Jumping Jehoshaphat?
(2 Chronicles 17-20)
Note: The promises of blessings for obedience in Deuteronomy 28:1-14 were probably seen more during the time of Jehoshaphat than any other king. You might want to have a Scripture reading from this Deuteronomy passage as a complement to the sermon.
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Where does the expression “jumpin’ Jehoshaphat!” come from? A reader wrote in to ask, and I had a lovely time trying to figure it out. No one is sure how Jehoshaphat’s name ended up in this interjection, or why he’s jumping, but there are several interesting possibilities.
This mild oath first appeared in a novel from 1866, when a cowboy-backwoodsman used it to convey his surprise and admiration at how far a horse (and its beautiful rider) had jumped: “By the jumpin’ Geehosofat, what a gurl she air sure enuf!” It later became a favorite saying of cartoon cowboy Yosemite Sam, the adversary of Bugs Bunny.
Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! (and just plain Jehoshaphat!) originated in the United States during the 19th-century craze for “minced oaths,” pseudo-swearwords that replaced profane or blasphemous words with inoffensive ones. These not-quite oaths could be quite poetic: They rhymed (holy moly!), used alliteration (jumpin’ Jupiter!), and were fun to say (gee willikers!). Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat follows suit. [csmonitor.com]
Main idea: Living in a godly and wise manner is not just about us; it glorifies God and brings a wealth of benefits to others. Living to honor God is really about loving God and loving others, and Jehoshaphat excelled at doing just that – most of the time.
Section One: Jehoshaphat the Good but Imperfect King
I. Jehoshaphat Influenced Judah Toward GOOD with Exceptional Wisdom ( 2 Chronicles 17:1-19).
A. He fortified the CITIES (1-2).
B. The Lord BLESSED Jehoshaphat because he feared the Lord (3–5).
1. Judah was at one of its strongest, wealthiest periods since the kingdom was divided.
2. God worked in other nations to fear Jehoshaphat and bring him tribute.
C. He sends Levities and leading officials to DISCIPLE the people (7-9)
1. Read these verses aloud.
2. He knew how to mobilize godly leaders to best influence the people.
3. He amassed a great military force.
II. King Jehoshaphat Unequally YOKED to King Ahab (2 Chronicles 18:1-19:3).
A. Why would a godly king PARTNER with such an evil king?
B. Jehoshaphat demanded the advice of a true prophet, but did not HEED it.
C. He had his FLAWS.
1. God rebuked him through the prophet Jehu (read 19:1-3).
2. Like many today, he just couldn’t accept the doctrine of separation.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
“Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty
III. God DELIVERED Judah by FAITH from Moab and Ammon (2 Chronicles: 20:1-37)
A. Ammon and Moab UNITED to attack Judah (1-4)
1. This amounts to the modern nation of Jordan attack a portion of modern Israel…
2. Jehoshaphat calls a fast
B. Jehoshaphat pours out his HEART before the Lord in a MODEL prayer (5-12)
1. This prayer demonstrates how to wrestle with God in prayer, arguing your case.
2. Verse 12 summarizes his plea.
C. God sends the prophet Jahaziel with an AMAZING Word from the Lord (13-17).
D. God miraculously DELIVERED Judah by confusing the enemy so they turn upon one another (18-25).
E. The king and people WORSHIP God for this deliverance, and the nations are in awe (26-30).
F. Jehoshaphat left a great LEGACY (2 Chronicles 20: 31 – 38)
Section Two: Applications
I. Our Choices Affect OTHERS.
A. By being a godly, wise king, all of Judah BENEFFITED.
• Ukraine and probably all of Russia will suffer because of an ungodly leader.
• Yet all of us have our own spheres of influence; what we do is not just about us!
• You may be able to make your own choices, but many times your choices impact other people!
B. We live in an age where people are less likely to consider the effect of their choices upon OTHERS, especially God.
C. We have an obligation to bring JOY to God with our lives.
II. Discipleship Is KEY.
A. When we put God FIRST, we can be a blessing.
B. God expects us to both hear and OBEY His Word.
• Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord, but did not act on what He heard.
• We say we want to obey God, but sometimes we really do not.
A young couple were having their first fight, and it was a big one.
After a while, the husband said "When we got married, you promised to love, honor andobey."
His bride replied, "I know. But I didn't want to start an argument in
front of all those people." [jokojokes.com]
C. Spiritual DEPTH is often PROPORTIONATE to our commitment to the Word.
D. Jehoshaphat was NAIVE about separation; we must likewise address our weak spots.
• He gave his son in marriage to Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter, Athaliah, and it came back to harm the people of Judah. He could not get the idea of separation in his brain. Or he didn’t want to do so.
• Dating an unbeliever; attending a church with false teaching to infiltrate
• Failure to separate is often a function of pride; we feel we are above being compromised and influenced in a wrong direction...humility, on the other hand, causes us to be more cautions because we recognize our vulnerabilities...
E. Pouring out our hearts and PLEADING our case before God is a great way to pray!
III. God Works Miracles When He PLEASES, but We Cannot Systemize Them.
1. The Book of Acts is filled with miracles, but there is no consistent pattern.
2. Sometimes rare, sometimes common.
3. So the hymn that says what God has done for others He will do for you is false; it is true that what He has done for others He could do for you, but it is His choice.
