II Chronicles Chapter 17
Please read: II Chronicles 17 –
As we read through the book of chronicles, we see an emphasis on the southern kingdom of Judah. We see that there were more kings of Judah than of Israel (the northern kingdom) who tried to live righteously. Asa’s successor, his son Jehoshaphat was a man who understood that his kingdom would thrive if he relied upon the LORD. He strengthened his kingdom not only militarily and physically building stronghold cities, but he also strengthened his kingdom spiritually. King Jehoshaphat instructed leaders, Levites, and priests to go throughout the kingdom and teach the people the Law of God. This was by far the most important thing that he did. The Bible tells us that God blessed him for it.
Isn’t it interesting to see that part of that blessing of God meant that outsiders naturally brought gifts to King Jehoshaphat? In fact, verses 11 and 12 talks about the Philistines and the Arabians bringing gifts to him. His kingdom was strengthened to the point that surrounding kingdoms had great fear. The Bible says that they had “fear of the LORD.” It was evident to the surrounding kingdoms that there was something supernatural occurring within the borders of the southern kingdom. God was on their side, and He was blessing them mightily.
Let's Reflect
1. Who did King Jehoshaphat feel was the greatest threat to his kingdom?
2. According to verses 3 and 4 why did God bless the kingdom of Judah?
3. According to verse 6 what does it take for a person to be a true follower of God, one who would make obeying and living wholly for God their number one priority?
4. We learned that King Asa took down the high places and yet in verse 6 it says that King Jehoshaphat took down the high places. There were two different kinds of high places. One was for the worship of idols and the other toward the worship of God, especially prior to the temple being built. So, the high places Jehoshaphat removed were probably those that were for worshipping God. It says that he also removed the Asherim. The Asherim were wooden poles carved from standing trees to be used in Canaanite fertility worship. These were memorials to the goddess Asherah. Where were these Asherim located that he removed?
5. How were the king’s officials, Levites, and priests able to teach the people the Book of the Law of the LORD?
6. What previous enemy of both Judah and Israel became frightened by the supernatural strength of Judah?
7. The last few verses of the chapter explain the military strength of King Jehoshaphat in Judah with a breakdown of the warriors within the region of the tribe of Judah and within the tribe of Benjamin. What repeated phrase was used to describe these warriors?
