2 Chronicles 20:31 - Meaning and Application

We are now drawing near the end of Jehoshaphat’s reign. For a fuller account of his life, the people of that time were referred to an authentic history written by Jehu the prophet (2 Chronicles 19:2), which was still available then (2 Chronicles 20:34). The main mark of Jehoshaphat’s rule was good: he did what was right in the Lord’s sight. He stayed close to God’s worship himself, and he did what he could to keep his people close to it.

But two sad things still remain to be noticed. First, the people still had a fondness for the high places, places of worship on hills (2 Chronicles 20:33). The places set up for false gods had been removed (2 Chronicles 17:6), but the ones where the true God was worshiped were considered less serious, so they were left standing. Jehoshaphat was unwilling to go so far as to offend the people by taking them away, because they still had not set their hearts to serve the God of their fathers. They went along with his reform because they were too ashamed to do otherwise, but they were not truly committed to it. Their hearts were not fully turned to God, and they did not act from a right heart or with strong zeal. Even the best rulers cannot bring about all they want in reform when the people are halfhearted.

Second, Jehoshaphat himself still had too much regard for Ahab’s family, because he had married his son to a daughter of that house, even after being clearly rebuked for it and nearly suffering for it. He knew that Ahaziah, Ahab’s son, was very wicked, and so he could not expect success from him. Yet he joined with him, not in war as he had with Ahab, but in business. He became his partner in a fleet going to Ophir for trade (2 Chronicles 20:35-36).

The text places special weight on the words after this. After God had done such great things for him, and had given him both victory and wealth without these sinful alliances, it was very ungrateful to go and join himself to a wicked king. After God had given him such a deliverance, should he now break God’s commands and join himself with people devoted to these abominations? What could he expect except God’s anger? (Ezra 9:13-14)

Yet God still sent warning to him, to show him his error and call him to repent. He did this in two ways. First, by a prophet who foretold that his plan would fail (2 Chronicles 20:37). Second, by a storm that broke the ships in port before they could sail, warning him to break off his alliance with Ahaziah. It seems he took the warning, because when Ahaziah later urged him to join again, he refused (1 Kings 22:49). This shows how harmful it is to make close friendships and partnerships with evil people. It is much harder to break free once trapped than to keep from being trapped in the first place.