THIS IS NOT A GAME
Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was on his way home from being with Ahab, the evil king of Israel. The Lord sent a prophet out to meet him, with these strong words: "Jehu the son of Hanani the seer (prophet) went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord" (2 Chronicles 19:2).
God was saying to Jehoshaphat, "You don't know the danger and consequences of what you've done. You may think it's a light thing to join an affinity with someone who is against Me. Ahab was my enemy—an idolater—and you made friends with him. You listened to his wicked talk and indulged his filth. Yet you didn't take a stand against any of it, Jehoshaphat. I have a controversy with you about this!"
At this point, you may be thinking, "I understand that Ahab was evil. But as I consider my own friends, there's no way I can think of them as God's enemies.” Yet, consider these passages from Scripture:
Thank God, Scripture says, "Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah" (2 Chronicles 20:3). The king humbled himself and repented: "Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord" (verse 18).
God responded to Jehoshaphat's brokenness by giving Judah total victory against the Moabites. Finally, the Bible says, "The realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about" (verse 30).
God was saying to Jehoshaphat, "You don't know the danger and consequences of what you've done. You may think it's a light thing to join an affinity with someone who is against Me. Ahab was my enemy—an idolater—and you made friends with him. You listened to his wicked talk and indulged his filth. Yet you didn't take a stand against any of it, Jehoshaphat. I have a controversy with you about this!"
At this point, you may be thinking, "I understand that Ahab was evil. But as I consider my own friends, there's no way I can think of them as God's enemies.” Yet, consider these passages from Scripture:
- "He that is not with me is against me" (Luke 11:23). Does your friend take the Lord's side in all things?
- "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft" (1 Samuel 15:23). Is your friend's counsel full of rebellion?
- "He that condemneth the just . . . [is an] abomination to the Lord" (Proverbs 17:15). Does your friend speak evil of godly people?
Thank God, Scripture says, "Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah" (2 Chronicles 20:3). The king humbled himself and repented: "Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord" (verse 18).
God responded to Jehoshaphat's brokenness by giving Judah total victory against the Moabites. Finally, the Bible says, "The realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about" (verse 30).