2 Chronicles 18; 1 Kings 22 Dear Jehoshaphat…who did you choose to follow? 

Do you ever wonder as you read the historical accounts of these kings if they were more concerned about their image than being obedient to the Lord? Take Jehoshaphat; you read that he was wealthy and greatly respected but you do not read that he was wise like Solomon or King David.  On the outside, it seems that he cared about following the Lord but instead he chose to go with  Ahab’s evil counselors advice and went into battle. He was persuaded by Ahab to dress as a king but Ahab would disguise himself even after hearing the true and wise Micaiah that he would die in battle. 

Somehow as I read this account I am reminded of Psalm 1: How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers. Yet Jehoshaphat ignored all three of these commands. He followed the advice of Ahab, the most wicked king of the east. He stood in his throne room and heard the lies of the wicked counselors and heard the wise counsel of the true priest, yet ignored it. He sat beside Ahab and agreed with his plan. Why Jehoshaphat? 

The question is this: how did that work out for these two kings? Ahab did indeed die, Jehoshaphat was reprimanded upon returning to Jerusalem. 

There is a principle here that comes from that psalm. We have one king and His Name is Jesus who said: Follow Me. End of discussion.