THERE is no character that more clearly puts forth the injudiciousness and the fatality of evil alliances than does Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Possessing, as he did, an auspicious heredity as the son of Asa, a noble father and a good king, one would naturally suppose that his reign would be altogether prosperous; and when he walked in the ways of Jehovah, the Lord was with him, and success followed in his wake. "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim." 2 Chron. 17:3.
As peace is necessary for the welfare of any nation, we can readily see how the Lord prospered the reign of Jehoshaphat by giving him the vantage ground of peace. The kingdoms round about Judah were, for a time, filled with the fear of the Lord, "so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat." 2 Chron. 17:10.
Thus might Jehoshaphat's reign have continued in prosperous quietude, had not the evil day come—the day on which he decided to go to Samaria as a guest of the idolatrous King Ahab. Alas for the day on which the righteous man visits the ungodly for the purpose of establishing a mutual friendship. Tho the wicked may entertain royally, as did the Baal-worshiping Ahab on this occasion, killing sheep and oxen in abundance, yet how often visits of this kind ring a death knell to future influence for God and His kingdom! How often do evil associates bring the calm, righteous, peace-loving man into a grappling war with the powers of Satan!
"Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead?" Wilt thou, Jehoshaphat, be in league with one who is a bitter enemy of the God whom thou servest? 1 Kings 22:4. Jehoshaphat had not the moral courage to refuse this wicked, enticing request of King Ahab, and so formed the alliance which brought him many sad regrets and cost King Ahab his life. O, the wonderful, miraculous providence that brought Jehoshaphat thru that terrible battle safely to Jerusalem! We may be sure he was a sadder if not a wiser man.
Jehoshaphat was so thoroly humiliated by this rash alliance that he sought to make amends for his wrong-doing by resuming, with commendable energy, the work of reformation in church and state. For a time his work was positively uplifting and noble. He went among the teachers of righteousness and helped to preach in Jehovah's name.
It is sad to reflect that after Jehoshaphat had once been a coadjutor of the wicked he could so easily be drawn into the same snare again; but we read, "After this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly." 2 Chron. 20:35. This time he formed a commercial alliance, and his punishment was nothing more serious than a grief-stricken conscience and the destruction of all their ships in a storm.
This does not end the sinful alliances of Jehoshaphat, for the worst is yet to come. He now makes a matrimonial alliance between his son, Jehoram, and the idolatrous daughter of Jezebel and Ahab, who have become proverbial for all that is despicable.
It is a lamentable fact that parents are sometimes extremely near-sighted when scheming for the welfare of their children, and especially is this true when financial gain is the highest aim. By one man's mistake Judah is destined to be governed sixteen years by wicked rulers. Thru the evil influences of his wife, Jehoram became so despotic and cruel that he slew his own brothers with the sword, and also many of the princes of Israel. How often does the selfish blunder of one man cause a whole nation to mourn!