast of Africa and over to India.
Because the prophet Eliezer warned him that God was going to cause the venture to fail because of his association with Ahaziah, he refused to allow Ahaziah’s sailors to accompany the ships. This did not save the ships and the entire fleet was destroyed while still in the harbor, probably by a tsunami or hurricane. They didn’t rebuild the fleet.
Once again we are reminded of God’s command in II Corinthians 6:14-18. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” It is very similar to what Psalm 82 says.
Far too often Christians align themselves with things that are wrong in an effort to accomplish some goal. God does not bless such actions. To go along with the wickedness brings God’s judgment on us. Proverbs 17:15 declares, “He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD,” while Proverbs 24:24-25 warns, “He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.” By ignoring their sin, we effectively approve it.
After Ahaziah’s death, in II Kings 3, Jehoshaphat allied himself with Jehoram, another wicked king of Israel against the Moabites. Like many Christians today, he never seemed to quite get it.
“And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.” (I Kings 22:50)
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