Second Chronicles 17:7

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 17:7-10, “Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.[8] And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.[9] And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.[10] And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.” These verses show the wisdom of Jehoshaphat. He knew that people needed to be taught the Word of God. Verse seven says that he sent out men “to teach.” Verse nine says that “they taught in Judah.” The end of verse nine says that they “taught the people.” What did they teach the people? Verse nine tells us that they taught “the book of the law of the Lord.” We call it the Bible. Your education is not complete if you are not learning the Bible. The Bible is the greatest and most important book in the world because it is the Word of God. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.” That is because the Bible came from God. “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” When the Supreme Court took prayer out of public schools in America, they took something else that was critical to the educational system in America: the Bible. Wise leaders understand the value of the Bible and its moral and ethical and spiritual influence that is so critically needed in any country. Verse ten tells us the impact of the teaching of the Word of God on the entire country. It says, “And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.”

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 17:11-19, “Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.[12] And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.[13] And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.[14] And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.[15] And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.[16] And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.[17] And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.[18] And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.[19] These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.” Jehoshaphat accomplished a lot by the grace of God as one of the good kings of Judah. But if you do accomplish something in life, it is not just you alone. Others have helped you. That is one of the reasons that Christians are supposed to be united in a church ministry. We can accomplish a lot more together by our combined strength, and by our gifts working together for each one’s spiritual advancement. We are co-workers for Christ.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 18:1-3, “Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.[2] And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.[3] And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.” Remember that Ahab was one of the most wicked kings of the northern kingdom, and his wife was the wicked Jezebel. And then notice the phrase in verse one that says that Jehoshaphat “joined affinity with Ahab.” That is a problem, a big problem. It violates the Biblical principle of separation of good from evil. We should love and pray for lost souls, but we should never forget our one great difference: we know the Lord and they do not. We serve the Lord and they do not. We desire to live according to the teachings of Christ and they do not. They are in spiritual darkness, and we are in the light. That is why it says in Second Corinthians 6:14-18, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,[18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Notice what Jehoshaphat said in verse three, “I am as thou art, and my people as thy people.” That was wrong. That was a terrible statement. Jehoshaphat should have said something like, “You need to get right with the Lord and start serving Him, and then and only then can we join together.”

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 18:4-11, “And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.[5] Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.[6] But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him?[7] And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.[8] And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.[9] And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.[10] And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.[11] And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.” Of course, Ahab’s four hundred prophets said exactly what he wanted them to say. That is what happens with tyrants. Jehoshaphat knew that, and so he wanted to hear from a real prophet. A real prophet gets a message from God’s Word and gives that message. A real prophet does not try to please man, but tries to please God. Above all else, a real prophet wants to tell the truth. Ahab told Jehoshaphat that there was one real prophet left that he knew of, a man named Micaiah. Of course, Ahab hated Micaiah.

The Bible says in Second Chronicles 18:12-22, “And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.[13] And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.[14] And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.[15] And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?[16] Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.[17] And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?[18] Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.[19] And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.[20] Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?[21] And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.[22] Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.” Micaiah is told to make sure that he says to King Ahab the same thing that the false prophets have said. There is always pressure on preachers to compromise. But Micaiah said in verse thirteen, “As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.” That is the answer that every Christian should give. Notice that in verse fourteen when Micaiah appeared before the king that Micaiah appeared to say the same thing as the false prophets telling the king to go ahead into battle and that everything will be fine. Of course, by the response of King Ahab, we know that evidently Micaiah said it in a way (perhaps a mocking way) that Micaiah’s message was not going to be the same as that of the false prophets. And so Micaiah gives the message from God in verse sixteen: King Ahab will be killed in battle.

And then in verse eighteen Micaiah gives the rest of his message from God. It is very revealing because it shows very clearly that God is in control of everything and everyone. God is in control of the angels. God is in control of the demons, who are also angels: evil angels. God is in control of all human beings. God is in control of the poor and the rich. God is in control of the famous and the powerful. God is in control of everyone and everything. That is why we are told in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and to them that are the called according to His purpose.” Verse twenty-one tells us that God caused “a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets” so that King Ahab would believe them and go into battle and be killed in battle. God is God. He decides everything. God determines what people will do and what the outcome of their actions will be. You might want to look to the Lord Jesus and rely upon Him.

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