Jehoshaphat’s 25 year reign was marked by prosperity

II Chronicles 20:24–37
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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.