And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
Jehoshaphat had the Lord with him because he walked in the first ways of David, not seeking Baalim but seeking his father's God and walking in His commandments and not after the doings of Israel, so the Lord established the kingdom in his hand and Judah brought him presents, giving him riches and honor in abundance. His heart being lifted up in the ways of the Lord meant boldness and zeal in obedience, devotion to following the Lord, and being encouraged in His ways. That bold obedience was shown by his taking the idolatrous high places and groves, the sacred groves of idol worship, out of Judah.
The removal happened as reforms were worked out progressively over time. The reform involved earnest effort to understand God's requirements and to lessen transgression. The same zeal led him in the third year of his reign to send princes and Levites with the book of the law to teach through all the cities of Judah. The reform gradually freed the people from perils that threatened to hinder their spiritual development and guarded them against idol worship, and afterward the fear of the Lord fell on the surrounding kingdoms so that they made no war against him. Obedience to the Lord always brings favor and faithful keeping of righteous principles bears the divine credentials, while stewards and guardians of God's flock who sustain and sanction an evil work dishonor the Lord.
Jehoshaphat had the Lord with him because he walked in the first ways of David, not seeking Baalim but seeking his father's God and walking in His commandments and not after the doings of Israel, so the Lord established the kingdom in his hand and Judah brought him presents, giving him riches and honor in abundance. His heart being lifted up in the ways of the Lord meant boldness and zeal in obedience, devotion to following the Lord, and being encouraged in His ways. That bold obedience was shown by his taking the idolatrous high places and groves, the sacred groves of idol worship, out of Judah.
The removal happened as reforms were worked out progressively over time. The reform involved earnest effort to understand God's requirements and to lessen transgression. The same zeal led him in the third year of his reign to send princes and Levites with the book of the law to teach through all the cities of Judah. The reform gradually freed the people from perils that threatened to hinder their spiritual development and guarded them against idol worship, and afterward the fear of the Lord fell on the surrounding kingdoms so that they made no war against him. Obedience to the Lord always brings favor and faithful keeping of righteous principles bears the divine credentials, while stewards and guardians of God's flock who sustain and sanction an evil work dishonor the Lord.