Evening journal., 1911-01-28
JEHosHArHATs ONE MISTAKE.

II Chronicles IL; l-lS-January 70
"Seek we first the Kingdom OF 6od
and HIS righteousness: and all
these things shall be added unto
you.r-Mat. 6;33.
While Ahab WAS king OF Israel, Je-
hoshaphat succeeded TO the throne OF
Judah He had the advantage that MS
parents we're godly pe0ple--a great
advantage. As suggested In our last
study. the iniquity and idolatry OF Is
rael reacted favorably upon JUDAH
lust as the drunkenness and pronig-
acy OF a parent sometimes reacts upon
his children, who perceive his foily
and learn by his mistakes. Moreover
the idolatry of Israel, which drove
its most sanity characters OF all the
tribes TO Judah. enriched the latter
nation in moral tone and character.
This Included all Of the priests ana
Lcyites who were still loyal to Goo
and 10 the worship which he had es-
tablished.
Encouraged thus, the young king
began general crusade against every
idolntrous place and custom IN MS
kingdom. AS Ahab exceeded bis fath-
er Amri as an evildoer, so Jehosna-
phat exceeded his father Asa as an
uphoider OF the Divine Law. Indeed
we remember that 10 Asa's later years
he became proud and self-conscious
and i'm "a measure for time rebellious
against the Divine arrangements.
Prosperity In Divine Favor.
Jehoshsphat's kingdom prospered'
He fortified its various boundaries, es-
pecially toward the land OF Israel
Judah's nearest neighbor. Neighbor-
ing smaller nations sought Judah's IA
vor and for It paid tribute and pres
ents until Jehoshaphats kingdom
was very prosperous. Thus hdelity
TO the Lord was rewarded with pros
perity. II some from this are trying
| 10 draw the lesson that all prosperous
Dersong and nations are honorable,
/ righteous and in Divine fellowship,
! thew surely err. Those also err who
claim that adversely, poverty, sickness
are sure evidences Of Divine disfavor
aud a sinful life.
Not only should we remember that
the bad kings, Omri and Ahab. were
PROSPEROUS, but We remember also
that many wicked nations and in
iquitous customs have prOspored and
are prospering today. Prosperity,
therefore, is not always sign Of Di-
vine favor. To Jehoshaphat and his
4 kingdom. however, prosperity was a
sign of favor because Judah still rep
I resented Gods chosen nation In a
special manner. According TO Gods
! Covenant with them they would be
blessed I'm proportion as they main
tanned their loyalty to their agreement
their loyalty to God.
But this promise or Covenant was
not made with mankind In general
but merely with the one nation OF
Israel, which, at the time OF our study,
was specially represented by the
Kingdom Of Judah. If We would see
that righteousness does not slwayt
bring peace and worldly prosperity
we have only TO look at the Master
himself and at his most faithful fol.
lowers TO see the contrary. Moreover
this is the Masters assurance TO his
followers: "In the world ye shall
have tribulatiop, but In me ye shal
, have. peace"
But when Messiah's reign shall be
gin, all this will be changed and ever,
wrong act and word and thought vii
receive prompt punishment, and ever.
] good effort will be rewarded and en-
couraged. Thus the Scriptures de
clare, when the judgments fright
eous dealings) of the Lord are abroa'
: in the earth, the inhabitants of tn
! world will learn righteousness" Th'
. blessed opportunities OF that time vii
! belong to all mankind except tn
! Church. The specially called class o
this Age have the special blessini
of bearing ears and understsndin
a hearts and call TO the heavenly por
4 tion--the High Calling
Thus. my dear readers, we see tha
- our trials and difficulties, rightly ap
: preciated and accepted, are blessing
: for us. because they thus work ou
for us a far more exceeding and eter
nal weight OF glory-than the worl
Ndll. receive. The highest rewards 10
the world will be revolutionary
3 earthly--to attain perfect manhood
Thus We see Gods provision in Chris
! to be eternal human life for mankin
4 in general, and eternal life on h
-ririt plsne for thc elect Church On