Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of the southern kingdom of Judah and ruled for 25 years total (4 of those years he ruled as co-regency with his father). He became sole ruler of the kingdom of Judah after his father, Asa, died in 869 BC. Asa was a good king as well as a good role model for his son. “Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him“ (2 Corinthians 14:2-5).

Asa was also a good role model for his son in showing him how to pray and depend on the Lord for help. Once, the Ethiopian army of a million men and 300 chariots came against Judah. “So, Asa went out against him, and they set the troops in battle array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!

“So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So the Ethiopians were overthrown, and they could not recover, for they were broken before the Lord and His army. And they carried away very much spoil. Then they defeated all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the Lord came upon them; and they plundered all the cities, for there was exceedingly much spoil in them. They also attacked the livestock enclosures, and carried off sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem“ (2 Chronicles 14:10-15).

The LORD is described as a man of war in Exodus 15:3. “The LORD [Yahweh] is a man of war. The LORD is His name.“ How can the LORD be a man? The LORD or Yahweh is the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting“ (Micah 5:2).

Here is a description of this ‘man’ of war that David gave in Psalm 18:7-14:

“Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.“

Asa was wise in that he did not depend on his military might and his army but instead depended on the Lord. Many true believers of Yahweh defected from Israel to Judah when they realized that God was with Asa. Because of Asa’s righteousness and mentoring of the people, God allowed Judah to be at peace for many decades. They even celebrated the feast of Pentecost (in the third month, in the 15th year of Asa’s rule), which hadn’t been done in a long time. They sacrificed 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep (seven being a perfect and complete number of God). They even entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul. “They sought Him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about“ (2 Chronicles 15:12,15).

Asa reigned 41 years as king of Judah. Eight kings reigned in Israel during Asa’s 41-year rule, and they were all evil. However, when Asa was old, he made the mistake of depending on another country (Aram/Syria) for assistance against Israel instead of the Lord. God forgave him because, in God’s eyes, the heart of Asa was perfect all his days (2 Chronicles 15:17).

Jehoshaphat followed in the footsteps of his father. He was one of the best kings of Judah regarding his love of the Lord. “And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David [actually David was his 3rd great grandfather], and sought not unto Baalim; but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord; moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah“ (2 Chronicles 17:3-6).

You can tell the difference between the great kings and the good kings of Judah by this one thing: if they took away the high places and groves to keep the people from worshiping there. He also sent out traveling teachers of the law of Moses and reorganized Judah’s justice system by placing judges in key cities and a high court in Jerusalem, with Levites and priests as judges.

The evil King Ahab of Israel reigned in the time of Jehoshaphat. There couldn’t have been more of a contrast between the two kings. About this time, Ahab was at war with Syria, and so he called a meeting with Jehoshaphat to see if he would join forces with him against Syria. Jehoshaphat answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war“ (2 Chronicles 18:3). This is the war where Ahab is struck with an arrow as he is riding in his chariot and dies shortly afterward. Jehoshaphat gets in trouble as he is surrounded by enemy forces but cries out to the Lord, who helps him to escape.

When Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem, a prophet by the name of Jehu gave him this message from the Lord: “Should you help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord [Israel/Ahab]? Therefore is wrath upon you from before the Lord, Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the groves out of the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God“ (2 Chronicles 18:2-3).

The other thing Jehoshaphat did that wasn’t good was he arranged a marriage between his son, Jehoram, and king Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, who was evil like her father and mother. “And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had the daughter of Ahab as a wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever“ (2 Chronicles 21;6-7).

It came to pass after this that the nations of Moab and Ammon (and others) were marching towards Jerusalem. “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord“ (2 Chronicles 20:3-4). Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, and spoke to the Lord, asking for his help. 2 Chronicles 20:6-12 is one of the greatest prayers recorded in the Old Testament. It was so good (and aligned with God’s will) that God answered it right away. Here is Jehoshaphat’s prayer and petition before the Lord:

“O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.

“And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.“

After this petition to the Lord, Jahaziel, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came forward with the mighty Spirit of the Lord upon him and said, “Hearken you, all Judah and Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, Thus says the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand you still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you“ (2 Chronicles 20:15-17).

These words of Jahaziel (from the Lord) are some of the same words that were used by Moses during the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea: “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever“ (Exodus 14:13).

Jehovah/Yahweh used one of his favorite methods to destroy the enemies of Judah. He got the different armies to fight against one another (just like He will do with Gog and his allies during the war of Gog/Magog in Ezekiel 38-39). It must have been sheer madness. “And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped” (2 Chronicles 20:24).

“When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the Lord; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day.

“Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around“ (2 Chronicles 20:25-30).

Because of King Jehoshaphat’s godly prayer, Judah was delivered from their enemies who vastly outnumbered them. Let’s dissect this prayer into 5 parts:

1) Jehoshaphat praised and revered God for His power and might. He acknowledged that it was by God’s power that the idol-worshiping inhabitants of the land were driven out, and not by the power of the children of Israel.

2) Jehoshaphat reverently mentioned the covenant between Abraham (and his descendants) and the Lord regarding the ownership of the land of Canaan (now Judah). He also mentioned the temple that the people built so they could worship Him. IOW, the temple of the Lord was now in danger of being taken over by their enemies.

3) Jehoshaphat was praying in faith that God would hear his prayer and would answer it by defeating their enemies.

4) Jehoshaphat reviewed some ancient history with God. When the children of Israel first left Egypt, they could have attacked these kingdoms right away and entered the Promised Land, but God would not allow it. Jehoshaphat told God that this is how those kingdoms were now repaying them, by attacking Judah and displacing them out of the land that the Lord Himself had given to the children of Israel. He prayed that God would judge them for this evil action.

5) Jehoshaphat acknowledged that Judah couldn’t win this battle without the Lord’s intervention. King David had mentioned this himself many years ago when he said: “No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength“ (Psalm 33:16).

The Lord answered Jehoshaphat’s righteous prayer, and the people of Judah were saved from certain destruction. If you think your lone prayer is not going to do any good, then think again, and remember Jehoshaphat and his prayer.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much“ (James 5:16). “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil“ (1 Peter 3:12).

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths“ (Psalm 3:6). Someone once said: “Work, as it is up to you, and pray, as it is up to the Lord.” Can I get an amen?

Randy Nettles

nettlesr@suddenlink.net

John 6:67-69, Matthew 7:13-14, Isaiah 55:8-9,1 Corinthians 1:18-29,2 Corinthians 11:13-15, John 16:7-13, 2 Peter 1:3

Summary: When Jesus spoke about the Bread of Life, His analogies troubled a lot of His hearers who found His teaching hard to understand (John 6:51-65) and ended up walking away from Him. In asking the disciples if they wanted to go away, Peter’s response was the model of faith and assurance (vv.67-69).

Jesus’ teachings either inspired or infuriated those who heard Him. They continue to have the same effect on anyone who reads His words as recorded in the Scriptures today and decides whether to surrender their lives to Him or reject His mercy and reap the eternal consequences. When He taught about the Bread of Life and used His body and blood as analogies, many people misunderstood His figurative language and thought it sounded like some kind of cannibalism and a source of offense to them. They had ears yet did not really hear the message.

It all ended with a huge number of would-be disciples abandoning Him. He then turned to the twelve men who had given up much to follow Him. He asked if they were going to go away as well. Even if that were to happen, the mission of redemption for which He came would still be accomplished, and His message would still be spread both in Judea, Samaria, and the world (Acts 1:8-11). Others would follow Him, so any thought of His work ending up as a failure was out of the question. He was God Incarnate (John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:16-18), and His Sovereign will would never be altered nor thwarted due to the fickleness and inability of people to think deeper than what was expected of them.

Simon Peter spoke for the small band of loyal men who still clung to His words and who had witnessed His miracles and stood in amazement at the authority He clearly demonstrated. Peter said these words that have grounded countless millions in a faith and life that could not be overcome by the works of the world, the flesh, and the devil. The words of Jesus Christ have life, meaning, purpose, hope, love, grace, and mercy to every man, woman, and child who ever bowed before Him and confessed Him as Lord and Savior, even if the end result was a martyr’s grave dug by the hatred of His foes, both human and hellish.

It is only from the words of Jesus Christ and none other where we receive the eternal and fixed promises of hope and redemption, freedom from the bonds of sin, death, and the literal hell that would be our destination if it were not for His undeserved mercy.

The world and its attempts to lure us away from Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6), has no alternative for what He declares and proclaims. Yet, the god of this world, Satan, will continue to try and distract as many people as he can.

What are some of his schemes in relation to the truth of God?

He steers humanity to accept the beliefs and thinking of “the majority,” such as what their peers think or say, or whatever the latest polls would tend to indicate, or the latest trends, plus a host of other deviants. Jesus had a word to say about “majority thinking” (Matthew 7:13-14). They tend to take the “broad road,” especially in terms of religion or personal convictions that are at odds with the Scriptures and the call to travel on the narrow road that leads to salvation. A follower of Jesus will always be in the minority and be subject to persecutions and trouble (2 Timothy 3:12) yet will be delivered from the wrath that is to come on all who reject His offer of salvation.

If we followed the whims of the majority in the days of Noah, we would have perished in the flood (Genesis 6-9) and in the desert in the days of Moses after doubting the report of Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:6-9, 27-30).

The devil also uses the pronouncements of human wisdom, using it to lead people into a false oasis of truth and hope. Educators, media personalities, and “pop” psychologists try and persuade the public that we are the center of all that is and nothing else needs to be examined, studied, or questioned. This is in clear violation of the decree of God (Isaiah 55:8-9), and He uses the preaching of the Gospel to present the truth and the true wisdom that too many people are unwilling to accept or believe (1 Corinthians 1:18-29). He uses the words and teachings of “preachers,” so-called “prophets,” and self-appointed “apostles” in these last days to turn people away from the Gospel and instead settle for a diet of ear-tickling fluff and icing that soothes egos and affirms our sense of worth and “esteem.”

These false teachers were a problem for the first-century church and are as a flood in these last days, all predicted in Scripture (Acts 20:28-31; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:1-8, 4:1-5; 2 Peter 3; Jude). Our lack of biblical literacy and study has played a major role in this deception (Acts 17:11); and not only will these false shepherds be condemned for their treachery (Matthew 7:21-23), but we will be held accountable as well for putting up with them in the name of “tolerance” and “diversity” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

We also use the dictates of our “consciences” and the direction of our “feelings” as some kind of truth monitor. Our consciences are like clocks in that they have to be set properly, and that is only by the skill of the One who made them, none other than the LORD Himself. He is the Master Craftsman who takes us and makes us into fit vessels for service. Scripture warns of feelings and a conscience void of moral and ethical standards (Matthew 15:12-14; Acts 23:1, 26:9-11; Proverbs 14:12, 28:26; Jeremiah 10:23).

Who is it then we should go to in order to receive reality, fact, truth, and assurance?

None other than the Lord Jesus Himself. The Scriptures tell us as much. It is Jesus who provides the “food which endures to everlasting life” (John 6:27,35,40). He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). He has been confirmed by God the Father through His miracles and resurrection (John 5:36; Romans 1:4). His apostles were prepared by Him to carry on and complete His work under the guide of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-13). They were His spokesmen under His authority (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, 8; 1 John 4:6; Jude 17), teaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:20-21, 37; 2 Peter 1:3) and writing the New Testament as the Divine Word to teach us today (Ephesians 3:3-5; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:14; Jude 3).

It is obvious that it is Jesus and no one else to whom we need to go. He is the Son of God, the One who gives the eternal words of life, and the One who today calls you to come home out of the fog and despair of the world and its concoction of counterfeits, deceptions, and lies. Peter declared Jesus to have the words of life. After reading this message, you would have to agree with him and place your faith in Christ just as he and countless others have done throughout history.

donaldwhitchard@gmail.com

www.realitycityreverend.com

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Donald was born and reared in the authentic “Cajun Country” of southern Louisiana. He is a graduate of Louisiana College (B.A. in History Education/ Biblical Studies, 1984), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. In Christian Education, 1994), and Andersonville Baptist Seminary (Doctor of Ministry, Biblical Exposition, 2000). He has been in the Gospel ministry since 1986, serving as an evangelist, interim and supply pastor, hospital and rescue mission chaplain, high school and college teacher, and pastor in churches in Louisiana and Oklahoma.

In 2018 he began to devote his time to the rich field of internet and social media evangelism and outreach. In 2021 he became a member of the Oklahoma Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, using his skills as a writer to contribute articles and sermons to websites such as Rapture Ready, Sermon Central, and Inspirational Christian Blogs. He also writes Bible studies and curricula for churches in southeast and central Asia and Africa, the locations of which are anonymous. He can be contacted at: donaldwhitchard@gmail.com for inquires, information, and speaking/preaching engagements. His website is: www.realitycityreverend.com . A copy of his resume is also available upon request.