Be Careful of The Company You Keep
So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. . . . He followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.
. . . Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made." The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.
2 Chronicles 20:31-37
. . . Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made." The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.
2 Chronicles 20:31-37
Jehoshaphat was one of the most blessed and godly kings of Judah. The Bible says: "The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed His commands rather than the practices of Israel. The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD . . ." (2 Chronicles 17:3-6).
The ways of Jehoshaphat were pleasing to God and God rewarded him with wealth, honor and rest from enemy attacks. But somehow, Jehoshaphat had a penchant to associate himself with the ungodly kings of Israel which always incurred the displeasure of God.
First, he aligned himself by marriage to Ahab, king of Israel, and ended up going to war with him against Ramoth Gilead. This incurred the wrath and subsequent judgment of God. God sent His prophet to tell him: "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of God is you." Somehow, Jehoshaphat never seemed to have learned his lesson. He ignored the divine discipline.
So second, "Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked." This second alliance with a godless and wicked king brought a second judgment from God. Jehoshaphat allowed the economic benefits of his association with an ungodly king to outweigh the purity of his relationship with God. This attracted divine judgment -- the ships were wrecked by God and never set sail to make any money for either of the kings.
I believe there is an important lesson in this:
First, no matter how godly we are, there could always be that one thing that would seem to have a hold on us to cause us to displease God. When God points it out, we must be careful to deal with it so as not to incur divine displeasure and discipline. Jehoshaphat never seemed to have learned his lesson; hence the second divine discipline he encountered.
Second, money and material things have the power to draw us into ungodly alliances. The desire to make money is what drew Jehoshaphat into an alliance with Ahaziah, the ungodly king of Israel. The wickedness of Ahaziah was ignored by Jehoshaphat, as long as there was money to be made. In the end, Jehoshaphat lost his entire investment because God would not bless an ungodly alliance in deliberate defiance of His warnings.
The choice of company we keep can either strengthen our relationship with God or cause us to do things that might displease God. So, come to terms with things that cause you to sin against God. Accept and repent from your areas of weakness, and watch the company you keep because they may cause you to displease God.
The ways of Jehoshaphat were pleasing to God and God rewarded him with wealth, honor and rest from enemy attacks. But somehow, Jehoshaphat had a penchant to associate himself with the ungodly kings of Israel which always incurred the displeasure of God.
First, he aligned himself by marriage to Ahab, king of Israel, and ended up going to war with him against Ramoth Gilead. This incurred the wrath and subsequent judgment of God. God sent His prophet to tell him: "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of God is you." Somehow, Jehoshaphat never seemed to have learned his lesson. He ignored the divine discipline.
So second, "Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked." This second alliance with a godless and wicked king brought a second judgment from God. Jehoshaphat allowed the economic benefits of his association with an ungodly king to outweigh the purity of his relationship with God. This attracted divine judgment -- the ships were wrecked by God and never set sail to make any money for either of the kings.
I believe there is an important lesson in this:
First, no matter how godly we are, there could always be that one thing that would seem to have a hold on us to cause us to displease God. When God points it out, we must be careful to deal with it so as not to incur divine displeasure and discipline. Jehoshaphat never seemed to have learned his lesson; hence the second divine discipline he encountered.
Second, money and material things have the power to draw us into ungodly alliances. The desire to make money is what drew Jehoshaphat into an alliance with Ahaziah, the ungodly king of Israel. The wickedness of Ahaziah was ignored by Jehoshaphat, as long as there was money to be made. In the end, Jehoshaphat lost his entire investment because God would not bless an ungodly alliance in deliberate defiance of His warnings.
The choice of company we keep can either strengthen our relationship with God or cause us to do things that might displease God. So, come to terms with things that cause you to sin against God. Accept and repent from your areas of weakness, and watch the company you keep because they may cause you to displease God.
Prayer: Father, I thank you for your word today. Please help me to recognize my areas of weakness and to watch the company I keep. Please help me to listen to your voice and not to be persistent in pursuing my own ways in contrast to your will. Amen.