Judah’s King Jehoshaphat
17 His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.
Asa is dead. Jehoshaphat, Asa's son is now king in his place. Jehoshaphat came in and exercised his authority. He knew that Israel gave his father problems, so he built what was needed to physically keep Israel from attacking Judah.
2 He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
Every place that Asa captured, Jehoshaphat put soldiers to protect and military equipment to secure safety in the city.
Jehoshaphat was a new king, however, Jehoshaphat knew the problems Judah faced. Jehoshaphat knew that Judah needed organization. He did not secure a position and wait for others to recognize him as king by giving him a parade and suiting him with clothes and things. He saw that the people needed to feel safe and he prepared what was needed for the people.
3 Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his ancestor David.[a] He did not seek the Baals
Jehoshaphat sought God's Word. He did not seek popularity. Any leader who does not have the heart of God which is his word seeks idols who are Baal. If you seek positions, titles, recognition, or things because you have been given a position to be in charge of people, the enemy has you exactly where he wants you.
4 but sought the God of his father and walked by his commands, not according to the practices of Israel.
Jehoshaphat sought the word of God. He did not seek religion as the northern kingdom of Israel. He used the writing of Moses, which was the Word of God to establish his kingdom. God gave Moses everything the children needed to do from A-Z.
5 So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.
Most leaders today seek recognition, riches, and honor; hardly do they then seek the Lord. Jehoshaphat started as Jesus said, seek first the Word of God and your needs will be supplied. We walk in fear when we want stuff and power. When we walk in fear we become an enemy to the plan of God. God knows we have needs. God does not employ people, then abandon the needs of the people who work under his command or instructions. God provides. God knows how to give things. It is the Word of God, that God will support.
6 He took great pride in the Lord’s ways, and he again removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.
Jehoshaphat was not ashamed of the Word of God. He was happy to do the Word of God. Whatever interfered with God's plan, Jehoshaphat took it down. He was the leader of God's people and he allowed God to be seen in the decisions he made for God's people. Jehoshaphat loved the wisdom of God. He was excited to see how God rolled things out!
Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan
7 In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials—Ben-hail,[b] Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah—to teach in the cities of Judah.
Three years later; After establishing order and protection in the land of Judah, Jehoshaphat prepared people to be taught the Word of God. Jehoshaphat made a secure place to live. God ordained him as king in the presence of the people. Jehoshaphat then made sure the people were taught what he was doing and why he was doing what he did the way he did it. In other words, Jehoshaphat gave people the recipe to life, which was the Word of God. Jehoshaphat wanted the people to be on one accord. Set the house in order, make people know you care, teach them the Word of God.
Go and TEACH. That is a mark of a God-sent leader.
Jehoshaphat sent 5 people trained to teach God's Word.
8 The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah,[c] Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites.
The Levites were God's helpers. They were as the Holy Spirit, they were as the position of Eve to Adam. They went along with the 5 teachers and supported the need to make sure the Word had no interferences. The priest went along to make sure that the people understood these men were equipped to teach the Word of God. Having Jesus as a high priest to support the teaching of the Word of God. The priest represents God, the Levites represent the Holy Spirit and the teachers represent Jesus Christ.
9 They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.
They did as Jesus instructed. Go into the world and teach. They started in Judah and the surrounding towns. They had the book of the Word of God in their hands to teach with. It was understood, this is the Word of God. No one has the authority to teach God's Word without the book with them. To teach God's Word means you say what God says.
10 The terror of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat.
God made their enemies be at peace. When God's Word is taught, he will not allow interruptions. Jehoshaphat set the house in order, made it ready, and gave orders to teach the people God's Word.
11 Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.
God set the table. The world wants to see the people who profess to know God do what God says. The people who usually fought the children of Israel are now supporting the Word of God with money and offerings of food. These gifts came from their enemies by way of God. God owns everything and what the enemy has belongs to the people of God who teach God's Word. God knows how to use your enemies as your rest- stop or footstool.
Jehoshaphat’s Military Might
12 Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah
When we are used to God, we will become stronger in what we need to fulfill the purposes of God. God will continue to give you support to ensure the word of God can be taught. Jehoshaphat built his military fort and places to store the goods for God's people.
13 and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, valiant warriors, in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem under the leadership of Jehoshaphat, made God look good on earth. This was God's hometown, where you could find his Word, and king Jehoshaphat made things look like God dwelled there.
14 These are their numbers according to their ancestral families.[d] For Judah, the commanders of thousands:
Adnah the commander and three hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;
15 next to him, Jehohanan the commander and two hundred eighty thousand with him;
16 next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer of the Lord, and two hundred thousand valiant warriors with him;
Amasiah willingly offered himself to serve. He volunteered. He did not have to, he wanted to. We should be as Amasiah, don't wait to be asked to serve, be of services. There is work to do.
17 from Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and two hundred thousand with him armed with bow and shield;
18 next to him, Jehozabad and one hundred eighty thousand with him equipped for war.
19 These were the ones who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
1160,000 strong warriors who served Jehoshaphat as king. These men were positioned to protect God's people to make sure nothing stopped the Word of God from being taught. God will increase support on your behalf if you will yield yourself to be a vessel to carry His Word. When we teach God'sWord strong mem will come and support what they know God said. God gave men of valor to support Jehoshaphat. When we live as God instructs the enemy will leave us alone, the enemy will give us the things we need to support God's Word, men will return to the will of God and stabilize our communities.
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