Jehoshaphat-Proved His Devoted Heart to God

By Mary Vee
I Kings 15, II Chronicles 20

From a Priest's Journal

It doesn't take much to be able to tell a dedicated heart for God, for me anyway. As a priest I get to see what many people do when others aren't looking. The proof is in their daily actions and goals.

King Asa died a sad death. He could have asked God to heal his feet, but he didn't. I'm not saying that I know for sure if God's plan included Asa's healing at that time. He simply didn't even ask, and so the infection spread and he died.

His son, Jehoshaphat, bless his heart, loved God and wanted with all his heart to finish the job his father started. 

After Jehoshaphat became king, he went throughout the country to removed any new gods put up by the people, the high places where the people worshipped other gods, and the Asherah poles in all Judah.

He followed the teachings of his father Asa: how to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord and to keep God's commands. He became a great example to the people of Judah, showing them how a devoted heart to God should act. 

Unfortunately in the area of Edom, there was no king at the time. If only the Edomites could have had Jehoshaphat to teach them. They worshipped false gods rather than the Almighty God of their fathers before them, the God who loved them.

I am in wonder how the Edomites could not see the good Jehoshaphat has brought to Judah. 

Jehoshaphat stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and in Ephraim and built forts for them.

This is a man whom the Lord clearly was with because in his early years, Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of his great, great, great grandfather, David, had followed.

Unlike the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat did not talk to the Baal gods but asked the Almighty God his questions. After hearing the answer, he followed God's instructions exactly as God said. 

The people of Judah loved their king and showed it by bringing him rich gifts. He had great wealth and was given honor from his people. 

Yes, this was the kind of king I wish could forever reign in Judah. A man whose heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord and proved it by removing all the false gods.

What else did Jehoshaphat do during his reign to prove his devoted heart to God? Come back next time and see.

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Photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

1.  What didn't Asa, king of Judah do?
2.  What happened to him?
3.  Who is Jehoshaphat?
4.  How did Jehoshaphat prove his devoted heart to God?
5. Who didn't have a king at this time?
6.  What happened different in that country?
7.  While Jehoshaphat was king, Judah would have been a great place or scary place to live.