THE
TRUTH IN PRINT
April 2003, Vol. 9: Issue 3.
A CASE OF COMPROMISE
By Bob W. Lovelace
2 Chronicles 17 begins with Jehoshaphat (king of Jerusalem) the son of Asa
strengthening himself and Judah against Israel, the northern kingdom. I
kings 15 explains why. Concerning Asa, Jehoshaphat's
father, 1 Kings 15:16-24 says:
"[16] And
there was war between Asa and Baasha
king of Israel
all their days. [17] And Baasha king of Israel went up
against Judah,
and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
[18] Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that
were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the
king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the
son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion,
king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, [19] There is a league between
me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee
a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. [20] So
Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa,
and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and
smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with
all the land of Naphtali. [21] And it came to pass, when
Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of
Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah. [22] Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was
exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof,
wherewith Baasha had builded;
and king Asa built with them Geba
of Benjamin, and Mizpah. [23] The rest of all the
acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did,
and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Judah?
Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. [24] And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers
in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his
stead."
Dear reader, because of these wars when Jehoshaphat (Asa's son) became king he knew who his enemy was and
fortified Judah
against Israel.
Question: Is there an inconsistency seen in Jehoshaphat as we read the
following from 2 Chronicles 18:1-3?
2 Chron. 18:1-3 (KJV)
"Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour
in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. [2] And after certain years he
went down to Ahab to Samaria.
And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he
had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.
[3] And Ahab king of Israel
said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah,
Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he
answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be
with thee in the war."
This plainly states that Jehoshaphat allied himself with the very ones he
strengthened himself against! Moreover, the description of Ahab from I Kings
16:28-34 is certainly not of the same character as good Jehoshaphat. Here is
Ahab's description:
"So Omri slept with his
fathers, and was buried in Samaria:
and Ahab his son reigned in his stead. [29] And in the thirty and eighth year
of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. [30] And Ahab
the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord
above all that were before him. [31] And it came to
pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam
the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the
daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians,
and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. [32] And he reared up an altar
for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. [33] And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab
did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings
of Israel
that were before him. [34] In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho:
he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn,
and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub,
according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by
Joshua the son of Nun."
This is at the time when Elijah was sent to punish Israel and
Ahab.
Compare now Ahab's religion you've just read about with the
following description of Jehoshaphat. He did not let the Levitical
service and the Temple
deteriorate, but was diligent in having the Law of God taught in Judah:
2 Chron. 17:6-9,
"And his heart was lifted up in
the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and
groves out of Judah.
[7] Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to
Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel,
and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. [8] And
with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah,
Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. [9] And they taught in Judah, and had
the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the
cities of Judah,
and taught the people."
Question: Why
then do we read about him allying himself with wicked Ahab and going to visit?
(See above, 2 Chron. 18:1-3). For one he had made a marriage tie with Ahab,
thus a family connection. How can a man who is so concerned about God's law do
this and then go and visit? Anyone can tell you that Jehoshaphat is in for
trouble!"
Would You Consider Taking Your Bible Now And Reading 2 Ch. 18-19 With
These Questions In View?
1. What impression did the "big show" that Ahab threw for
Jehoshaphat make upon him?
2. How shrewd is Ahab with regard to the "timing" of the offer
of compromise?
3. Do you agree that the lesson is that one must be able to identify the
offer of compromise and deal with it at the very moment is appears?
4. Where did those who went to the party with Jehoshaphat fail?
5. What do people like so much about
banquets and big parties?
6. Doesn't verse 4 show that the moment he said
it he knew that he'd done wrong?
7. How do you think Jehoshaphat felt having to set and listen to 400
phonies?
8. How do the words "He set me up!" fit in with 18:29?
9. Who's crying out to the Lord in verse 31? Why
is he in this mess?
10. What charge was brought by God against Jehoshaphat in 2 Ch. 19:1-2. Who did he help? Whom did he love?
11. Read I Kings 22:45-49. Do you think Jehoshaphat learned his lesson?
Here's Some Practical Application That Should
Be Made On Compromising:
I. Compromising destroys our warnings offered to others for they see our
inconsistencies (Cp. Gen. 19:2, 14). Lot chose
to live among the most ungodly upon the face of the earth!
II. When someone says, "Look! this is what that person is known for and you know what they
did to you before," then listen and do not put yourself in a compromising
situation again (Cp. Nu. 31:12-18). The antecedent conduct of another is just
grounds at times for anger.
III. Each compromise paves the way the for the next.
And with each successive compromise one grows more spiritually destitute (Cp.
Saul's (sic, Solomon's, BWL) sins in I Kings 10:26-11:6 with what God said Kings must do in De. 17:14-20). If I don't get myself a
Bible, read it daily, learn to fear God and guard against pride I'll compromise
like the smartest man on earth did!
IV. I must deal with the offer of compromise when it first appears (Cp. Ezra
4:1-3).
V. State your religious convictions in order to avoid compromise. (Cp. Esther
3:4). You can rest assured if they differ from the majority they'll get
attention from those "higher up" the ladder. Don't let the fact that
it is "going up" stop you!
VI. Make up your mind to keep yourself from sin (Cp. Dn. 3:16-18).
VII. Be certain that your actions are consistent with
your statements about God's goodness, power and providence (Cp. Ezra 8:21-23).
VIII. State publicly the compromising position of those who continue in sin
(Cp. Nehemiah 13).
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NOTE:
If you are looking for "the church" that you read about in your New
Testament then you will find an in depth study of that very church right here
on our website, Fundamental Lessons on the Church. Just click here for
Lesson One.
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