Proverbs 12:26 instructs us, "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray."
Jehoshaphat and Ahab.
Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, of the line of Judah, was the fourth king of Judah. He ruled for 25 years. His story is written in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 17-20. Here we are looking at 2 Chronicles 18.
Jehoshaphat (which means YAH has judged) walked in the ways of YHWH and worked as a reformer. ( 2 Chron 17:3-9). He took away the Asherah poles ( the Canaanite goddess of fertility) and the high places ( authorized places to sacrifice to gods). He promoted educating the people with the Torah. We find he was blessed with great wealth, a large army and nations paid tribute to him.
Jehoshaphat's famous victory.
Jehoshaphat is well known for the war he won against a vast army that was a coalition of Edom, Moab, and Ammon without lifting a sword. When his intelligence informed him, the army had already crossed the Dead Sea and left him with little time to prepare. Immediately he consulted YHWH ADONAI and prayed for help. ADONAI answered through Jehaziel, a descendant of Asaph with instructions and the famous words," Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this great multitude. The Battle is not yours, but the LORD'S." Jehoshaphat and his little army marched out the next morning with the Levites leading the army and singing," The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever." ADONAI granted him a great victory in the desert of Tekoa. ADONAI fought the battle for him, killing all his enemies. Jehoshaphat and his army only had to take the booty, war equipment, and valuables. It took them 3 days to collect this massive takeaway. They celebrated the 4th day by praising ADONAI in the Valley of Berakah. (2 Chronicles 20)
The Evil Ally
But he allied with King Ahab the wicked king of Israel. Wicked because he opposed YHWH, was married to the evil Jezebel who was an avid Baal/idol worshipper and promoted it in Israel. Jehoshaphat allied with Ahab by marrying his son Jehoram to Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. When Ahab induced him to go to war with him, he agreed. "I am as you are, my people are your people. We will go to war with you."
After 400 false prophets prophesied victory, the true prophet, Micaiah was called. Micaiah, clearly said that Ahab would die at war and the next day, Ahab was dead. Jehoshaphat was injured and returned to Judah, Jehu the prophet rebuked him for his folly in making this alliance. Years after Jehoshaphat and later Jehoram died, his daughter-in-law, Athaliah, killed her grandchildren to grab the throne, except Joash who was saved/hidden by Jehosheba and Jehoiada, the High priest. She ruled from 841-835 BC as the only queen in Judah. She installed her priests in the temple of YHWH and built altars for her idols just like her mother Jezebel. These are the long-term murderous consequences down generations.
What can we learn.
Jehu told King Jehoshaphat that we should not love those who hate YHWH. They are satan's representatives doing evil in the land, misleading them into idol worship and terrorizing the people of God.
No partnerships/ relationships with them.
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14-16. Believers and unbelievers have different values and commitments.
You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. James 4:4.
Why?
Because it dilutes our relationship with God and leads to unbelief and sin.
It entices us to compromise with their evil plans.
Jehoshaphat was in his kingly finery at the battle and became the target of the enemies who only wanted to kill King Ahab. He was saved because he cried out to YHWH. Ahab had gone to war hiding his real identity, so the enemy could not find him. Yet he died as ordained by YHWH.
Sadly, we become enemies of YHWH. We give our allegiance to satan who torments us. We end up fighting goodness with evil till we are destroyed ourselves.
Friendship with evil/ satan/ world is to break the relationship with YHWH. It is covetousness that is equal to idolatry.
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, so we need to be doubly careful and discerning about who we make alliances with.
This is not to say that we should isolate ourselves from people of other religions, nor call them evil, for then we would never be able to share the good news with them. The light and glory of Yeshua in us should shine before them so that they too want the same Light in their lives.
Prayer
Dear friends, I pray you choose your friends carefully and wisely and cut off evil alliances before they destroy you. May YHWH bless and protect you. Amen.
Shalom.
I found something in your blogs which usually people don't have it. Please continue to share God's word through this medium.
This is a very important message. This shows us why we should be very careful when interacting and forming bonds with the wicked. Jehoshapet allowed the wicked Ahab to overcome and supress him. This is in contrast to the life of Jesus who showed us the right way to interact with them, with authority and confidence.