Lord with Jehoshaphat

1) God was with Jehoshaphat: II Chronicles : 17:3 - “And Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the ways of his father David and sought not into Baalim” Here we see that Lord God was with Jehoshaphat. What was the reason for the Lord God to be with Jehoshaphat? The main reason is he walked in his first ways of his father David and sought not into Baalim (Idol worship). For Lord God to do mighty things in our life we should follow his ways like Jehoshaphat. II Chronicles : 17:4 – “But sought to the Lord God of his father and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Israel”. Here we see that he walks in his commandment. What are His Commandments ? II Timothy 1:5 – “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience and of faith unreiged”. We should have all these, we should love everyone. So we should pray to sanctify us from all above said things. 2)Jehoshaphat’s work for God : II Chronicles : 17:6 – “And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. : moreover he removed high places and the Asherah poles from Judah” His heart was lifted up in the way of the Lord. When ones heart was lifted up in the way of the Lord then he will read the bible. The sound of his prayer will be high. Since Jehoshaphat’s heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord he took away all high places. Then in II Chronicles 17:7,8,9 : we see that all the people in the above said verse to preach about in Judah about the laws of God. They had law book in their hands. This is compared to the bible in our hand. As said in Acts:17:11, when we read scriptures daily we will get readiness of mind. Jehoshaphat did all these things because his heart was lifted with His laws. Lord God was with him because he commanded all to preach about the Law of God. 3) Greatness of Jehoshaphat and his fall : II Chronicles 17:12,13 – “And Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful and he built in Judah castles and cities of store. And he had much business in the cities of Judah and the men of war, mighty men of valor were in Jerusalem “ In these verses we see the blessing given to Jehoshaphat by Lord God because he was with God and he done many things for God. Similarly when we are with Lord surely he will bless us. Then in II Chronicles 18:1 we see Jehoshaphat joining affinity with Ahab. Then with Ahab he goes to war from where he escapes because of Gods grace. So when we are in God we should be careful with our friends and with our friendships. If we go wrong like him sure we will face difficulties and problems like Jehoshaphat. 4) Jehoshaphat Praises Lord God : II Chronicles 20:3 – “And Jehoshaphat feared God and set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah “. When Jehoshaphat heard that his enemies coming against him he immediately fasted to get word from God. And in II chronicles 20:17 we see that Jehoshaphat getting word from God and he immediately bowed his head with his face to the ground. And in verse 22 we see them perishing the people who came against him. So even in our life when we face difficulties we should praise Lord God like Jehoshaphat did. When we do that surely all the problems will fly away. 5) Credit given to Jehoshaphat : Joel:3:12 - Let the heart be wakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the heart round about”. Here we see the calling announced to the people to come to the valley of Jehoshaphat for the judgment. God calls everyone to the valley of Jehoshaphat for the judgment so we can say this is the credit given to Jehoshaphat. Amen.