2 Chronicles 17-19:3

What’s Happening?

God promised that a united Israel would bless the world, but God’s people are divided by civil war. Israel in the north has rebelled against God’s law and king while Judah in the south remains faithful to God’s words. Judah’s next king, Jehoshaphat, has taken the throne and begins a campaign against Israel’s idolatry in Judah. He listens to God’s laws and removes many of the idol shrines in Judah. In response, God rewards him with a season of peace and national security (2 Chronicles 17:1-6). During this time Jehosaphat sends priests and preachers throughout the country to teach God’s commands to Judah (2 Chronicles 17:7-9). As God’s people become less and less like Israel, neighboring nations begin to pledge peace to Jehoshaphat and flood Judah with gifts and tribute (2 Chronicles 17:10-11). Under Jehoshaphat’s leadership, Judah is stronger and more faithful than ever (2 Chronicles 17:12-19). 

But in a misguided attempt to reunite the divided tribes of God’s people, Jehoshaphat arranges a marriage between his son and the daughter of Israel’s wicked and idolatrous king Ahab (2 Chronicles 18:1). This relationship will eventually destroy Judah. Shortly after the marriage, Ahab requests Judah’s military assistance and Jehoshaphat is willing to help provided they first ask for God’s guidance (2 Chronicles 18:2-4). Ahab obliges and gathers 400 of his own prophets to discern what to do. And all 400 prophets give the same answer: “God will give it into the king’s hand” (2 Chronicles 18:5). Ominously, the prophets do not specify which kings are given what. Unsatisfied, Jehoshaphat demands a prophet of God be summoned. Ahab reluctantly invites Micaiah, a known critic of Ahab’s administration (2 Chronicles 18:6-8). When asked if they should go to war, Micaiah says that if they do so their forces will be scattered like sheep without a shepherd (2 Chronicles 18:14-16). He informs those listening that the ambiguous prophecy they have just heard was a trap set for King Ahab—he will be given into his enemy's hand (2 Chronicles 18:17-22). Jehoshaphat minimizes Micaiah’s warning and rides into battle anyway to preserve their alliance (2 Chronicles 18:23-27).

Hoping to avoid Micaiah’s prophecy coming true, Ahab goes to war disguised, (2 Chronicles 18:28-29). It works, but only briefly. A team of charioteers looking for Ahab surrounds Jehoshaphat instead. But at the last moment, Jehoshaphat cries out to God and God rescues him. The charioteers realize they are chasing the wrong man and back off. Meanwhile, a stray arrow pierces Ahab’s armor and he dies just as Micaiah predicted (2 Chronicles 18:30-34). After the battle another prophet rebukes Jehoshaphat for thinking he could reunite God’s divided people through an alliance with Israel. God’s people cannot ally with a kingdom that does not obey God (2 Chronicles 19:1-3). Jehoshophat’s policy of compromise is doomed. If he continues down it, Judah will fall just like Ahab.

Where is the Gospel?

On the whole, Jehoshaphat was a good king. Even his desire to reunite God’s people was largely correct. The Bible promises a Kingdom united under the rule of David’s son will bless the entire world (1 Chronicles 17:10-36; Genesis 12:1-4). But Jehoshaphat tried to achieve this promise through an alliance with a nation that rejected God’s commands. Jehoshaphat’s mistake will haunt Israel for decades, and eventually Judah’s last free king will die with an arrow through his chest, just like Ahab (2 Chronicles 35:23-24). Jehoshaphat’s alliance, however well-intentioned, doomed Judah.

Thankfully, Jesus is a better king than Jehoshaphat, who successfully unites God’s divided people. Like Jehoshaphat with Ahab, Jesus was also tempted by an alliance with Satan (Luke 4:5-7). But Jesus never compromised his devotion to God (Luke 4:1-13). Where Jehoshaphat chose a unity that doomed his people, Jesus united God’s people at the cost of his own life. He then rose from the dead to usher in an everlasting kingdom that will overcome the threats of Satan, corrupt leaders, and even our own actions. King Jesus is now uniting people from all over the world who are joining his reign and everlasting devotion to God.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who unites his people. And may you see Jesus as the one who has remained faithful to God despite the cost, so that we will be part of his Kingdom forever.