Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

 

2 Chronicles 18:1-11

 

July 14, 2023

 

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.  After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab killed an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.  Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.”  Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.”  But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?”  And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”  Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.”  Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes. And they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.  And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these, you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’”  And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph. The Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

 

Have you ever wondered how the agents who look for counterfeit currency can spot it so easily?  They study the real thing, and so should you and I, and the only way to do so is to study to show yourself a workman who need not be ashamed.  I took the following from “Got Question” The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth. To spot a counterfeit, study the real thing. Any believer who “correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and who makes a careful study of the Bible can identify false doctrine. For example, a believer who has read the activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in (Matthew 3:16-17) will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity. Therefore, step one is to study the Bible and judge all teachings by what the Scripture says.

 

Jesus told us that in the last days to be on our guard for false teachers; Matthew 7:15-16, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 

 

Jehoshaphat was wise in asking for a prophet of God, and Ahab was a king who wanted to have yes men who told him what he wanted to hear.  Seek truth and in Jesus is Truth.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice