The Raymer enterprise., 1911-01-19
REIGN OF
JEHOSHAPHAT
Specially ArranSed for This Paper

LESSON TENT Chronicles 1i:l-3
Memory Verses ). l.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Seek ye frs. the
kingdom OF God. and his righteousness
and all these things shall be added unto
yOu"-Matt 5:33
TlME-Jehoshaphat's reign OF Is years
was from B. c. 9Z2 (or S7D to ss7 ,or $50
The 6lst 10 the s6th years OF the kingdom
PLACE-The reform extended to the hil
country OF Ephraim. The battle against
the Syrians took place al Ramoth- Gilead
to the east OF the Jordan the "hallelujah
victory" near Tekoa, south OF Bethlehem
This lesson covers the entire reign
OF the iAod King Jehoshaphat. His
name means Jehovah judged" a
name given by his religious father
His parents we're Asa, the good king.
and Azubah, about whom nothing
more Is known. His age at his acces,
sion was 50 years. and he reigned for
% years. his character was pious,
prudent. enterprising He was skill.
ful general. wise statesman. a cour,
ageous reformer. He was alone
with HezekIah and Josiah among tho
most pious rulers OF the Davidic line. u
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. He 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 vir.
tue and religion is one OF the greatest
blessings ever bestowed upon a young
man
Johoshaphat strengthened himself
against Israel because there had been
wars with Israel. there having been a
long rivalry between them. which was
renewed in a border warfare during
the last days OF Asa. Baasha king OF
Israel had not only attacked Judah
bu, had fortified Ramah. town only
few miles north OF Jerusalem The
warrior Ahab was on the throne OF
Israel when Jehoshaphat began TO
reign. He placed forces. 'arsepals
for the supply OF war material" as
well as soldiers, in all the fenced. for
tihed, cities, set garr.sons, probably
food supplies with leaders 10 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 10
do for the nation The Lord cannot
In this sense be with those whose
whole life and conduct are opposed TO
all God wants 10 accomplish. Thi.
vas shown by the fact known TO all
that be walked In the first ways Of
his father David The Greek transla,
t!on Om!ts David" The reference
then might be TO the beautiful life
David lived before his fall and re-
storaton, but probably 10 his father
Asa, who began his reign by devotion
10 Jehovah. and sought not unto Baa.
lin the false and impure idols OF the
heather
His heart was lifted up In the ways
ol the Lord; lifted up above worldly
considerations and fears filled with
high motives and enthusiasms. in the
cause OF God, as in the case OF the
apostles who when filled with the
Spirit ioytulIy went on in their hard
task against all the powers OF Jew.
tsh Sanhedrims and Roman emperors.
lie vas lifted up into union with
God
J"hosharhat like all other men was
not perfect All Gods work through
men Is done with imperfect instru.
mcn's, but the nearer perfection they
are, the better work God can do
through them. The great mistake OF
Jehoshaphats lie was not his being
friend to Ahab. and seeking TO live
at peace with him, but his making so
close an alliance as to lnjure both
Kingdoms, He Joined Ahab In an un,
necessary war; and he married his
son 10 the heather daughter OF Ahab
and 1ezebel 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" Bu,
1t was an almost fatal alliance, for It
led TO religious and moral deClensIon
and 20 the almost total extinction o!
the royal family.
Jchosphaphat took away the high
places Affairs and places OF worship
on wooded hIlltops. where there were
also idols for worship. These places
were near towns, and convenient for
the 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
n V, Asherlm, wooden poles or post,
representing the female goddess Ash
terOth.
/, must be remembered that ther,
were two ways OF using these higl
places, one for heather worship with
Its impure rites, the other for the wor
ship OF Jehovah But the use o
these heather places with their evi
associations for tho vnrShtn NJ IN,