We concluded last week’s readings with the life of King Asa. Chapter 15 ends with a sentence that foreshadows what is to come: “So there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign” (2 Chronicles 15:19). This week, we begin with the 36th year of Asa’s reign and the lives of two additional kings: King Jehoshaphat and his son, King Jehoram. Each of these kings were defined by how they responded to the Lord, particularly in moments of crisis and correction.
Chapter 16 begins with the thirty sixth year of Asa’s reign. Judah is invaded by King Baash of Israel. Asa responds by taking silver and gold from the temple and palace. He sends the silver and gold to the king of Aram to establish a treaty between the two nations against Israel. Let that resonate for a moment. Silver and gold were taken from the TEMPLE to secure an alliance with the king of Aram. Instead of relying on the Lord, Asa uses political strategy.
Hanani the seer comes to King Asa after the treaty is made. He gives a word rebuking Asa for depending on the king of Aram. He reminds Asa of a previous battle against the Ethiopians and Libyans where Asa relied on the Lord and the Lord handed the armies over to him. He concludes with these sobering words: “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war” (2 Chronicles 16:9). Considering Asa’s devotion to the Lord earlier, you would think these words would cut to the heart and lead to repentance. Asa, however, does not repent, and in a fit of anger throws Hanani into prison. What a stark change of heart for a man who spent the first 35 years of his reign seeking the Lord! It certainly causes one to ponder. What happened? In the 39th year of his reign, Asa develops a serious foot disease. He does not call on God for help, but only relies on his physicians. He dies two years later.
In chapter 17, Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, becomes the next king of Judah. We are told in this chapter that the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s earlier years, seeking his father’s God and obeying His commands.
In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sends officials, Levites, and priests with copies of the Law of the Lord to teach the people of Judah. Jehoshaphat was highly favored, and the fear of the Lord fell on the surrounding nations. We are told in verse 10 that none of the surrounding kingdoms wanted to declare war on Judah. During this time Jehoshaphat builds fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah. It is a time of prosperity and peace.
Chapter 18 begins with a turn of events that leaves you scratching your head a bit. Jehoshaphat makes an alliance with King Ahab of Israel. The alliance is created by the marriage of his son to King Ahab’s daughter. King AHAB….as in Jezebel and Ahab. In 1 Kings 21:25 we are told “No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel.” Ahab had a reputation, and it was not a good one. What was Jehoshaphat thinking? He had sought the Lord earnestly and God blessed his reign with peace and prosperity. Why would he give his son in marriage to the daughter of a man “completely sold to what was evil in the Lord’s sight” for a political alliance?
Jehoshaphat visits King Ahab. Ahab throws a huge banquet, and in the middle of the feast asks Jehoshaphat to join him in battle against Ramoth-gilead. Jehoshaphat agrees to this but asks Ahab to consult the Lord with him. The scene that ensues is almost comical. Four hundred of Ahab’s prophets come proclaiming victory. It is quite a spectacle. Jehoshaphat finally asks Ahab “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here?” Ahab replies that there is one, but he hates him because he never prophesies anything but trouble for Ahab. Jehoshaphat convinces Ahab to summon him. For the sake of brevity, Micaiah, son of Imlah, does come and ultimately gives quite a different word than Ahab’s 400 prophets. Micaiah predicts not only defeat, but the death of Ahab in battle.
Even with this word, Jehoshaphat and Ahab wage a battle against Ramoth-gilead. As predicted, Ahab is wounded in battle and dies on the battlefield.
In Chapter 19, King Jehoshaphat returns to Judah. He, like his father Asa, is greeted by a seer. Jehu, son of Hanani (the seer that met Asa) meets Jehoshaphat with this word: “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” he asked the king. “Because of what you have done, the Lord is very angry with you” (2 Chronicles 19:2). Wow, can you imagine being told that the Lord is very angry with you? Jehoshaphat’s response is completely different than his father Asa. Could it be that King Jehoshaphat remembered his father’s response, and the last years of his father’s reign? Instead of responding in anger, Jehoshaphat accepts the word given to him and dedicates himself to encouraging the people of Judah to return to the Lord.
Chapter 20 begins with Jehoshaphat receiving word that the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites and some of the Meunites have declared war on Judah. Jehoshaphat is terrified and seeks the Lord for guidance. He also orders the people to fast and seek the Lord. All of Judah comes to Jerusalem and meets at the temple. Jehoshaphat leads the people in a prayer that is reminiscent of Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple. He concludes the prayer with: “O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help” (2 Chronicles 20:12). This is a far cry from the man who earlier married his son to the daughter of a wicked king for a political alliance.
A man stands up and prophesies that Judah will win battle and not even have to fight.
Jehoshaphat appoints singers to walk ahead of the army singing God’s praises. At the sound of the singing, the enemy armies begin fighting each other. Not a single man survives. Judah did not engage in battle as predicted. God gave Jehoshaphat rest from his enemies.
The chapter concludes with King Jehoshaphat making another alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who is described as very wicked. Both kings build a fleet of trading ships. Once again, God rebukes Jehoshaphat and the ships meet with disaster and never make it to sea. In Jehoshaphat we see a man who, although he trusted and sought the Lord, made some decisions based on logic and strategy instead of divine guidance. How often we do the same!
King Jehoshaphat dies at the start of chapter 21. He is described as a good king. The next king, his son, Jehoram is not. Jehoram was the son Jehoshaphat used to create an alliance with Ahab. He married Ahab’s daughter. Here we see some of the consequences of this alliance. Jehoram “followed the example of the kings of Israel and was a wicked as King Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab’s daughters” (V. 6). Jehoram kills all his brothers once he is established as king. He reigns in Jerusalem for 8 years. The Philistines march against Judah and take everything of value, including all but one of the kings’ sons and Jehoram’s wives. Jehoram is struck with an incurable intestinal disease and dies two years later. In verse 20 we read, “No one was sorry when he died.” Wow! What a statement. Not a single person was sorry he died.
Next week we will begin our readings with the influence of Ahab’s family on the next king of Israel.
