Teaching and defense

Jehoshaphat was a good king, he started off better than any king before him, except king David. Jehoshaphat cleansed the country for all false worship, and the high places he demolished. However, the most important was his teaching of the people by sending Levite priests throughout the Country teaching them the law of Moses. For doing that he needed to secure the country, he knew that YHWH would protect him, however he had to put his hand to something so God could have something to bless. Therefore, he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, Jehoshaphat made the land secure to live and travel in and YHWH blessed it with peace all around.

God loved Jehoshaphat

During the time of Jehoshaphat, the land prospered with wealth and a great huge army, he commanded about 1.2 million soldiers and the people payed tribute and the enemy feared the God of Jehoshaphat. However also with the good kings there is something wrong, so what was the problem of Jehoshaphat.  Well, He probably made a treaty with Ahab one of the worst kings in the bible, and in doing so married one of Ahab’s daughters to seal the agreement. He had a friendly relationship with one of God’s enemies and even went to war with him. God loved Jehoshaphat and therefore sent him one of His prophets; “Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the ungodly and love those who hate YHWH and in doing so bring wrath from YHWH on yourself?””

Evil communications corrupt good manners

So, what’s wrong mingling with ungodly people? Jehu told Jehoshaphat that it would bring God’s wrath on himself. In 1 Corinthians 15:33 the apostle Paul tells us this: “Bad company corrupts good morals” Paul is citing a Greek Writer Menander “evil communications corrupt good manners” for us good manners could mean something like being nice, helpful and polite to people. However, to Paul it meant the most important of all, to communicate or preach the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection of Christ helped Jehoshaphat on credit to heaven, and it is the only event that can help you taking the same heavenly road. Jehoshaphat made a terrible mistake, even so, he still is on the line to Jesus.

Questions

• Who do you mingle with?
• Who are your friends?
• What does the resurrection of Christ mean to you?