Daily Devotional for Friday, April 18

The Bad Deeds of Jehoshaphat

“Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab,” 2 Chronicles 18:1.

Jehoshaphat’s obedience to God had led to many blessings, but when the king had riches and honor in abundance, he “joined affinity with Ahab” (verse 1). King Jehoshaphat gave his son, prince Jehoram of Judah, in marriage to Athaliah, Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter. This unholy alliance in marriage eventually led Jehoshaphat to lead an entourage from Jerusalem to visit his son’s new in-laws in Samaria. King Ahab made a great feast to impress Jehoshaphat and entice him into an alliance and go to war against Syria. Ahab had nothing but his own interest in mind and deceived Jehoshaphat into proceeding into battle dressed as a decoy. Even after God sent the prophet, Micaiah, to warn Jehoshaphat of the truth to come, Jehoshaphat did not heed God’s warning. He chose instead to go along with Ahab’s scheme to retake Ramoth-gilead from King Ben-hadad of Syria. As the leader of the Southern Kingdom, King Jehoshaphat made an unholy and ill-advised alliance between Judah and Israel, eventually pulling Judah into the idolatrous worship of the ten northern tribes (verse 3). One sin led to another which led to another and another.

No one is without sin, and it is dangerous when a child of God thinks himself above it. Jehoshaphat was a good king over the Southern Kingdom of Judah. We have read of his many reforms and how he even sent the prophets throughout the kingdom teaching the people God’s Law. However, he made a series of choices that led to the downfall of his family and negatively affected the Southern Kingdom for many years to come. 

REFLECTION

“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not” (Proverbs 1:10). God has called His children to be holy. Beware of making what may seem like an innocent alliance with evil men.

Karen Meigs