THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM - 10. KING JEHOSHAPHAT

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' "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle..fear not...for the Lord will be with you". And Jehoshaphat bowed his head...worshipping the Lord. And the Levites...stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high' (2 Chr. 20:17-19 KJV).
          King Jehoshaphat of Judah I rank high among the list of great worshipers of Jehovah God in the Bible. Not only was he David's great, great, great grandson, he too had a heart like his fore-father David in the fear and worship of God, reinstating sincere worship. He had a similar propensity for success; he caused reforms in the land, stopped the worship of foreign gods, appointed God-fearing persons into key positions in his administration, renewed economic ties with the richer nations far and near, began profitable trade both on land and sea. More remarkably, he re-instated the worship of Jehovah God throughout his realm making formal temple services the order of the day (2 Chr. 17). King Jehoshaphat did not fight his battles without first consulting with God and God always gave him the strategy for victory. As a result, Judah returned to great strength and wealth under King Jehoshaphat's rule because of his fear of God. God's glory shone in the entire realm once again as at the times of his God-fearing predecessors (2 Chr.17:10).
One of Jehoshaphat's most notable feats was the battle against a great ally of three or more enemy nations 'from beyond the seas' who gathered together and advanced to overrun Judah under his rule. Great fear came upon him but as was his custom, he went and inquired of the Lord what to do (2 Chr.20: 2,3). The Lord gave him the 'praise-My-name-only' strategy, such as He gave Joshua at the destruction of Jericho. 'Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another' (2 Chr.20: 22-23 NKJV). But alas, despite this great feat, King Jehoshaphat went into idolatory and fell out of grace with God. He ended up poorly like others before him, for he went and allied himself with the heathen nations and followed their pagan worship, an abomination before God (2Chr.20: 37). The life of Solomon comes to mind here. He started very well but His unparalelled wisdom, wealth and fame got the better of him causing him to loose the fear of God, resulting in his doom. Today's servants of God must learn from these stories of 'grace to grass!' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
olusegunisaac2018@gmail.com


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