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

lhc blst To the seth years OF the kingdom.
fLACE-The reform extended 10 the hill
country OF Ephraim. The battle against
the syrlan8 took place at Ramoth-Gilead.
to the east OF the Jordan; the "halleluiah
victory near Tekoa, south Of Bethlehem.
This lesson covers the entire reign
OF the good King Jehoshaphat Ills
name means Jehovah judged" Il
name given by his religious father.
His parents were Asa, the good king,
and Azubah, about whom nothing
more is known. His age at his acces-
sion was 35 years, and he reigned for
20 years. his character was pious,
prudent, enterprising. lie was skill
ful general, wise statesman, cour-
ageous reformer He was alone
counted worthy In later ages to rank
with He2ekiah 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 faith
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 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 JehosEaphat 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, filled with
high motives and ehthusiasms. 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. !
sh Sanhedrims and Romhn emperors |
He was lifted up into union with |
iod
Jehoshaphat, Ike all other men was
not perfect All Gods work through
men is done with imperfect instru.
nents, but the nearer perfection they
IRE, the better work God can do
through the. The great mistake OF
'ehoshaphats life was not his being
friend to Ahab, and seeking TO live
It peace with him but his making SO
lose an alliance as to injure both
.ingdoms He joined Ahab in an un-
necessary war; and he married his
on TO the heather daughter OF Ahab
nd Jezebel II was doubtless done
With the good motive of uniting the
iyided nation into one kingdom
gain. II was beautiful vision and
lorious hope THE church and the
'orld were delightfully."- at one" But
was an almost fatal alliance. for Il
I'd 10 religious and moral declension.
nd to the almost total extinction of
he royal family.
.lehosphaphat took away the high
laces. Affairs and places OF worship
n wooded hllltops, where there were
lso idols for worship. These places
ere near towns, and convenient for
'e gatherings Of the people for pleas.
re, and social worship, which was
'ten Of the most licentious character
nd the groves, more correctly as in
V. Asherim, wooden poles or posts
presenting the female goddess Ash.
roth
II must be remembered that there
ere two ways of using these high
aces, one for heather worship with
5 impure rites, the other for the wor.
lip of Jehovah But the use OF
ese heather places with their evil
'Sociations, for the worship Of the
re God, tended to debase that wor.
Zip, and corrupt Il with heather
.es and immortality
Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem:
nd he went out again through the
ople from Beersheba, in the south.
n part Of his kingdom 40 miles
'uth of Jerusalem in the less popu.
ted districts, to mount Ephriam.
thin the boundaries OF the northern
ngdom; and brought them back in.
the Lord God of their fathers. He
ade as thorough work as he could.
r not only did the people need this
vic and religious reform, but their
formation helped his own people to
true to the God of their fathers.
visionary work for others is the sal.
lion and progress of the church.