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An old friend of mine sometimes used the expression, "If you run with the wolves, you will howl like them." The first time I heard it, I wasn't sure how it applied to us as individuals. I began to realize he was referring to the company we keep and how they can affect us. Kind of like "bad company corrupts good morals."
This is a very important principle for us as individuals to apply in our lives, and teach our children as well. We could also apply this to immoral women, harlots, or an adulteress. Proverbs 7:25-27 says, "Do not turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths; for she has cast down many wounded -- her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death."
In our study today, I want to focus on Jehoshaphat and some of the things he did. In our next article, we will look at some of the bad choices he made and evil people he got involved with. Jehoshaphat was a good king who walked in the former ways of his father David, II Chronicles 17:3. He brought about reform and led the people of Judah back to the true God. He sent teachers throughout the land to teach the "Book of the Law of the Lord." God established him as a king and blessed his efforts. He gave him riches and honor in abundance, "and the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the land that were around Judah, so they did not make war with Jehoshaphat," II Chronicles 17:11.
I think most of us would consider the reign of David or Solomon the most glorious time for the nation of Israel. David was king over all the tribes of Israel; the kingdom was not yet divided. David's fighting men (including Judah) were numbered at 1,670,000 men. He (Jehoshaphat) had a fighting force of over 1,160,000 men from only two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, II Chronicles 17:14-19.
In II Chronicles 18:1 it says, Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; although God gave him riches, he never allowed them to control his heart and mind. He kept God first in all his thoughts and plans. He appears to be one of the most God-fearing, commonsensical kings mentioned in the Bible. Even more so than David, Solomon, Asa, or Uzziah.
The key to his success is found in II Chronicles 6:1, "And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord." Jehoshaphat had a worldview with God and His glory at the center of everything. It didn't matter if it was marriage, the military, riches, or the welfare of his people, he chose to serve God with all his heart.
Are we doing things with God at the center? Or do we do things with ourselves as the chief benefactor? Do we do good works so others will think highly of us, when we are really self-centered hypocrites? Now that's a good question for all of us to consider. Does your heart take delight in the ways of the Lord?
Comments or questions, contact me at: thoughtsonword@gmail.com
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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published three books, "Common Thoughts on The Word" in 2016 and "Eye of a Needle" in 2017 and "Common Thoughts on The Word II" in 2019. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children's book.