Day 145: 1 Kings 15:25-16:34, 2 Chronicles 17

Reading the I Kings passage today was a real downer. These guys were all evil and violent. One bad king gives way to a second and the second decides he must completely eliminate the entire family of the previous king in order to secure his power...and on and on...all the while encouraging idol worship and, in short, going about as far away from God's commands as possible.

After reading about this it was refreshing to switch to 2 Chronicles and read about a good king.

The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah. (2 Chronicles 17:4-6)

While the kings of Israel were trying to stay in power by eliminating the competition, Jehoshaphat was using his power to help turn the people of Judah back to God...and in so doing he became more powerful than any king of the Northern Kingdom or any other surrounding nation. He made it a priority to make sure his people knew the Word of God:

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. With them were certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. (2 Chronicles 17:7-9)