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Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. II Chronicles 19:1
We have been looking at the account of Jehoshaphat and Ahab joining together in a military move against Ramoth Gilead. The godly King Jehoshaphat worked with the wicked King Ahab and his desire to recover an area that was once a city of refuge, Deuteronomy 4:43. The fact that it was once an area belonging to the Jewish nation, may have played a part in why Jehoshaphat was willing to join in the battle.
At the end of II Chronicles 18 and the beginning of 19 we find a contrast between the two kings. It seems very evident that God wants us to notice something here; He wants to catch our attention. The description of Ahab's death (which was prophesied by the prophet Micaiah) is set before us.
Then in the first verse of chapter 19, we find this interesting statement. "Then Jehoshaphat returned safely to his own house in Jerusalem." Why is the word "safely" put in there? It appears that God wants us to think about the gracious provision of protection that He extended to the good King Jehoshaphat and the judgment that came down on wicked Ahab. Ahab had tried to plan for his own safety and protection, but God had already ordained that judgment would be sure. "It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps," Jeremiah10:23.
By his actions, Jehoshaphat had tempted God, and God rebuked him through the seer Hanani. God was gracious and overlooked the transgression because "his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord." In contrast to Jehoshaphat, Ahab's heart and mind was sinful and corrupt, so God sent judgment in the form of an arrow that was shot at random. This brought about the fulfillment of the prophetic word that Elijah had spoken against Ahab in I Kings 21:19. "In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours."
Ahab thought he had everything planned, but he forgot, "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord." The plans and schemes of Ahab came crashing down on his own head as he was summoned to meet his judge and maker. All of us have an appointment with death, are we going to be ready and prepared?
Proverbs 23:17 says, "Do not envy sinners, but in the fear of the Lord continue all day long; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off." Isaiah 40:31 says, "But those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Now let's put these two verses together theologically; "Because there is a judgment day coming, we must put our hope and faith in the Lord as we strive after holiness and righteousness in the fear of God. When we grow weary, we must wait upon the Lord to lift us up and renew our strength, that we may finish the race set before us."
II Chronicles 20:19 says, "And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord." What a challenge we have set before us, to start with God and His Word, and to finish our lives by His Word. Have you taken the challenge?
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.