Putting Himself At Risk

Though he had been warned that he would be killed in battle with the Syrians, Ahab was unwilling to give up the chance to defeat them with Jehshaphat’s help.  He hoped that by disguising himself he would not be recognized and so avoid fulfilling Micaiah’s prophecy, as II Chronicles 18:28-29 tells us.  “So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.  And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.”

The king of Syria had directed his charioteers to devote their efforts to killing Ahab and leave Israel’s army for the main force.  Ahab’s disguise fooled them, and they went after Jehoshaphat instead, as II Chronicles 18:30-32 tells us.  “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.  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.  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.”

No one recognized Ahab, but a Syrian bowman shot into the crowd at random, fatally wounding him.  The battle continued and Ahab was held up in his chariot to maintain morale, until he died later that evening, as I Kings 22:34-36 describes.  “And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.  And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.  And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.”

With Ahabdead, Jehoshaphat had no reason to continue the battle and everyone went home.  Ahab had died just as Micaiah had prophesied.  Years before, in I Kings 21:19, Elijah had prophesied saying, “…Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.”  Elijah’s prophecy was fulfilled as well, according to I Kings 22:37-38.   “So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.  And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.”

Mistaken for Ahab, Jehoshaphat had nearly been killed.  When he returned to Judah, the prophet Jehu rebuked him for going with Ahab in the first place, as II Chronicles 19:1-3 describes.  “And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.  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.  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.”

While we cnnot avoid associating with wicked people, we need to be careful how involved we get, to make sure we are not helping them with their wickedness, as Jehu told Jehoshaphat.  While he had angered God by trying to help Ahab, God woud not reject him.    II Corinthians 6:14 deals with this kind of situations for those who are Christians.  “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.”  If we want God’s richest blessings, we must not become too closely to wicked people.  As I Timothy tells us, “…neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.”  When we get too involved, we put our own life and spiritual relationship at risk.  Jehoshaphat knew what God had warned, but went along anyway.