1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: dot com. You're listening to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible. 4 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: I'm John Stangi, and today we're in First Kings, chapter 5 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: twenty two, and this is what we read. For three years, 6 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: there was no war between Aram and Israel. Then during 7 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: the third year, King Jehosaphat of Judah went to visit 8 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: King Ahab of Israel. During the visit, the King of 9 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: Israel said to his officials, do you realize that the 10 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: town of Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, and yet we've 11 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: done nothing to recapture it from the King of Aram. 12 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: Then he turned to Jehosaphat and asked, will you join 13 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: me in battle to recover Ramoth Gilead. Jehosaphat replied to 14 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: the King of Israel, why, of course you and I 15 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: are as one. My troops are your troops, and my 16 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: horses are your horses. Then Jehosephat added, but first let's 17 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: find out what the Lord says. So the King of 18 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: Israel summoned the prophets, about four hundred of them, and 19 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: ask them, should I go to war against Ramoth Gilead. 20 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: Or should I hold back? They all replied, yes, go 21 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: right ahead. The Lord will give the king victory. But 22 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: Jehosephad asked, is there not also a prophet of the 23 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: Lord here? We should ask him the same question. The 24 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: King of Israel replied to Jehosephat, there is one more 25 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: man who could consult the Lord for us, But I 26 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me. 27 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: His name is Macaiah, son of Imla. Jehosephat replied, that's 28 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: not the way a king should talk. Let's hear what 29 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: he has to say. So the King of Israel called 30 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: one of his officials and said, quick, bring Makiah son 31 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: of Imlah. King Ahab of Israel and King Jehosephad of Judah, 32 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at 33 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of 34 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: Ahab's prophets were prophesying there. In front of them. One 35 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: of them, Zedekiah son of Kenana, made some iron horns 36 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: and proclaimed, this is what the Lord says. With these horns, 37 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 1: you will gore the Aramians to death. All the other 38 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: prophets agreed. Yes, they said, go up to Ramath Gilead 39 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory. Meanwhile, 40 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: the messenger who went to get Michiah said to him, look, 41 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be 42 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: sure that you agree with them and promise success. But 43 00:02:56,639 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 1: Makaiah replied, as surely as the Lord lived, I will 44 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:05,239 Speaker 1: say only what the Lord tells me to say. When 45 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: Machiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, Makiah, should 46 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: we go to war against Ramath Gilead or should we 47 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: hold back. Makiah replied sarcastically, yes, go up and be victorious, 48 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: for the Lord will give the king victory. But the 49 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: king replied sharply, how many times must I demand that 50 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: you speak only the truth to me when you speak 51 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: for the Lord. Then Makaiah told him, in a vision, 52 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep 53 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: without a shepherd, and the Lord said, their master has 54 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: been killed. Send them home in peace. Didn't I tell you? 55 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: The King of Israel exclaimed to Jehosaphat, he never promises 56 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: anything but trouble for me. Then Makiah continued listen to 57 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: what the Lord says. I saw the Lord's sitting on 58 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: his throne with all the armies of heaven around him 59 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: on his right and on his left, and the Lord said, 60 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: who can entice Ahab to go into battle against Raymuth 61 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: Gilead so he can be killed? There were many suggestions, 62 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, I 63 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: can do it. How will you do this, the Lord asked, 64 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: and the spirit replied, I will go out and inspire 65 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: all of Ahab's prophets to speak lives. You will succeed, 66 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,239 Speaker 1: said the Lord. Go ahead and do it. So you see, 67 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths 68 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: of all your prophets. For the Lord has pronounced your doom. 69 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: Then Zedekiah, son of Kenana, walked up to Machiah and 70 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: slapped him across the face. Since when did the spirit 71 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: of the Lord leave me to speak to you, he demanded, 72 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: and Machiah replied, you will find out soon enough, when 73 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: you are trying to hide in some secret room. Arrest him, 74 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: the King of Israel ordered. Take him back to Ammon. 75 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: The governor of the city and my son joe Ash 76 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: give them this order from the King put this man 77 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: in prison and feed him nothing but bread and water 78 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: until I return safely from the battle. But Makaiah replied, 79 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: if you return safely, it will mean that the Lord 80 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: has not spoken through me. Then he added to those 81 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: standing around, everyone mark my words. So King Ahab of 82 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 1: Israel and King Jehosaphat of Judah led their armies against 83 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: Ramoth Gilead. The King of Israel said to Jehosaphat, as 84 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: we go into battle, I will disguise myself so no 85 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: one will recognize me. But you wear your royal robes. 86 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 1: So the King of Israel disguised himself and they went 87 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: into battle. Meanwhile, the King of Aram had issued these 88 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: orders to his thirty two two chariot commanders. Attack only 89 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: the King of Israel, don't bother with anyone else. So 90 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: when the Rami and Chariot commanders saw Jehosaphat in his 91 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: royal robes, they went after him. There is the King 92 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 1: of Israel, they shouted. But when Jehosaphac called out, the 93 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 1: Chariot commanders realized he was not the King of Israel, 94 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: and they stopped chasing him. An Ramian soldier, however, randomly 95 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the 96 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: King of Israel between the joints of his armor. Turn 97 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: the horses and get me out of here. Ahab groaned 98 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 1: to the driver of his chariot, I'm badly wounded. The 99 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: battle raged all that day, and the king remained propped 100 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: up in his chariot facing the Aramians. The blood from 101 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: his wound ran down to the floor of his chariot, 102 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: and as evening arrived, he died. Just as the sun 103 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: was setting, the cry ran through his troops, We're done 104 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: for Run for your lives. So the king died and 105 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: his body was taken to Samaria and buried there. Then 106 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: his chariot was washed beside the pool of Samaria, and 107 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: dogs came and licked his blood at the place where 108 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: the prostitutes bathed, just as the lord had promised. The 109 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: rest of the events in Ahab's reign and everything he did, 110 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: including the story of the Ivory Palace and the towns 111 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: he built, are recorded in the book of the History 112 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: of the Kings of Israel. So Ahab died and his 113 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: son Ahaziah became the next king. Jehosaphat, son of Asa, 114 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: began to rule over Judah in the fourth year of 115 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: King Ahab's reign in Israel. Jehosphat was thirty five years 116 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 117 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: twenty five years. His mother was Azuba, the daughter of Shilhe. 118 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: Jehosephat was a good king, following the example of his 119 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: father Asa. He did what was pleasing in the lord's sight. 120 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the 121 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned 122 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: incense there. Jehosephad also made peace with the King of Israel. 123 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: The rest of the events in Jehosephat's reign, the extent 124 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: of his power and the wars he waged, are recorded 125 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: in the book of the History of the Kings of Judah. 126 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: He banished from the land the rest of the male 127 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: and female shrine prostitutes, who still continued their practices from 128 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 1: the days of his father Aesa. There was no king 129 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: in Edom at that time, only a deputy. Jehosephad also 130 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: built a fleet of trading ships to sail to Ophir 131 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:55,719 Speaker 1: for gold, but the ships never set sail, for they 132 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: met with disaster in their home port of Easy and Geeber. 133 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: At one time, Ahaziah son of Ahab, had proposed to Jehosaphat, 134 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 1: let my men sail with your men in the ships, 135 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: but Jehosaphat refused the request. When Jehosaphat died, he was 136 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: buried with his ancestors in the city of David. Then 137 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: his son Jehoram became the next king. Ahaziah, son of Ahab, 138 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: began to rule over Israel in the seventeenth year of 139 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 1: King Jehosaphat's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years, 140 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,199 Speaker 1: but he did what was evil in the Lord's sight. 141 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: Following the example of his father and mother, and the 142 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel 143 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 1: to sin, he served Bail and worshiped him, provoking the 144 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as 145 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: his father had done. Let's pray, Lord, we thank you 146 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: for your word, and we thank you as always for 147 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: the privilege of being able to look at it today. 148 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: And Lord, as we look at this passage, we see 149 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: a contrast between prophets and kings, and those who followed 150 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: you and those who rejected you. Lord, we know that 151 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: Ahab was one who worshiped idols and rejected the counsel 152 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: of your prophets, and primarily just wanted to hear what 153 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: he had already made up his mind about what he 154 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: already thought was the case, and rejected your truth as 155 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: it was spoken to him by the prophet. And Lord, 156 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: sometimes we can find ourselves doing that same exact thing. 157 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: Sometimes when we come across things in your word that 158 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: you've revealed through your prophets. Sometimes we're confronted about areas 159 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: of our lives that we don't really want to be 160 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: confronted about. But Lord, your word tells us the truth, 161 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: and you speak into parts of our lives that we 162 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: would live our lives completely unaware of if you hadn't 163 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: opened our eyes to see what was really going on. 164 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: And Lord, we know that through faith in your son 165 00:10:57,520 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, that you give us the mind and the 166 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 1: eyes of Christ as we perceive things and as we 167 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: grow in our understanding of your will. So Lord, we 168 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: pray that by your grace that today we would see 169 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: things from your perspective, things related to our life, things 170 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: related to our culture, things related to the people that 171 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: we interact with, and that we would honor and glorify 172 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: the name of Jesus Christ. In all of our dealings, Lord, 173 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: we love you. We thank you for your presence with 174 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 1: us today, and we commit this day to your care. 175 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: We pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen,