What can we learn from Jehoshaphat's actions about choosing godly alliances today? Setting the Scene: Jehoshaphat’s Visit to Samaria “Some years later he went down to Ahab in Samaria, and Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and for the people who were with him and persuaded him to go up to Ramoth-gilead.” (2 Chronicles 18:2) Jehoshaphat, the god-fearing king of Judah, arrives in the northern capital to cement family ties with Ahab through marriage. Lavish hospitality masks an invitation into a military alliance that will soon prove disastrous. A Costly Dinner: Hospitality that Hides Compromise • Ahab’s feast looks generous, yet beneath the surface lies manipulation. • The setting is friendly, but the goal is to draw a righteous king into an unrighteous campaign. • What begins with shared food will end with shared battles—and consequences. Principles for Alliances Today • Evaluate character before partnership. Ahab’s idolatry was no secret (1 Kings 16:30-33). Surface charm cannot erase spiritual rebellion. • Refuse flattery as a guide. Generosity can sway emotions; truth must steer decisions (Proverbs 27:6). • Guard against family pressure. Marriage ties created false security for Jehoshaphat; relationships never override obedience to God (Matthew 10:37). • Seek counsel first, not after commitments. Jehoshaphat asked for prophetic input only after agreeing to go (2 Chronicles 18:4). Delayed discernment invites trouble. • Remember influence flows both ways. Alliances shape beliefs, priorities, and witness (1 Corinthians 15:33). Scripture Echoes • “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” (2 Corinthians 6:14) • “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.” (Psalm 1:1) • “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20) • “Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. Then Jehu… said, ‘Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has come upon you.’” (2 Chronicles 19:1-2) Walking It Out • Test every potential alliance—business, political, relational—by the clear standards of Scripture, not by personal benefit or social gain. • Prioritize partners who revere God, love truth, and pursue righteousness. • Invite the Holy Spirit’s leading before signing agreements, investing resources, or lending your reputation to another’s cause. • Understand that compromise with ungodliness can dull convictions, damage testimony, and invite divine discipline. • Choose companions who strengthen your faith and advance God’s purposes, just as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). |
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