The Lord Was With Jehoshaphat

Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. With them were certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat.

2 Chronicles 17:1-10

Do our fathers tell us how to live, or do they live? During our youth, many of us watched our own fathers live. They may have taught Sunday school. They may have been deacons and elders. They may have had a professional association. They may have read the Bible.

Outside of church our fathers may have defended the gospel and read their Bibles. We may have seen our fathers express their own love for the Lord through outward actions.

Jehoshaphat was the same way. He watched his own father Asa, king of Judah remove the idols from his kingdom. He restored the altar of the Lord. Jehoshaphat’s reign resembled that of his father; he faithfully honored Asa’s godly example. Yet even more important, Jehoshaphat’s heart found delight in the ways of the Lord.

Today, if you are looking for a father to follow, remember your heavenly Father and take delight in His ways.

We honor God’s name when we call Him our Father and live like His Son.

Our Daily Bread – September 13, 2013