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1 Kings 22:41-49 Jehoshaphat and Christian Separation

By Mary Fairchild

Clovermap

1581 Bunting Clover Leaf Map; Israel in the center.

JEHOSHAPHAT AND CHRISTIAN SEPARATION

1KINGS 22: 41-49; 2 CHRON. 17-19: During the 4th year of Ahab’s reign in Israel (northern kingdom), Jehoshaphat began to reign in Judah at the age of 35. He reigned 25 years in Jerusalem.

The Kings of Judah (southern kingdom)

1. Rehoboam (975-958 B.C.)—Solomon’s son began as a good king, but he neglected God’s direction and therefore became weak in his 17-year reign.
2. Abijam (958-955 B.C.)—Rehoboam’s son did not follow the Lord; he reigned only three years.
3. Asa (955-914 B.C.)—Abijam’s son reigned 41 years. Because he followed the Lord,
Judah experienced revival during his reign. In his 36th year, he made an unholy
alliance with Syria, and afterward, he did not respond well to God’s rebuke. In
the 39th year of his reign, he developed a serious foot disease. Most likely,
Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, assisted his father in the last two years of his reign.

JEHOSHAPHAT’S COMMENDATION (2 Chron. 17):

1. Strengthening Judah’s military power.
2. Seeking the Lord’s direction for leadership.
3.Obeying the Lord; he was not an idol worshiper.
4. Because of his obedience, the Lord honored him. He became a highly respected and honored king in Judah.
5. He sent faithful men throughout Judah to instruct the people of the Lord.
6. He took the sodomites (homosexuals) out of the land (1 Kings 22:46).
7. He established great public works in commerce.
8. He was surrounded by great men and material prosperity.
9. He established effective courts of justice (2 Chron. 19:5-10).

JEHOSHAPHAT’S COMPROMISE (2 Chron. 18):

1. Jehoshaphat became friends with Ahab, the wicked king of Israel.
2. Ahab asked him to join in battle against Syria to assist in recapturing Ramoth-gilead. This revealed Jehoshaphat’s soft view of compromise, as he said, “I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.”
3. In God’s eyes, Jehoshaphat and Ahab were clearly divided because Jehoshaphat was godly and Ahab was ungodly. Instruction in the Word of God had turned the hearts of Jehoshaphat’s people to God, while Ahab’s example of idolatry had turned his people away from God; therefore Jehoshaphat’s people were very different from Ahab’s people.
4. Jehoshaphat agreed to join Ahab in battle to recapture Ramoth-gilead. Though the two kings agreed to a common cause—to fight the enemy, Syria—GOD WAS NOT PLEASED WITH GODLY JEHOSHAPHAT MAKING AN ALLIANCE TO ASSIST WICKED AHAB in fighting.

(2 Chron. 18:31-32, 19:1-3): After almost dying by being mistaken for Ahab in battle, when he returned to Jerusalem, Jehu, son of Hanani (the prophet who had rebuked Jehoshaphat’s father, Asa) asked Jehoshaphat a pointed question reminding him of the Lord’s anger because of his compromise with Ahab. “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord” (19:2).

Jehoshaphat’s unholy alliance with Ahab affected the next generation as the families of both kings became very close together. Jehoshaphat’s son, Jehoram, married Ahab’s daughter and became a wicked king. Then Jehoram’s son Ahaziah, being influenced by his mother Athaliah (Ahab’s daughter), continued this wickedness for his one-year reign. Later, the queen mother, Athaliah, usurped the throne of Judah and began her six-year reign of wickedness. The kingdom of Judah experienced 15 years of tragedy as a result of Jehoshaphat’s compromise with wicked Ahab. JEHOSHAPHAT WAS DECEIVED INTO THINKING THAT IT WAS ALL RIGHT TO MAKE UNHOLY ALLIANCES WITH GOD’S ENEMIES. Some reasons for his misjudgment are the fact that he was concerned for the wicked and possibly wanted to share Judah’s godliness and prosperity, but Judah was prosperous because they were following the Lord. It is possible that he became overconfident in his own godliness. Although he was not tempted by Ahab’s idolatry, his children were and they married into Ahab’s family and soon followed their wicked ways. Association with evil may not immediately affect the person who makes the alliance, but it ultimately affects the next
generation.

When Jehoshaphat was on the battlefield with Ahab, the enemy thought he was Ahab. Christians cannot look like or associate with the worldly crowd, or people will identify them as worldly and not as Christians. Jehoshaphat did not view Ahab correctly. He said, “I am as thou art.” Remember, this was Jehoshaphat’s view and not God’s view. God says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14).

CHRISTIAN SEPARATION: When God’s people followed his command to separate from idolatry they had fellowship with Him and enjoyed His blessing. When they did not separate, they were not blessed by Him. Idolatry was the root problem that separated the nation into two kingdoms after Solomon’s death, and it was the problem that later sent both kingdoms into captivity. God’s command to separate is still applicable today. The New Testament teaches that we are to remain separate from unbelievers, “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” (2 Cor. 6:14-16).

1. We are to separate ourselves from false teachers (2 Tim. 2:20, 21; 2 John 9:11).
2. We are to separate ourselves from contact with the evil of the world and form conformity
to the wrong philosophy of the world (John 17:15; 2 Dor. 6:14-18; Gal. 6:1). Though we are in the world, we are not to be a part of the world.
3. The Word of God teaches that spiritual leaders should remain true to the Word of God and not yoke up with those who deny the basic truths of the Scripture. When a spiritual leader who believes the Word of God associates with a liberal religious leader (one who denies the main beliefs of Christianity), the spiritual leader compromises his Scriptural convictions and follows in the footsteps of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.

“It would be a mercy if every converted person would positively refuse to listen twice to any minister who denies the inspiration of the Bible, or to give a penny to a church or a missionary society that gives the right hand of fellowship to men of this type.” Billy Sunday

2 Chronicles 20:1-28: Moab, Ammon, and other nations across the Jordan River joined together to attack Judah. Jehoshaphat was warned of this great military advance and he responded rightly by praying. When he prayed publicly he acknowledged the absolute sovereignty of God, the helplessness of man, the faithful care of the Heavenly Father, and their present need and dependence. He also proclaimed a fast throughout all of Judah.

The Lord spoke through the Levite Jahaziel, “…for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (20:15). They were instructed not to fight but to go and see the salvation of the Lord. The people obeyed (20:20-22). They worshiped the Lord and got up early and went to meet the enemy. The king organized a choir, and when they began to sing, the Lord fought for them. Although we don’t know the precise strategy, when they reached the battle scene, they found the Moabites and Ammonites fighting the Edomites. The enemy was defeated. Judah was enriched with the enormous spoils from the battle and as a result, the surrounding nations respected the God of Israel and Judah enjoyed rest from her enemies (20:23-25, 29-30).

As long as we live in these earthly bodies and have a sinful nature and as long as the powers of evil are at work, we will continue to have spiritual battles. Realize that your outcome depends on whether or not you call upon God for spiritual victory or resign yourself to spiritual defeat. Fear is the natural response, but its fear should cause you to seek the Lord. DO NOT RELY ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH. Confess your weakness and inability to know how to win the victory. IT IS NATURAL TO RELY ON YOURSELF BUT REMEMBER “…the battle is not yours, but God’s” (20:15). Listen to God’s direction, follow Him, and in the midst of the battle (even before it is over) praise Him for victory. God will give us victory and rest.

ISRAEL’S KINGS: Ahaziah (897-896 B.C.); Joram (896-885)
JUDAH’S KINGS: Jehoshaphat (914-892 B.C.); Jehoram (892-885);
Ahaziah (885)

WORKS CITED

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