7/24/2023 0 Comments Jehoshaphat bible study for teens![]() ![]() When trouble comes, we come to You and You hear us and You save us. When all of the people had gathered together, Jehoshaphat began to pray to God. Fathers, mothers and children all gathered for this special prayer. Deciding not to eat so that you can concentrate on prayer is called fasting.Īll the people of Judah came together to ask God for help just as King Jehoshaphat told them to. He told all the people that no one should eat during this special time of prayer. Jehoshaphat was afraid for his people, so he decided to ask the Lord what to do. One time the enemy was getting very close to attacking. Sometimes these enemies would try to attack the country of Judah. The enemies were some of the countries nearby. He taught the people how to worship God and do what he commands. King Jehoshaphat loved the Lord and tried to obey him. They gave the glory to the Lord.Īt the same time that King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were being bad rulers in the country of Israel, King Jehoshaphat was being a good ruler in the country of Judah. In fact, after consulting with the people, he appointed singers to march in front of the army singing the words of thanks from Psalm 106:1 and 136:1.Īfter the battle was over, the people returned to Jerusalem and took the plunder to the temple. The next day, in obedience to God, the army was going out, and as they passed through the gate of the city, the king encouraged them. What reassuring words he uttered: “Do not be afraid or discouraged … the battle is not yours, but God’s … Stand firm and see the deliverance God will give you … Go out to face them … the Lord will be with you.” God’s Spirit came upon a man named Jahaziel and he proclaimed God’s answer to the prayer in the hearing of all the people (verses 15-17). In his role as the leader of God’s people, he worded a prayer to the Lord God for them all that day. The Judean people came from all over the country and assembled in Jerusalem to seek help from the Lord.Īt the temple, Jehoshaphat stood before the new court at the entrance into the court of the priests, and the congregations stood opposite him. And so he proclaimed the first fast by authority (verse 3). Jehoshaphat was alarmed to know that such a vast army was coming against him and his people. The sea referred to in verse 2 is the Dead Sea. God delivered Jehoshaphat’s army without them even going into battle. Jehoshaphat prayed to the Lord, and God heard the prayer. These attackers were getting extremely close to Jerusalem. The three nations had gotten as far as Hazazon Tamar (also known as En Gedi, a popular source of fresh water along the very salty Dead Sea). Jehoshaphat had strengthened his cities in the north, but not in the south, so Judah was very vulnerable to anyone attacking from this direction. Now they banded together and marched around the southern end of the Dead Sea, coming up on the western side. Their chief city was near Mount Seir in Edom.Īll three of these nations were located very close together, occupying the territory southeast and east of the Dead Sea. The Moabites and Ammonites were descendants of Lot (Abraham’s nephew) by an incestuous relationship with his daughters (Genesis 32:3). This had been an order from God because these three nations were related to the Israelites. Moses had spared these three heathen nations from destruction when the Israelites entered the Promised Land several centuries before Jehoshaphat. When the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites began their attacks on Judah, Jehoshaphat turned to the Lord for help. Jehoshaphat had done everything he could to return his nation to the Lord. These groups would teach the people how to properly worship the Lord. Jehoshaphat sent his princes, priests, and Levites throughout the country with copies of the Mosaic Law. He accepted his responsibility as king to set a good example for his people. This alliance would later cause major problems.īesides military reforms, Jehoshaphat made many religious reforms. This treaty was further sealed by the marriage of Jehoshaphat’s son to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Jehoshaphat went to Samaria and made a treaty with King Ahab stating that they would not attack each other and would help each other if either was attacked by an outside nation. Background Information on the Divided Kingdom.ĭuring the time that Ahab was king of Israel, Jehoshaphat managed to gain peaceful relations with Israel. Jehoshaphat strengthened all the cities located along the border between Judah and Israel. ![]() His father had had constant trouble with the northern kingdom of Israel. He adopted strong military and political policies. ![]() Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of Judah after the kingdom had split into two nations.
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