How We Are To Live Our Lives 05 Jehoshaphat OT 14 2 Chronicles 19 01 11

							How Are We To Live Our Lives – Like Jehoshaphat
(2 Chronicles 19:1-11)


Introduction: The Old Testament name “Jehoshaphat” means “the Lord is judge,” and this is the name of five
men in the Old Testament.

    1.   In 2 Samuel 8:16, there was an official under David and Solomon whose name was Jehoshaphat.
    2.   In 1 Kings 4:17, there was a son of Paruah and an official responsible for supplying food for King
         Solomon’s table whose name was Jehoshaphat.
    3.   In 2 Kings 9:2,14, there was a son of Nimshi and father of Jehu, a king of Israel whose name was
         Jehoshaphat.
    4.   In 1 Chronicles 15:24, there was a priest who helped move the Ark of the Covenant from the house of
         Obed-Edom to Jerusalem whose name was Jehoshaphat.
    5.   And then in 1 Kings 15:24, there was a son of Asa who succeeded his father as king of Judah whose name
         was Jehoshaphat. This Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king, and he reigned 25 years in
         Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 20:31), from about 873 BC to about 848 BC.

It is upon this Jehoshaphat that I wish to focus tonight as we continue our series, “How To Live Our Lives.”

Thus far in this series, we have considered Paul who said in Philippians 3, “I follow after,” and then he said “(I am)
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

In Psalms 121:1, the psalmist said, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”

In Hebrews 11, we are told that “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after
receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” (vs. 8).

Twice in Genesis 5 we are told that “Enoch walked with God” (vs. 22, 24).

Living as we ought to live spiritually involves our minds, our eyes, our will, our feet, and tonight we see from
Jehoshaphat’s example that it involves the heart.

In 2 Chronicles 19:3, the prophet Jehu said to Jehoshaphat, “There are good things found in thee, in that thou … hast
prepared thine heart to seek God.”

Our subject then is “How Are We To Live Our Lives? By Seeking After God Like Jehoshaphat.”

   Jehoshaphat received an excellent heritage from his father Asa, who in the earlier years of his reign showed a
   reforming spirit in seeking God (2 Chronicles 15). Jehoshaphat’s faith in God led him to “delight in the ways of
   the Lord” (2 Chronicles 17:6). He attacked pagan idolatry and he sent teachers to the people to teach them more
   about God (2 Chronicles 17:6-9). In affairs of state, Jehoshaphat also showed a willingness to rely on the Lord.
   In a time of danger he prayed for God’s help (2 Chronicles 20:6-12).

   Jehoshaphat showed a high regard for justice in his dealings (2 Chronicles 19:4-11). He reminded the judges
   whom he appointed that their ultimate loyalty was to God. His attitude toward impartial justice is reflected in
   these words in 2 Chronicles 19:11, “Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.”

   But in his dealings with Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoshaphat made some serious mistakes. Through the marriage of
   his son, Jehoram, to Ahab’s daughter, Jehoshaphat allied himself with Ahab (2 Chronicles 21:5-6). This alliance
   led to even further dealings with the wicked king of Israel (2 Chronicles 18), which the prophet Jehu rebuked (2
   Chronicles 19:1-3).

   Jehoshaphat and his father Asa are bright lights against the dark paganism that existed during their time. Both
   father and son had certain weaknesses, but their faith in the Lord brought good to themselves as well as God’s
   people during their reigns.
(From Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
Let me say first, that…

I. We Can Seek After God In Our Correctional Experience
     (vs. 1-3)
A. God’s Seer Reprimanded Jehoshaphat’s Lack Of Separation                                vs. 1-2
         1. Notice The Events Of Jehoshaphat’s Unwise Association                    2 Chronicles 18
         2. Notice The Examination Of Jehoshaphat’s Unwise Association
(2 Chronicles 19:2) And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat,
Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the
LORD.
wrath – Hebrew 7110. qetseph, means a splinter (as chipped off); figuratively it means rage or strife, to foam,
indignation. God had a chip on His shoulder towards Jehoshaphat.

There are two sides to correction…
(2 Timothy 4:2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine.
Biblical correction involves both the negative and the positive, the rebuke and the exhortation, therefore…

B. God’s Seer Recognized Jehoshaphat’s Life Of Sanctification                             vs. 3
God seems to be using positive reinforcement.
          1. Jehu Mentioned The Positive Aspect Of Jehoshaphat’s Life
(2 Chronicles 19:3) Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out
of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
          2. Jehu Mentioned The Preparation Aspect Of Jehoshaphat’s Life
(2 Chronicles 19:3) Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of
the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
prepare – Hebrew 3559. kuwn, a primary root word that means to stand upright; hence to set up, to fix, prepare,
appoint, render sure, to fasten, be fixed, to be ready, to be right.




II. We Can Seek After God In Our Community Experience
     (vs. 4-7)
I wish every government leader in America could study this section of scripture.
“Jehoshaphat” means “the Lord is judge,” and now God wants this man to establish a system that exalts that truth.

A. Notice How Jehoshaphat Set The Judges                                                  vs. 4-5
          1. There Was A Returning To Jehovah’s Side
(2 Chronicles 19:4) And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from
Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
brought … back – Hebrew 7725. shuwb, a primary root word meaning to turn back. In some cases it could have the
idea of returning to the starting point.
          2. There Was A Repairing Of The Judicial System
(2 Chronicles 19:5) And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,
set – Hebrew 5975. ‘amad, a primary root word meaning to stand, to appoint, to confirm, be employed, establish,
make, ordain, raise up, repair.

B. Notice What Jehoshaphat Said To The Judges                                             vs. 6-7
         1. Be Sure You Have The Right Master
(2 Chronicles 19:6) And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD,
who is with you in the judgment.
         2. Be Sure You Have The Right Motive
(2 Chronicles 19:7) Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no
iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
Judge as if God were looking on, because He is. Therefore, don’t let immorality, or partiality, or bribery factor into
the decisions you make.
III. We Can Seek After God In Our Church Experience
      (vs. 8-11)
A. Jehoshaphat Gave Instruction To Follow The Leader                                         vs. 8, 11
         1. He Established Spiritual Leadership
(2 Chronicles 19:8) Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of
the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.
This same word set that was used in verse 5 is used again in verse 8 – Hebrew 5975. ‘amad, a primary root word
meaning to stand, to appoint, to confirm, be employed, establish, make, ordain, raise up, repair.
         2. He Established Structured Leadership
(2 Chronicles 19:11) And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah
the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before
you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.

B. Jehoshaphat Gave Instruction To Fear The Lord                                             vs. 9-10
          1. This Would Involve No Turning
(2 Chronicles 19:9) And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a
perfect heart.
                   Consistently – faithfully means with firmness, stability, and steadiness.
                   Completely – perfect means complete and made ready.
An unknown composer wrote these words, “I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.”
          2. This Would Involve No Trespassing
(2 Chronicles 19:10) And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between
blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they
trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not
trespass.
He didn’t want the leadership or the laity to trespass by bypassing God’s word (law, commandment, statutes, and
judgments).
trespass – Hebrew 816. ‘asham, means to be guilty; to offend.




Conclusion:     There’s a familiar hymn that says, “Follow!            Follow!    I would follow Jesus!       Anywhere,
everywhere, I would follow on.”

Rev. W. O. Cushing said, “I wrote this hymn in 1878. Longing to give up all for Christ who had given his life for
me, I wanted to be willing to lay everything at his feet, with no wish but to do his will, to live henceforth only for his
glory. Out of this feeling came the hymn, “Follow On.” It was written with the prayer and the hope that some heart
might by it be led to give up all for Christ.”

Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!

(Proverbs 3:6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.