In verses 1-12, The Moabites, Ammonites, and some Meunites fought against Jehoshaphat. He was told that they were coming against him from different places. Jehoshaphat became afraid and turned to God and called for a nationwide fast. The people of Judah came from all the cities of Judah to seek God. The king stood to address the people as he recalled what God had done for them and gave them the temple to call on Him for their salvation. Now those from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir whom He forbade them to invade when they came out of Egypt are coming to drive them out of the land, He has given them. Would God protect them as they are helpless against this big group of people who are attacking them?

In verses 13-17, God’s Spirit came upon Jahaziel, a Levite from the sons of Asaph, and he called the people not to be afraid or be dismayed. But to face them tomorrow when they are here but they do not have to fight them because God will be with them and deliver them from their hands. In verses 18-23, Jehoshaphat fell before God and worshipped Him. The Levites of the Kohathites and the Korahites praised God loudly. The next morning, they went to the desert of Tekoa. Jehoshaphat told them to trust God and His prophets, and they will succeed. They won the battle by worshipping God without fighting their enemies.

In verses 24-35, when they came to the watchtower of the desert, they saw all the dead bodies lying around. They spent three days taking the spoil until they could not carry anymore. On the fourth day, they gathered at the Valley of Beracah which they named and blessed the Lord before returning to Jerusalem rejoicing with all kinds of musical instruments. The nations around heard, and the fear of God came upon them and Israel was able to enjoy peace in the reign of Jehoshaphat. He was thirty-five when he became king and ruled for twenty-five years. He walked in the ways of his father, Asa but the high places, he did not remove.

In verses 35-37 and chapter 21:3, at the end of his reign, he joined Ahaziah king of Israel in acting wickedly. They build ships to go to Tarshish and Exion-geber. Eliezer prophesied against him because of his ally with Ahaziah that God would destroy the ships he built as they could not go to Tarshish. He died and was buried in the city of David with his fathers. Jehoram his son succeeded him. His brothers were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah, the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

Jehoshaphat started well following his father, Asa. But godly parentage did not help him to finish well. He hung out with the wrong person. He joined Ahaziah the king of Israel to do wicked things and ended badly. Not only did he hang out with the wrong person he also entered into a business partnership that led to failure instead of success. Wrong company and bad dealing led to him losing his investments as God punished him.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, let us start well and end well so that all things will go well with us. Let us be faithful consistently until the end as we walk with Him and put our trust in Him and not in our investments after God had blessed us abundantly as God blessed Jehoshaphat with the spoil of his enemies.

Prayer: O God enable and empower us to walk humbly and faithfully with Thee until the end. May we keep close to You each day and not hang out with the wrong people or make the wrong “investments.”