II Chronicles 17:1-2- And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
Jehoshaphat started his reign by strengthening the armies and cities of Judah. Would he be a good king?
II Chronicles 17:3-6- And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, 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 stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour 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.
Jehoshaphat wanted to be a good king. He loved the Lord and wanted to do right. He got rid of the bad places that people were going to worship idols at. But, he didn't stop there. He got some wise men to go through his kingdom and teach his people all about the Lord and what the Lord required from their lives.
II Chronicles 17:9-10- And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
Proverbs 16:7- When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
The Lord had promised that he would help those who served Him. Jehoshaphat was doing all he could to make sure that he and his people would serve the Lord. Because of this, the Lord made his enemies to be at peace with him.
II Chronicles 17:11- Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
What did Jehoshaphat do during his time of peace? He didn't sit around and play. He was trying to make sure that his people had what they needed.
II Chronicles 17:12-13- And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store. And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
Even though he was a good man who loved the Lord, this did not keep him from making mistakes. And the biggest mistake he made was trying to be friends with someone who didn't love the Lord and didn't want to do right!
II Chronicles 18:1- Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, were some of the most wicked rulers of the Israelite people. Jehoshaphat should have stayed far away from them, but instead, he decided to become acquaintances with them.
II Chronicles 18:2- And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.
Ahab threw a big party while Jehoshaphat was there, and then he asked if they could go to battle together to fight one of Ahab's enemies.
II Chronicles 18:4- 6- And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand. But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
Jehoshaphat was still trying to do what God wanted so he asked Ahab to seek the Lord's will. Ahab was a wicked man who didn't serve the Lord God Almighty. Ahab gathered some prophets together and asked them. All these prophets said to go to war. But, Jehoshaphat had heard the Lord's will before, and he knew that these prophets didn't serve his God. He wanted to know if Ahab had a prophet that served his God.
II Chronicles 18:7-8- And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
Ahab didn't want to call a real servant of God because he knew that the answer wouldn't be good. He told Jehoshaphat that there was one man, but he hated him. Ahab didn't want to hear what the Lord God Almighty had to say. But, Ahab called the prophet for Jehoshaphat.
II Chronicles 18:9, 11- And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
The two kings were dressed in their royal robes, sitting on their thrones, surrounded by false prophets who were telling them to go to war. All the prophets were saying the same thing- you will win.
But, there was another throne room where a King was sitting dressed in His royal garments. He, too, was surrounded by people to which He asked a question. Only the true prophet of the Lord knew of this meeting. Only the one prophet, Micaiah, heard the question and the answers.
II Chronicles 18:14-17- And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand. And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD? Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?
Micaiah told the king what he wanted to hear, but Ahab knew that the prophet wasn't telling him something. Micaiah always said something about the Lord when he prophesied, and he didn't mention God. When Ahab told him to say what God really said, Micaiah prophesied of Ahab's death.
Then, Micaiah told the two earthly kings about the other meeting in the heavenly throne room.
II Chronicles 18:18-22- Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
The Lord God Almighty had a meeting with His heavenly host. He wanted Ahab to go to battle, but not to win. He was going to use this battle to kill Ahab for his sins. One spirit came out and said that he could get Ahab to go by getting Ahab's false prophets to tell him that he would win the battle.
All those false prophets were saying good things about this battle, but they were lies. The only person who would tell the truth was the one who truly worshiped the Lord God Almighty. And for telling the truth, he was thrown in prison.
II Chronicles 18:25-26- Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.
Even though Ahab and Jehoshaphat had heard the truth, they decided not to listen to it. They decided to go ahead and go forth to war.
II Chronicles 18:28- So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
