1 “And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and 2 strengthened himself against Israel. 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 3 taken. And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not 4 unto the Baalim; but sought to the God of his father, and walked in His commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; 5 and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart was lifted up 6 in the ways of the Lord; and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah. Also in the third 7 year of his reign he sent his princes, even Benhail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in 8 the cities of Judah; and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, 9 the priests. And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the Lord with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people. And the 10 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.”
Golden Text: “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”Prov. 3:6.
Suggestive Questions.
(1) What did Jehoshaphat do on coming to the throne of Judah? V. 1. (2) Who had preceded him on the throne? How long did he reign? What is said of his administration? Note 1. (3) What precautions did he take for the defense of his kingdom? V. 2. Note 2. (4) How did the Lord regard him? Why? V. 3. Note 3. (5) What was a marked characteristic of his life? V. 4. (6) What was the result of this close relationship to God? V. 5. (7) How did his prosperity affect him? V. 6. Note 4. (8) By what means did he seek to turn the people to God? Vs. 7, 8. Note 5. (9) In what region did they teach? What text-book did they use? V. 9. (10) How was Jehoshaphat’s kingdom protected from the surrounding enemies? V. 10. Note 6.
Notes.
1. Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, succeeded his father on the throne. He began to reign when he was thirty-five years old, and reigned twenty-five years. His was one of the most prosperous reigns in all the history of Judah.
2. His defenses.—Jehoshaphat’s father had taken from the king of Israel some cities in the hill country of Ephraim, and these he took the precaution to fortify, as well as to erect new fortifications in Judah. The Holy Scriptures were indited by the Holy Spirit, hence the lessons are spiritual. So this example of Jehoshaphat is to teach the necessity of fortifying against loss the points in which victories have been gained over sin. This can be done only by standing steadfast in the truth (Gal. 6:1), by watching unto prayer (1 Peter 4:7), and opening the heart to Him that is knocking at its door (Rev. 3:20).
3. “The first ways of David.”—The ways of David until he committed the grave crimes in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. The margin reads, “of his father and of David.” His own father Asa did right in the sight of God until toward the last of his reign, when he sought aid of the king of Syria instead of the Lord; and when he was afflicted with a sore disease he sought relief from the physicians instead of from God. See 2 Chron. 16:7, 8, 12.
4. “His heart was lifted up.”—Not with pride, as was the heart of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:10), or the heart of Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:16), or the heart of Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 5:20); but he took courage and was emboldened to continue his good work. He set a good example in faithfulness, and used his best energies to put down idolatry.
5. Teachers.—While Jehoshaphat used force to destroy the idols and other implements and material tokens of idolatry, he did not attempt to compel the worship of God. The commandments of God, which he sought and in which he walked, would not admit of that. But he sent teachers among the people to show them the right way, from “the book of the law of the Lord.” This is the only true Gospel principle in any age. See John 12:47, 48; 2 Cor. 5:11, 20.
6. The true source of protection.—It is folly for the professed people of God to seek the protection of any human power. God can at any time put His fear upon their enemies, and it does Him honor to trust Him under all circumstances. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Ps. 34:7. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Verse 19.
