The Chapter-A-Day thread. (3)

[MissRowy]

He did the opposite of what his father did and really loved God

 

[brinny]

He did the opposite of what his father did and really loved God

Yes, THAT is what stands out, that He really LOVED God.

Precious.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Kings of Judah
Rehoboam
Abijam
Asa
Jehoshaphat
Jehoram
Ahaziah
Athaliah
Joash
Amaziah
Azariah
Jotham
Ahaz
Hezekiah
Manasseh
Amon
Josiah
Jehoahaz
Jehoiakim
Jehoiachin
Zedekiah
​

Jehosaphat chooses the way of the Lord

(This is a dramatisation of the true story that occurred in 2 Chronicles Chapter 17)

Asa King of Judah died from his bad feet because he put the Lord’s messenger in prison, for telling Asa that God was angry with him.

Asa’s son Jehoshaphat made up his mind to choose the way of the Lord, and to be a better King of Judah than his father. He did not want to make the same mistakes as his father Asa, and Jehoshaphat started his reign in the most splendid way that it is possible to imagine.

Jehoshaphat strengthened his armies. Jehoshaphat built up the armies of Judah and Benjamin to over a million men, and Jehoshaphat put garrisons in the cities that Asa his father had taken from Israel.

Jehoshaphat was 100% determined to do all the right things that pleased God, so he took out the high places to Baal and groves to Baal from out of the land of Judah.

Jehoshaphat sent out the Levites to teach the word of the Lord throughout Judah.
The fear of the Lord fell upon Judah and all the lands round about.

Therefore no-one dare make war against Judah. Even the Arabians and their old arch enemies the Philistines brought presents and tribute to Jehoshaphat.

The wealth and influence of Jehoshaphat grew and grew and grew, and he built great cities and castles.
Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of his forefather the great King David.
The Lord was with Jehoshaphat.

This is a wonderful good news story. A whole chapter and everything goes well for the new King Jehoshaphat. He took over from his father Asa and he tried to do everything that he could to please God. And yes God was very please with what the young Jehoshaphat did.

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Jehoshaphat becomes friendly with the evil Ahab King of Israel.

(This is a dramatisation of a true story from 2 Chronicles Chapter 18)

God had blessed King Jehoshaphat of Judah with riches and honour in abundance. The wealth and influence of Jehoshaphat was well known to all the kings round about. It was especially well known to the evil King Ahab of Israel.

King Ahab was the most evil king ever to rule in the land of Israel. The evil Ahab made it a personal priority to ingratiate himself into the good books of Jehoshaphat. Ahab encouraged ideas of the historical brotherhood of the two kingdoms and they talked of peace and prosperity.

Jehoshaphat was completely taken in by all this sweet talking from Ahab, and Jehoshaphat became very friendly with Ahab King of Israel.

But all this sweetness was part of an evil plan to lure Jehoshaphat into an unnecessary war. Ahab tried to persuade Jehoshaphat to start a war with Syria. Ahab knew that God would be on the side of Jehoshaphat because of his faith in God. Ahab wanted to use God’s power to defeat the Syrians and conquer new territory for Israel.

Jehoshaphat was not sure that war with Syria was such a good idea. So Ahab brought in 400 prophets of Israel and asked their advice. To a man the 400 prophets of Israel all said go to war with Syria. The prophets of Israel all said that both kingdoms would prosper from a war with Syria.

Jehoshaphat began to warm to the idea of a prosperous war with Syria. This was despite the fact that all the conquered land would be added to Israel. A successful war with Syria would have made Israel much bigger and more powerful. And in the long term this additional power of Israel would be a dangerous threat to the Kingdom of Judah. It is difficult to see how a victory over the Syrians would have ever been of any benefit to the Kingdom of Judah.

Nevertheless King Jehoshaphat began to believe that a war with Syria would be beneficial to Judah. But Jehoshaphat was still not totally convinced and wanted a prophet of God to speak about the war.

There was only one prophet of God in Israel and his name was Micaiah. Ahab hated Micaiah because he always prophesied bad things about Ahab. Micaiah was called to speak to Ahab and Jehoshaphat.

Then Micaiah said, “I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. It is the Lord’s wish that Ahab be destroyed, and God has sent a lying spirit into the mouths of all of the prophets of Ahab, so that they would entice Ahab to defeat and death in a war with Syria.”

Ahab was furious with this prophecy, and Micaiah was hit in the face and insulted. Micaiah was thrown into prison and given rotten food and rotten water to drink.

In spite of this dire warning from Gods prophet, Jehoshaphat decided to ignore God’s messenger and go to war with Syria.

There was an evil twist the battle plan devised by Ahab. Jehoshaphat would dress as a king while Ahab would go in disguise. Ahab was hoping that Jehoshaphat would stand out from the crowd dressed as a king, and thus be killed. If things went to plan Ahab would have got rid of his two main enemies in one day.

The King of Syria ordered his men to concentrate on killing Ahab to the exclusion of all other priorities. The Syrian chariots surrounded Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord for help.
God showed the Syrians that this was not Ahab and the Syrians departed from him to search for Ahab.

The Syrians could not find Ahab because he was in disguise but a lucky Syrian arrow hit Ahab in the weakest part of his protective clothing, and he was badly wounded. Ahab was taken away from the battle field to a quiet place, but the wounds of Ahab were too great. There was no hope for Ahab.

At sunset Ahab died from his wounds.

 

[MissRowy]

Kind of like the Achilles thing in Greek Mythology...the warrior Achilles dies from an arrow that hit his achilles heel. Awesome that things worked out for Jehoshapat

 

[brinny]

Two things about Ahab that stood out for me:

he was abominable to God's prophet, Micaiah, and he "set up" Jehoshaphat to be "mis-took" for himself in battle, and killed.

He was despicable and un-repentant. In the end, he died a horrible death, because he died without God. How tragic that he never "saw" where he was headed.

(this reminds me a bit of Saul and how he died)

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Jehoshaphat becomes friendly with the evil Ahab King of Israel.

(This is a dramatisation of a true story from 2 Chronicles Chapter 18)

God had blessed King Jehoshaphat of Judah with riches and honour in abundance. The wealth and influence of Jehoshaphat was well known to all the kings round about. It was especially well known to the evil King Ahab of Israel.

King Ahab was the most evil king ever to rule in the land of Israel. The evil Ahab made it a personal priority to ingratiate himself into the good books of Jehoshaphat. Ahab encouraged ideas of the historical brotherhood of the two kingdoms and they talked of peace and prosperity.

Jehoshaphat was completely taken in by all this sweet talking from Ahab, and Jehoshaphat became very friendly with Ahab King of Israel.

But all this sweetness was part of an evil plan to lure Jehoshaphat into an unnecessary war. Ahab tried to persuade Jehoshaphat to start a war with Syria. Ahab knew that God would be on the side of Jehoshaphat because of his faith in God. Ahab wanted to use God’s power to defeat the Syrians and conquer new territory for Israel.

Jehoshaphat was not sure that war with Syria was such a good idea. So Ahab brought in 400 prophets of Israel and asked their advice. To a man the 400 prophets of Israel all said go to war with Syria. The prophets of Israel all said that both kingdoms would prosper from a war with Syria.

Jehoshaphat began to warm to the idea of a prosperous war with Syria. This was despite the fact that all the conquered land would be added to Israel. A successful war with Syria would have made Israel much bigger and more powerful. And in the long term this additional power of Israel would be a dangerous threat to the Kingdom of Judah. It is difficult to see how a victory over the Syrians would have ever been of any benefit to the Kingdom of Judah.

Nevertheless King Jehoshaphat began to believe that a war with Syria would be beneficial to Judah. But Jehoshaphat was still not totally convinced and wanted a prophet of God to speak about the war.

There was only one prophet of God in Israel and his name was Micaiah. Ahab hated Micaiah because he always prophesied bad things about Ahab. Micaiah was called to speak to Ahab and Jehoshaphat.

Then Micaiah said, “I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. It is the Lord’s wish that Ahab be destroyed, and God has sent a lying spirit into the mouths of all of the prophets of Ahab, so that they would entice Ahab to defeat and death in a war with Syria.”

Ahab was furious with this prophecy, and Micaiah was hit in the face and insulted. Micaiah was thrown into prison and given rotten food and rotten water to drink.

In spite of this dire warning from Gods prophet, Jehoshaphat decided to ignore God’s messenger and go to war with Syria.

There was an evil twist the battle plan devised by Ahab. Jehoshaphat would dress as a king while Ahab would go in disguise. Ahab was hoping that Jehoshaphat would stand out from the crowd dressed as a king, and thus be killed. If things went to plan Ahab would have got rid of his two main enemies in one day.

The King of Syria ordered his men to concentrate on killing Ahab to the exclusion of all other priorities. The Syrian chariots surrounded Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord for help.
God showed the Syrians that this was not Ahab and the Syrians departed from him to search for Ahab.

The Syrians could not find Ahab because he was in disguise but a lucky Syrian arrow hit Ahab in the weakest part of his protective clothing, and he was badly wounded. Ahab was taken away from the battle field to a quiet place, but the wounds of Ahab were too great. There was no hope for Ahab.

At sunset Ahab died from his wounds.


Reply comment from Brinny,

Two things about Ahab that stood out for me:

he was abominable to God's prophet, Micaiah, and he "set up" Jehoshaphat to be "mis-took" for himself in battle, and killed.

He was despicable and un-repentant. In the end, he died a horrible death, because he died without God. How tragic that he never "saw" where he was headed.

(this reminds me a bit of Saul and how he died)

Brinny,

Yes it seemed that Ahab wanted King Jehoshaphat killed in battle, while Ahab went in disguise in order to stay alive.

Ahab and his wife Jezebel are mentioned earlier in the Bible as being evil in the extreme.

 

[MissRowy]

when you mention Saul are you talking about Saul who gave his life to Jesus? Just want to clear it up.

 

[brinny]

when you mention Saul are you talking about Saul who gave his life to Jesus? Just want to clear it up.

Oh, sorry, i meant king Saul who was trying to hunt David down and kill him....

 

[brinny]

Jehoshaphat becomes friendly with the evil Ahab King of Israel.

(This is a dramatisation of a true story from 2 Chronicles Chapter 18)

God had blessed King Jehoshaphat of Judah with riches and honour in abundance. The wealth and influence of Jehoshaphat was well known to all the kings round about. It was especially well known to the evil King Ahab of Israel.

King Ahab was the most evil king ever to rule in the land of Israel. The evil Ahab made it a personal priority to ingratiate himself into the good books of Jehoshaphat. Ahab encouraged ideas of the historical brotherhood of the two kingdoms and they talked of peace and prosperity.

Jehoshaphat was completely taken in by all this sweet talking from Ahab, and Jehoshaphat became very friendly with Ahab King of Israel.

But all this sweetness was part of an evil plan to lure Jehoshaphat into an unnecessary war. Ahab tried to persuade Jehoshaphat to start a war with Syria. Ahab knew that God would be on the side of Jehoshaphat because of his faith in God. Ahab wanted to use God’s power to defeat the Syrians and conquer new territory for Israel.

Jehoshaphat was not sure that war with Syria was such a good idea. So Ahab brought in 400 prophets of Israel and asked their advice. To a man the 400 prophets of Israel all said go to war with Syria. The prophets of Israel all said that both kingdoms would prosper from a war with Syria.

Jehoshaphat began to warm to the idea of a prosperous war with Syria. This was despite the fact that all the conquered land would be added to Israel. A successful war with Syria would have made Israel much bigger and more powerful. And in the long term this additional power of Israel would be a dangerous threat to the Kingdom of Judah. It is difficult to see how a victory over the Syrians would have ever been of any benefit to the Kingdom of Judah.

Nevertheless King Jehoshaphat began to believe that a war with Syria would be beneficial to Judah. But Jehoshaphat was still not totally convinced and wanted a prophet of God to speak about the war.

There was only one prophet of God in Israel and his name was Micaiah. Ahab hated Micaiah because he always prophesied bad things about Ahab. Micaiah was called to speak to Ahab and Jehoshaphat.

Then Micaiah said, “I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. It is the Lord’s wish that Ahab be destroyed, and God has sent a lying spirit into the mouths of all of the prophets of Ahab, so that they would entice Ahab to defeat and death in a war with Syria.”

Ahab was furious with this prophecy, and Micaiah was hit in the face and insulted. Micaiah was thrown into prison and given rotten food and rotten water to drink.

In spite of this dire warning from Gods prophet, Jehoshaphat decided to ignore God’s messenger and go to war with Syria.

There was an evil twist the battle plan devised by Ahab. Jehoshaphat would dress as a king while Ahab would go in disguise. Ahab was hoping that Jehoshaphat would stand out from the crowd dressed as a king, and thus be killed. If things went to plan Ahab would have got rid of his two main enemies in one day.

The King of Syria ordered his men to concentrate on killing Ahab to the exclusion of all other priorities. The Syrian chariots surrounded Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord for help.
God showed the Syrians that this was not Ahab and the Syrians departed from him to search for Ahab.

The Syrians could not find Ahab because he was in disguise but a lucky Syrian arrow hit Ahab in the weakest part of his protective clothing, and he was badly wounded. Ahab was taken away from the battle field to a quiet place, but the wounds of Ahab were too great. There was no hope for Ahab.

At sunset Ahab died from his wounds.


Reply comment from Brinny,

Two things about Ahab that stood out for me:

he was abominable to God's prophet, Micaiah, and he "set up" Jehoshaphat to be "mis-took" for himself in battle, and killed.

He was despicable and un-repentant. In the end, he died a horrible death, because he died without God. How tragic that he never "saw" where he was headed.

(this reminds me a bit of Saul and how he died)

Brinny,

Yes it seemed that Ahab wanted King Jehoshaphat killed in battle, while Ahab went in disguise in order to stay alive.

Ahab and his wife Jezebel are mentioned earlier in the Bible as being evil in the extreme.

Ahab AND his wife Jezebel were evil.....wow, makes ya; wonder why Jehoshaphat would try to align with him at all

 

[MissRowy]

Thanks brinny for clearing that up!!

 

[brinny]

Thanks brinny for clearing that up!!

you betcha! LOL! Saul, our wunnerful apostle and a dear dear man of God sher was not like the other Saul, thank God!!! He wuz hawwible

 

[MissRowy]

He was hawwible!! Love how you spell that!!

 

[brinny]

hahaaaaa yes...it emphasizes hiz x-tra hawwible-ness

 

[faroukfarouk]

Kind of like the Achilles thing in Greek Mythology...the warrior Achilles dies from an arrow that hit his achilles heel. Awesome that things worked out for Jehoshapat

Anyway, Ahab was one of the bad guys...

 

[MissRowy]

Yes he was a bad guy

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

2 Chronicles Chapter 19

After the battle against the Syrians, Jehoshaphat returned to his house in Jerusalem in peace.

A seer told Jehoshaphat that God was angry because he had helped the ungodly Ahab.

However God still appreciated that Jehoshaphat had taken away the groves to Baal, and he had seeked God in his heart.

Jehoshaphat brought the people back to God, and he sent out judges throughout Judah.

In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat used the Levites as priests and judges.

Jehoshaphat charged the Levites, “Thus ye shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good.”

 

[agamemnonoftroy]

Anyway, Ahab was one of the bad guys...

Comment from Miss Rowy
Kind of like the Achilles thing in Greek Mythology...the warrior Achilles dies from an arrow that hit his achilles heel. Awesome that things worked out for Jehoshapat.

Faroukfarouk,

The Bible says that the arrow that killed Ahab found the weakest place in his protective clothing. Yes it was as though the arrow had been guided to the spot where it would do the most damage.

Chapter 18v33

And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the King of Israel between the joints of the harness.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Yes he was a bad guy

Seems like so often in the Old Testament it was clear who were the good guys and the bad guys!

 

[brinny]

Comment from Miss Rowy
Kind of like the Achilles thing in Greek Mythology...the warrior Achilles dies from an arrow that hit his achilles heel. Awesome that things worked out for Jehoshapat.

Faroukfarouk,

The Bible says that the arrow that killed Ahab found the weakest place in his protective clothing. Yes it was as though the arrow had been guided to the spot where it would do the most damage.

Chapter 18v33

And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the King of Israel between the joints of the harness.

Yes, that arrow HAD to have been guided by God Himself....i wouldn't want to be at odds with God, ever....reminds me of when judgement is coming...if Jesus Christ is not our Shield and we are not covered by Jesus' blood and consequently robed with His righteousness, we will be judged by God Himself, and there will be "arrows", so to speak, of judgement for each of us....

Praise God for His grace, that He sent His Son, as He KNEW what is coming, and He made a Way for EACH of us. He is a GOOD, and gracious and merciful God. Why anyone would reject His grace is beyond my understanding....

Tragic.