Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

 August 11, 2021

 

1 Kings 22:41-50

 

Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judah

Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.  Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.   He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.  Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?   And from the land, he exterminated the remnant of the male cult prostitutes who remained in the days of his father Asa.

There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king.   Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.   Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing.   And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.

 

Church and I’m not referring to a location, but the Body of Christ, all of us, should we not be asking the Most High God, the ruler of heaven and earth, to give us leaders that “did not turn aside from, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord.”  Jehoshaphat was such a man.  He was not above making mistakes, but his eyes were set on doing the will of God.

 

He set his mind on obeying the Lord, and not being a man-pleaser.  He reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem.  What if, we just had eight years of such leadership in Washington D.C., and not the evil leadership of the Democrat party.  They are some of the most Godless people, seekers of power and wealth with no regard or understanding, or fear of God.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice