Jehoshaphat’s 25 year reign was marked by prosperity
August 13, 2022
Commentary
When Judah came, they saw all the enemy dead (v. 24). The slaughter was so great that the men of Judah couldn’t carry away all the spoil and they were three days gathering it up (v. 25). With thanksgiving to God, they offered praise for His love (vv. 26-28). That is why this place is still called Praise Valley. This shows how even a valley in our life can become a place of blessing if we learn how to praise the Lord. True praise changes people, and God can work in and through people who praise Him. So great was God’s hand on His people that all other nations feared Him. Jehoshaphat enjoyed peace (vv. 29-30).
Jehoshaphat reigned 25 years (v. 31). Most of his rule was marked by prosperity and peace. The positive part of his reign was that he walked in the ways of the Lord as his father had (v. 32). The negative part of his reign was that he allowed the high places to remain and had not brought his people to a steadfast commitment to the Lord (v. 33). He had removed the practice of pagan worship at the high places but apparently some people had restored them, and he did nothing about it (II Chron.17:6). Besides the details of Jehoshaphat’s reign there is an added note about the king’s ill-fated venture with Ahaziah (vv. 35-36). The two tried to construct merchant ships in Ezion Geber. Eliezer announced that Jehoshaphat sinned by his ungodly alliance with Ahaziah, and the ships were wrecked before even sailing (v. 37). Jehoshaphat died and his oldest son Jehoram took over.
All of this is interesting history, but it is also relevant to our day. The nation that honors God will prosper as the United States has in the past. However, the nation that rejects God will ultimately come to doom (Psa. 9:17). The Lord wants man’s complete and uncompromising loyalty.
Application
Jehoshaphat departed not from doing right in the sight of the Lord (v.32) but then he allowed some things which should not have been in the land. Has the influence of others caused me to allow things into my life that I know I shouldn’t have? If so, am I willing to give it up.
2 Chronicles 20:24– 37 (NET)
24 When the men of Judah arrived at the observation post overlooking the wilderness and looked at the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors. 25 Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing, and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.
26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, where they praised the Lord. So that place is called the Valley of Berachah to this very day. 27 Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat leading them; the Lord had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the Lord. 29 All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God when they heard how the Lord had fought against Israelâs enemies. 30 Jehoshaphatâs kingdom enjoyed peace; his God made him secure on every side.
31 Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 32 He followed in his father Asaâs footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved. 33 However, the high places were not eliminated; the people were still not devoted to the God of their ancestors.
34 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphatâs reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are included in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel.
35 Later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did evil. 36 They agreed to make large seagoing merchant ships; they built the ships in Ezion Geber. 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, âBecause you made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will shatter what you have made.â The ships were wrecked and unable to go to sea.