The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-01-26
REIGN OF
JEH0SHAPHAT
Sunday School Lesson for Jan. 20, 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper

inc 1lhl 10 the hth years or the Kingdom
PLACE-The reform extended 10 the hill
country Of Ephraim The battle against
the syrlans took place at Ramoth-Gilead
TO the east OF the Jordan. the "hallelujhh
victory" near Tekoa. south OF Bethlehem
This lesson covers the entire reign
OF the good King Jehoshaphat. His
name means Jehovah judged" a
name gwen by his religious father.
His parents We're Asa, the good king
and Azubah, about whom nothing
more Is known. Ills age at his acces-
sion was 80 years, and he reigned for
20 years. his character was pious,
prudent, enterprising lie was a skill.
ful general, a wise statesman. a cour-
ageous reformer lie was alone
counted worthy in later ages to rank
with Hezekiah and Josiah among the
most pious rulers OF the Dayidic line"
His reign was among the best and
most prosperous In all Judah's exis.
tence. His great error, equally with
his success. points out TO us the way
OF true prosperity lie had great
advantage in having religious fath.
er, who had done much toward re.
forming his kingdom, and uplifting
his people. A good inheritance Of yir.
tue and religion is one OF the greatest
blessings ever bestowed upon a young
man.
Jehoshaphat strengthened himself
against Israel because there had been
wars with Israel, there having been a
long rivalry between them, which was
renewed In u border warfare during
the last days OF Asa. Badsha king OF
Israel had not only attacked judah.
but had fortified Ramah. town only
a few miles north Of Jerusalem. The
warrior Ahab was ON the throne OF
Israel when Jehoshaphat began to
reign. lie placed forces, "arsenals
for the supply Of war material" as
well as soldiers, in all the fenced, for.
tilted, cities, set garrisons, probably
food supplies with leaders to take
charge OF obtaining and caring for
them.
The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, be.
cause Jehoshaphat stood for the
things which God loved and wished to
do for the nation The Lord cannot
In this sense be with those whose
whole life and conduct are opposed to
all God wants to accomplish This
was shown by the fact known to all
that he walked in the first ways of
his father David The Greek transla-
ton omits David The reference
then might be to the beautiful life
David lived before his fall and re-
storation, but probably to his father
Asa, who began his reign by devotion
to Jehovah. and sought not unto Baa.
lin, the false and impure idols of the
Eeathen.
His heart was lifted up in the ways
Of the Lord; lifted up above worldly.
considerations and fears. filed with
high motives and enthusiasms. in the
cause Of God, as In the case of the
apostles who when filled with the
Spirit joyfully went ON In their hard
task against all the powers OF Jew
ish Sanhedrims and Roman emperors.
He was lifted up into union with
God
Jehoshaphat. Ike all other men was
not perfect, All Gods work through
men is done with imperfect instru.
ments, but the nearer perfection they
are, the better work God can do
through the. The great mistake OF
Jehoshaphat's life was not his being
a friend TO Ahab, and seeking 10 live
at peace with him, but his making so
close an alliance as to iniure both
kingdoms. He Joined Ahab in an un.
necessary war; and he married his
son 10 the heather daughter OF Ahab
and Jezebel II was doubtless done
with the good motive OF uniting the
divided nation into one Kingdom
again. II was beautiful vision and
glorious hope The church and the
world were delightfully."- at one" But
Il was an almost fatal alliance. for II
led TO religious and moral declension.
end to the almost total extinction OF
the royal family.
lehosphaphat look away the high
places Affairs and places OF Worship
on wooded hilltops. where there we're
also idols for worship. These places
were near towns and convenient for
tie gatherings OF the people for pleas.
ure, and social worship which was
often Of the most licentious character.
And the groves, more correctly as in
r V. Asherlm, wooden poles or posts
the female goddess Ash.
eroth
II must be remembered that there
were two ways Of using these high
places. one for heather worship with
It's impure rites, the other for the wor.
slip of Jehovah But the use OF
these heather places with their evil
associations, for the worship Of the
tire God tended to debase that wor.
ship, and corrupt Il with heather
ties and immortality.
Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem:
and he went out again through the
people from Beersheba, in the south !
ern part Of his kingdom 40 miles
south of Jerusalem in the less popu |
lated districts, to mount Ephriam. |
within the boundaries Of the northern
kingdom; and brought them back in. |
10 the Lord God Of their fathers. He |
.rade as thorough work as he could.
for not only did the people need this
'ivic and religious reform. but their
reformation helped lis own people to
be true to the God OF their fathers
Missionary work for others is the sal.
'ation and progress of the church.