Lesson 29: Jehoshaphat of Judah - Part 1

1 Kings 22:41–50; 2 Chronicles 17:1–20:37

Tonight we are going to jump right into this study of this good king of Israel. We know he was good king because the Bible says he was. In 1 Kings 22:43 it says that he did that which is right in the sight of the Lord. He was innovating tried to start a shipping industry, was interested in building infrastructure and protecting his people. We won’t be touching all of that, but there are some important spiritual things we learn from him, and we will focus on those: So let’s get started:

I. Background information

A. His name Jehoshaphat - God has Judged

B. His time

He reigned from about 873–848

1 Kings 22:42 KJV

Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

He was 35 years old at the beginning of his reign and he reign for 25 years.

Duration 25 years

C. His family

1. His mother’s name was Azubah - desertion/forsaken

Nothing is really said about her in 1 Kings. So, I looked up her name and it just said that it was the name of two Israelite women, one being her and the other was a wife a wife Celeb. But then I say that Strongs number said “same as before” so I looked up the Strong’s number before that: and it said the name was also a word that meant meant desertion for forsaken.

2 Chronicles 20:31 KJV

And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

2. His father was Asa - a godly heritage

Praise the Lord for parents and grandparents that leave a godly heritage for their children to follow and learn from. None are perfect, but they should always leave an example of good and faithfulness.

Think about this, his grandfather and great grandfather weren’t too great, Abijam and Rehoboam - but Asa was able to follow his fathers instruction and

3. His maternal grandfather was Shilhi - missive/armed

Once again, I had to really look at this one. What is missive and what does missive have to do with armed.

I’d never read or seen that word missive. But it is an English word.

Thrown or sent, or such as may be sent; as a missive weapon. A thrown weapon.

I wonder, could it be, that from his lineage would come a weapon of warfare for a certain task or perhaps was he used in a certain way at some point?

II. HIS CONCERN FOR THE SPIRITUAL

I love this about him, he wasn’t concerned with the physical welfare of his kingdom but also their spiritual welfare.

A. The institution of religious education for all the people

2 Chronicles 17:7-9

He instituted a national religious education program by sending out teachers of the Word of God.

B. The importance of his own spiritual foundations

One of the first great things about Jehoshaphat was that “The Lord was with him” in v.3

2 Chronicles 17:3 KJV

And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

1. The Lord was with Him

2. He walked in the first ways of David

Everyone today is leaving what they have been taught for a convenient Christianity that fits their lifestyle - a church that conforms to them. We should rather try to go to a church and follow a believe system that causes me to conform my life to the Bible.

3. He sought not what the world loved

The lost, the rebellious and the idolatrous followed Baal. Our generation worships many things before God.

I love the language of “sought not unto Baalim.”

We have to curb our appetites; quit seeking these things that are against God, replace God or gain preeminence over the God.

4. He sought the ways of God

Notice in v.4 that to follow the Lord is to not to follow the world. You cannot do both. Compromise is the result of doing both.

Matthew 6:24 KJV

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

C. Putting God first brings God’s blessings

2 Chro 17:5-6.

And I like what he does as a result

D. Jehoshaphat’s response

1. His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord

I just wanted to emphasize the fact of what the Bible usually says when someone’s heart is lifted up - it is to self and to pride, we will see this later - but he was excited about God’s ways.

The Bible says of king Uzziah of Judah:

2 Chronicles 26:16 KJV

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

It says even of the great king Hezekiah:

2 Chronicles 32:25 KJV

But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

It says of the prince and king of Tyrus - a type of Satan or Satan himself:

Exe 28:2, 5, 17 that his heart was lifted up and he tried to be like God.

2. Took away the high places - false worship

There were few kings that did this in Judah, but he was one of them. Remember we taught about this before, but the high places were where people worshipping God but not in a way that he prescribed or taught. Thus - the admonition - doing something right in a wrong way rings true.

III. THE LEADERSHIP OF JEHOSHAPHAT

Leadership is something all of us ought to seek to develop in our lives. We want to lead people for many reasons. But the chiefest of them is that we might lead them to Christ. Also, that we might lead our families and our church in a godly way.

But remember, leadership hinges on relationships with people and motivating them through example, love, grace, mercy, consistency, certainly being spiritual and many other good character traits. I believe that is the kind of leader he was.

If we lead by fear or sheer force that is not leadership, but dictatorship. But Jehoshaphat was a leader.

‌A. Built up military defenses

2 Chronicles 17:1-2.

It is important that defenses and protections be built up physically and spiritually.

B. Appointed leaders

He appointed a couple of men to help him lead the kingdom and the two important areas of affair.

It is interesting that in this context and by other commentators notes - some think that Jehoshaphat was interested in separation of church and state, I wouldn’t go that far, but he did see that they did have their realms of responsibility.

1. Over the civil affairs - Zebadiah

Jehoshaphat knew he couldn’t lead alone, he had to delegate responsibilities. So he gave much of the civil affairs over Zebadiah.

Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere.

Ronald Reagan

2. Over the religious affairs - Amariah

2 Chronicles 19:11 KJV

And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.

In church today, responsibilities must be delegated. A good pastor will delegate responsibility to any faithful member. It is God’s will that we all together as a church take up the mantle of ministering, teaching, and serving each other.

3. Over the fenced cities of Judah - Judges

2 Chronicles 19:5 KJV

And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

Now, I wish we had leadership like this today - but notice the charge he gives the judges: look at

2 Chronicles 19:6–7 KJV

And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

We certainly need to pray for our nation today. We need to pray that God will give us leaders like Jehoshaphat. Certainly he made mistakes, but we also realize that he did much good in his life and with his leadership.

We will finish the study on his life next week and I think it will be a blessing as we get to see many more of the spiritual foundations he laid for his life and for his nation.

And lets make sure we are faithful and we are finding ways to help leader Maineville Baptist Church.