1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and the fear of the Lord fell 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: about Judah, so that they made no war against jehosephat 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: Second Chronicles seventeen ten. Before I start my day, I 5 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: will first spend it in your presence. Through this decision, 6 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: your truth spoken to me in to day's reading has 7 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: set me up for success. Thank you that through the 8 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: story of Jehosaphat and Ahab, I see the importance of 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: not moving on a matter until I get your word 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: on it. Protect me from the advice of others that 11 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,279 Speaker 1: would have me die on the battlefield of my dreams 12 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: because I did not wait for the true answer of 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: the Lord, stick my feet to the ground until I 14 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: have clearly heard from you. Help me to recognize people 15 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: pleasers who just want to be yes men and yes 16 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 1: women in my life. Your word, your yes is the 17 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: final say in my life. Therefore, I will thank you 18 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: in advance, because when I get my yes from you, 19 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: I can trust that my outcome will be glorious and 20 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: filled with your favor in Jesus name, Amen. Listening to 21 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing 22 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: from the Lord by listening to today's Bible in a 23 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: Year brought to you by Bible in a Year dot. 24 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: Com Jehoseph, Fat and a half. 25 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 3: In our last story, we dove more into the mind 26 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 3: of the witch Queen Jezebel. Her evil and twisted ways 27 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,279 Speaker 3: had a hold on King Ahaf and she would enact 28 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 3: cruelty on his behalf. After she had a farmer killed 29 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 3: for his land, Elijah confronted Ahab and he repented before 30 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 3: the Lord. Now we learn about the righteous rule of 31 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 3: King Jehosaphat over Judah in his unlikely alliance with King 32 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 3: Ahab from Israel. Their alliance proved to be a deadly 33 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 3: one for Ahab as they pursued the Syrians inspired by 34 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,399 Speaker 3: the Book of First Kings and Second Chronicles. 35 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 4: Hello, this is Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of 36 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 4: the Bible in a Year podcast. In our previous episode, 37 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 4: we saw just how evil and conniving and calculating Jezebel, 38 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 4: the witch of a queen was. She held Ahab in 39 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 4: her power and acted with great wickedness on his behalf. 40 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 4: And with his silent consent, Elijah, the Great Man of God, 41 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 4: finally confronted Ahab for his unfaithfulness and pronounced God's judgment 42 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 4: on him and his wife. Jeshus Ahab was moved to 43 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 4: repentance and sorrow for his actions, and the Lord showed 44 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 4: mercy on the king, But Jezebel died in judgment. Today 45 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 4: we'll hear how Judah's righteous king Jehosephat formed an alliance 46 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 4: with Ahab. These two kingdoms so often at odds and 47 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 4: at war, were now working together. But it will spell 48 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 4: disaster for Ahab. So let's listen to God's word. 49 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 3: Now in the land of Judah, a new king was emerging. Jehosephat, 50 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 3: a young man from the line of David, had taken 51 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 3: over as king after his father Atha. Jehosephad was not 52 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 3: a man to go looking for war and conflict. However, 53 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 3: he knew that Judah had many enemies, mainly their neighboring 54 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 3: nation Israel. So Jehosephad strengthened Judah's borders and fortified its cities. 55 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 3: He stationed troops in every town and created garrisons to 56 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 3: stand in defense of the farmlands and villages. All Jehosephad 57 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 3: did was pleasing in the sight of the Lord. Similar 58 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 3: to his father Atha during his younger years, Jehosephad was 59 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 3: faithful and kind. He worshiped the Lord and shunned the 60 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 3: popular images of bail. Meanwhile, Israel under King Ahab was 61 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 3: known for its idolatry and wicked practices. Word had spread 62 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 3: of their run ins with Elijah. Jojosephad took their conflict 63 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 3: as a warning to continually seek the Lord and obey him. 64 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,919 Speaker 3: He even sent men to remove the pagan shrines that 65 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 3: remained in the wilderness of Judah. Because of this, the 66 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:39,799 Speaker 3: Lord blessed him with wisdom, riches, and influence. Jehosephad also 67 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 3: desired that other people know the Lord deeply. He knew 68 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 3: that without knowledge, the people would perish. Joosephad's goal was 69 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 3: to allow the entire nation of Judah to truly understand 70 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,720 Speaker 3: the law and love of God, as their ancestors once 71 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 3: did so. He sent out teachers, priests, and prophets into 72 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 3: the land to spread the Word of God and teach 73 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 3: its meanings. He sent ben hiel Obadiah, Zechariah, Nathaniel, and 74 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 3: Meciah to teach the people the depths of God's word 75 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 3: and his love for the people. He also sent out 76 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 3: levites to perform sacrifices on behalf of the villages and 77 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 3: cities that could not afford to do so themselves. The 78 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 3: fear and love of the Lord blew through the nation 79 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 3: of Judah like a pleasant breeze, so much so that 80 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 3: even surrounding nations began to take notice. Some of the Philistines, 81 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 3: sworn enemies of God's people, would send gifts of silver 82 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 3: and livestock to make peace. Many nations refused to declare 83 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 3: war on Judah solely because the presence of God was 84 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 3: known to dwell there. So Jehosaphat became loved and respected 85 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 3: in the whole land. The wealth of Judah began to grow, 86 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 3: and there were great reserves for times of famine. In addition, 87 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 3: the armies of Judah amassed in great numbers. They were 88 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 3: well fed, well trained, and well treated soldiers. Even more, 89 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 3: they loved their king. Jehosephad had earned the love and 90 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 3: favor of his men as David once did. Yet he 91 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 3: believed the time for war was over, and now it 92 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 3: was time for alliances to be made and partnerships to 93 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 3: be formed. Jehosephad extended an alliance to King Ahab of Israel, 94 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 3: so Jehosephat's son and Ahab's daughter were married as a 95 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 3: sign of solidarity between nations. Their warring against one another 96 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 3: was to be ended through their union. A few years 97 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 3: had passed and Jehosephad had enjoyed peace with Israel and 98 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 3: the other surrounding nations. One day he went to Samaria 99 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 3: to visit a Haveb, who had prepared a great feast 100 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 3: in his honor. Jehosephad sat at the large banquet table 101 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 3: with his officials, enjoying the company of their allies. Ahab 102 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 3: was sitting on the opposite end of the table. He 103 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 3: was much more quiet than usual. Jehosephad knew something was 104 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 3: slightly off about Ahab's demeanor. He needed to say something, 105 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 3: He needed to ask something. Jehosephad watched as Ahab finished 106 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 3: his plate, set it aside, and cleared his throat. My friend, 107 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 3: Ahab began, did you know that Raimuth Gilead belongs to Israel, 108 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 3: but the Syrians took it over quite some time ago. 109 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 3: Ahab looked intently at the King of Judah. There was 110 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 3: desperation in his eyes. Please, will you go into battle 111 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,559 Speaker 3: with us to take it back? Some of our people 112 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 3: are still there and our resources. Jehosephad took a moment 113 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 3: to think he had made a point to avoid war 114 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 3: in the past few years. Did he want to go 115 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 3: into battle for land that was not his? Did he 116 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 3: want to march his men to fight to right or 117 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 3: wrong that was not done to them. It was a 118 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 3: difficult decision, but ultimately Jehosephad knew what needed to be done. 119 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 3: What good were alliances if you did not hold your 120 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 3: end of the bargain. You and I are one, the 121 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 3: king said, your people are my people, and my horses 122 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 3: are your horses. Ahab was elated at his tame words. 123 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 3: The two of them embraced, and the whole room continued 124 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 3: to celebrate. Jehosephad raised his hand to silence them for 125 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 3: a moment and said, however, let us first consult the 126 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 3: Lord to see if we have his favor in this. 127 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 3: After that, Ahab summoned some of his pagan prophets in 128 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 3: the land. Four hundred men from Israel filtered into the 129 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 3: palace gates and came to Ahab's halls. Jehosephad watched as 130 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 3: the idle worshiping men of Israel gave their words, each 131 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 3: and every one of them gave the king permission to 132 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 3: go into battle. Yes, they all said, God will give 133 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 3: the king victory. They all replied. However, Jehosephad was not 134 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 3: convinced they spoke for the Lord. He turned to Ahab 135 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 3: and said, are there any men of God in your 136 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 3: land that could speak with us? Ahab thought long and 137 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 3: hard about Jehosephad's question. He knew that there was another 138 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 3: man who would speak faithfully for the Lord, but he 139 00:08:55,360 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 3: often rebuked Ahab for his wicked ways. Ahab spoke and said, yes, 140 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 3: there is another. His name is Machiah. However, I hate 141 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 3: the man. He never prophesies in my favor. He only 142 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 3: means trouble for me. The King of Judah began to 143 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 3: worry about the man he had aligned with. He knew 144 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 3: that Ahab had pagan tendencies and had led Israel astray 145 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 3: once before, but he thought he had repented from that. However, 146 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 3: now Jehosephad was beginning to wonder if a lining with 147 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 3: Ahab was a wise decision. That is not how a 148 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 3: king should speak. Jehosephad rebuked, let us hear what the 149 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 3: prophet has to say. The King of Israel nodded and 150 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 3: sent for Machiah. While they waited, Ahab had more of 151 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 3: his false prophets spin stories of victory for them. They 152 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 3: sat on their thrones and listened to the tickling words 153 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 3: of self serving men. They had made it their habit 154 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 3: to say anything that pleased Ahab, but not Macaiah. Much 155 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 3: like Elijah, he would always tell the truth, no matter 156 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 3: how brutal. A messenger finally came to Machiah to summon 157 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 3: him to the palace. The messenger pulled Makaiah in close 158 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 3: and said, every prophet is promising the king victory in battle. 159 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 3: Make sure you agree with them and promise the king success. 160 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 3: Makiah laughed at the request and shook his head. He 161 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 3: patted the messenger on the shoulder and said, I will 162 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 3: say what God says, no more, no less, and with 163 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 3: that he made his way to the palace. Makiah entered 164 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 3: into the palace doors. The four hundred prophets lined the 165 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 3: walls like flies to sugar. The torches were lit and 166 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 3: there was music playing. Clearly Ahab wanted to gain favor 167 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 3: from his new friend, the King of Judah. Makiah looked 168 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 3: around and saw the king sitting on his throne. His 169 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 3: robes were draped over the throne, and he was clothed 170 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 3: in fine linens and gold. His flashiness disgusted Makiah. The 171 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 3: king glared at him. No doubt, Makaiah had only been 172 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 3: summoned because King Jehosaphat was a man of integrity. Why 173 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 3: else would he be asked to give counsel. Ahabs upright 174 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 3: and asked a question for all to hear, Macaiah, shall 175 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 3: we go to war against Raemuth Gilead or should I 176 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 3: stay back. Machiah was entertained by the question. He smiled 177 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 3: and did his best to initiate the pandering tone of 178 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 3: the other prophets, and said, ah yes, my Lord and King, 179 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 3: you shall be victorious as you are in all your ways. 180 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:27,680 Speaker 3: Go and be brave. Then he bowed as a close 181 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 3: to his small performance. Ahab teemed with anger. How many 182 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:34,959 Speaker 3: times must I demand you speak the truth to me 183 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 3: with these matters, Ahab replied sharply. Machiah's entertained face grew darker. 184 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 3: He sighed and pointed intently at Ahab. I have seen 185 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 3: a vision in Israel, he said. I saw the children 186 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 3: of Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep without a shepherd. 187 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 3: The Lord then spoke to me and said, their master 188 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 3: has been killed. Send them home in peace. Machiah then 189 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 3: shrugged his shoes and began to turn back. Ahab leaned 190 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 3: over to the King of Judah and said, what did 191 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 3: I tell you? He never prophesies in my favor. This 192 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 3: instance is no different from the rest. Upon hearing Ahab, 193 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 3: Machiah turned around and said, listen to me. Now I 194 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 3: saw the Lord sitting on his throne with the armies 195 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 3: of heaven surrounding him. The Lord spoke clearly and asked 196 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 3: all of his armies, who will go forth and entice 197 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 3: King Ahab to be killed. So a spirit came and said, 198 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 3: I will send him prophets to tell him a victory. 199 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 3: So believe me when I say that the Lord has 200 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 3: put lying mouths in these prophets of yours to lead 201 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 3: you into your death. As Machiah was speaking, another prophet 202 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 3: came up to him and slapped him across the face. 203 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,079 Speaker 3: Since when did God's spirit leave me to speak to you, 204 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 3: he said. Machaiah spat out some blood from his mouth 205 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 3: and peered up at him. You will see soon enough, 206 00:12:58,120 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 3: when you are hiding like a dog in your dead. 207 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 3: Arrest him, Ah, have yelled, Put him in prison and 208 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 3: feed him nothing but bread and water until I return 209 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 3: from my battle. That's if you return, Machiah yelled, as 210 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 3: he was being bound by the palace guards. Mark my words, 211 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 3: if you return from that battle, it means the Lord 212 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 3: does not speak through me. And with those last words, 213 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 3: Machiah was taken away. Despite Jehosaphat's reservation, the two armies 214 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 3: marched into battle. The next week. When the two armies 215 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 3: met to descend into Raymouth, Gilead Ahab turned to Jehosaphat 216 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 3: and said, you continue to wear your royal armor, but 217 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,679 Speaker 3: I will disguise myself so nobody knows I am king. 218 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 3: So a haveb disguised himself, knowing full well the Syrians 219 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 3: would want to kill him. Meanwhile, on the other side 220 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:52,239 Speaker 3: of the battlefield, the King of Syria said to his commanders, 221 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 3: I do not want much bloodshed today. Attack only the 222 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 3: King of Israel. Do not bother with anyone else. So 223 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 3: the battle began. The alliance of Judah and Israel charged 224 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 3: at the Syrians. Metal and bone clashed on the battlefield, 225 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 3: and the Syrians were intent on getting to the back 226 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 3: of the battle to get the king. When they saw 227 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 3: Jehosaphad and his royal armor, they mistook him for King 228 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 3: Ahab and charged. Jehosaphad's eyes widened as he saw a 229 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 3: sea of soldiers pursuing him. He planted his feet in 230 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 3: the ground and prepared for their attack. But the lord 231 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 3: saved him, and as soon as the chariots drew close 232 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 3: to him, they realized it was not a half, it stopped. Meanwhile, 233 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 3: Ahab was disguised as a normal soldier at the back 234 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 3: of the battlefield. He fought very little, making sure to 235 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 3: preserve his own safety. A barrage of arrows were suddenly 236 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 3: shot in Ahab's direction and he was struck in his side. 237 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 3: Ahab writhed in pain on the floor. He called to 238 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 3: his chariot and yelled, get me out of here. I 239 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 3: am wounded. So the servant propped him up on the 240 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 3: chariot and began to weave through the battle to escape. 241 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 3: The battle raged on violently as the Syrians looked for 242 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 3: ae have However, as the sun was setting and the 243 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 3: battle was raging, Ahab died in his chariot. 244 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 4: In today's scripture, we read of a story of two 245 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 4: kingdoms and two very different kings. Jehosephat was the son 246 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 4: of Asa, king of Judah, and like his father and 247 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 4: his forefather David before him, Jehosephad was a righteous king 248 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 4: who earnestly sought the Lord's favor, and he not only 249 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 4: sought favor for himself. He acted in the best interest 250 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 4: of the people of Judah, tearing down idols, not only 251 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 4: in the prominent cities, but in the dark recesses of 252 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 4: the desert where evil tried to hide. His example is 253 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 4: one we should follow, seeking to root out any idolatry 254 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 4: in our life, all false gods and false ideologies, even 255 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 4: those that we try to hide in our own life. 256 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 4: God looked favorably upon Jehosephat and blessed him and his 257 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 4: nation with peace, prosperity, and prominence. Among the neighboring nations. 258 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 4: Jehosaphat and Judah stood in stark contrast to Israel and 259 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 4: King Ahab to the north. Any change of heart or 260 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 4: repentance from Ahab seemed to be now gone, and he 261 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 4: continued to lead people in the worship of bail in, 262 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 4: giving his ear to false prophets. Once again, he disobeys God. 263 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 4: King Jehosaphat desired peace, especially with his northern neighbors, so 264 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 4: he forged an alliance with Aheb through the marriage of 265 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 4: his son to Ahab's daughter. Thus ended the conflict between 266 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 4: these two nations, Israel and Judah. Ahab knew that Judah's 267 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 4: army was strong and capable, and after a few years 268 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 4: he approached Jehosaphat for help defeating Syria and reclaiming land 269 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 4: and possessions the Syrians had taken from Israel. And though 270 00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 4: Jehosaphat wanted peace and to avoid war, he knew it 271 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 4: would be right to support his ally, so he agreed 272 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 4: to help. But he wisely told Ahab that they must 273 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:11,119 Speaker 4: first seek the lord's guidance, to seek God's counsel to 274 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 4: see if the battle was one God would give victory. 275 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 4: For Ahab, the battle seemed to be no problem, for 276 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,479 Speaker 4: he had hundreds of men who would gladly tell him 277 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 4: whatever he wanted to hear. A Have then summoned these 278 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 4: pagan prophets, and as he sat with Jehosephad, these men 279 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 4: came before him and spoke only of victory, saying God 280 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 4: would be the king. But Jehosephad had a discerning heart, 281 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 4: and he wanted to be sure these were in fact 282 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 4: God's words. So he says in First King twenty two seven, 283 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 4: is there not here another prophet of the Lord of 284 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 4: whom we may inquire? This is a huge reminder for 285 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 4: us today that we must always be discerning and wise 286 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 4: concerning so called spiritual advice. The Bible says we are 287 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 4: to test the spirits to see if they are from God. 288 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 4: Ahab surely was frustrated because he knew his prophetic yes 289 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 4: men did not convince Jehosaphat. He knew of a prophet 290 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 4: who indeed spoke from God and for God, but he 291 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 4: didn't want to hear this, so he called for Makaiah 292 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,360 Speaker 4: to come to him, even though he never gave him 293 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 4: a favorable word from God. As they waited for his arrival, 294 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 4: more false prophets continued their spectacle, trying to prop up 295 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 4: the king. But when the prophet arived the real prophet, 296 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 4: the word he brought was ultimately much different. He revealed 297 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 4: a vision from God of sheep scattered on the hill 298 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 4: and their master having been killed. After Ahab rejected this prophet, 299 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 4: Makaiah turned around and spoke in clear terms, telling him, 300 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 4: God had sent him false prophets to entice him to 301 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 4: war so that he would be killed. Yet even with 302 00:18:55,880 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 4: this knowledge, Ahab insisted on going to war, but rather 303 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 4: than bravely entering the battle as king, he tried to 304 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 4: disguise himself while he made Jehosephat dress in royal garb 305 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 4: and mount his horse. In the end, however, none of 306 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 4: his schemes mattered, because the Lord's plans will never fail. Jehosephat, 307 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 4: the Righteous King, was spared from death, while Ahab was 308 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:24,360 Speaker 4: struck down by the enemy's eras and died in his chariot. 309 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 4: Next time, we'll learn more about this god fearing righteous 310 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:34,360 Speaker 4: king of Judah, whose name is Jehosaphat. Dear Lord, help 311 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 4: us always to listen to you, and not to others 312 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 4: who may speak for you but in fact tell lies. 313 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 4: You have told us that we should discern truth from error, 314 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 4: righteousness from unrighteousness, and your word the word of God 315 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 4: for the words of men. Help us always to test 316 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 4: the spirits to see that they are from you, and 317 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 4: trust and obey your counsel as we fight spiritual battles 318 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 4: in your name. Amen, Thank you for listening to today's 319 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 4: Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 320 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:10,919 Speaker 4: Let me encourage you to download the Prey dot com 321 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 4: app and always make Bible reading and Bible study a 322 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:18,159 Speaker 4: priority in your life along with prayer. If you enjoyed 323 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 4: this podcast, share it with someone you love. Let someone 324 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 4: know because by sharing this podcast you can truly make 325 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 4: a difference in someone's life. And if you want more 326 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 4: resources from me, Jack Graham as to how you can 327 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:34,479 Speaker 4: grow in your Christian life, then go to Jack Graham 328 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 4: dot org. That's Jack Graham dot org. God bless you.