This is the second installment in our Lenten series, Through the Tombs of the Kings, where Steve Kruschel explores God’s faithfulness to Judah’s kings—and to us—through life, death, and the burial of his Son.
Last week, we began our walk through the tombs of the kings of Judah in the Old Testament. We strode past the final resting places of such memorable kings as David and Solomon in order to spend time looking at the tomb of King Asa. He was laid to rest in a tomb he built himself. That made sense because Asa was a builder. He tore down the false gods and built up God’s people spiritually through his word. Asa built cities and fortifications. He created a strong army. Yet he also tried to build his own victories with the Lord’s money.
“Remove a wicked person from a king’s presence, and his throne will be established with righteousness” (Prov. 25:5).
Solomon’s words lead our walk to the final resting place of Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat. While Asa ended his days struggling with personal sickness and wars with other nations, his son Jehoshaphat grew up faithfully following the Lord. Once he became king, Jehoshaphat picked up where Asa left off. He strengthened the cities and garrisoned them with soldiers. The fear of the Lord fell on Judah’s enemies to such an extent that they refused to wage war on God’s people. Even the Philistines brought gifts of Jehoshaphat as tribute!
As far as we can tell, Jehoshaphat was the only king who sent out teachers to instruct God’s people.
But it was what he did next that made Jehoshaphat one of the most faithful kings ever to reign in Judah. Jehoshaphat emphasized biblical education. He sent out wise Levites alongside his officials to educate God’s people with God’s word. As far as we can tell, Jehoshaphat was the only king who sent out teachers to instruct God’s people.
This might lead us to conclude that Jehoshaphat was simply a good king and continue our walk deeper into the tombs of the kings. But not so fast. Kings are complicated creatures. As his reign went along, Jehoshaphat’s spiritual life became more complicated.
After his faithful ventures as a king of God’s people, Jehoshaphat, like his father Asa before him, accomplished something politically prudent but spiritually reckless. Just when things were going well for Jehoshaphat, he decided to form a marriage alliance with the last person he should have. Jehoshaphat married the daughter of the wicked King Ahab. Whether he liked it or not, Jehoshaphat found himself bound to the wicked machinations of the idol-worshipping Ahab.
If good company corrupts good character, Jehoshaphat’s faithful reign was about to be tested by Ahab’s mischief. One day, Ahab told Jehoshaphat to go to war alongside him. Jehoshaphat obliged. But when it came time for the armies of the two kings to be blessed spiritually before the battle, Ahab brought in his hundreds of Baal-worshiping prophets. Jehoshaphat was appalled, and he desired to hear from a prophet of the true God. Therefore, Jehosophat summoned the faithful prophet Micaiah, and he informed Ahab and Jehoshaphat that they were headed for disaster (2 Chronicles 18).
The ensuing battle happened as God’s prophet said it would. It was a disaster. Ahab was wounded and eventually died. Enemy soldiers saw Jehoshaphat on the battlefield and hunted him down. But amid the melee, King Jehoshaphat cried out to the true God. God heard Jehoshaphat’s cry for help and rescued him (2 Chron. 18:31).
The armies of Israel and Judah were defeated, but by the grace of God, Jehoshaphat had survived. He returned to Jerusalem and reigned faithfully. But what would happen the next time an invading force came his way? Would Jehoshaphat trust in political alliances or in the power of the Lord?
He didn’t have to wait long to find out. The kingdoms to the south of Judah united and invaded the land. They were headed right for Jerusalem. Jehoshaphat heard the news that no king ever wanted to hear: “A huge horde is coming against you” (2 Chron. 20:2). What was a king to do?
When our strength fails, we fall into despair, wondering if God cares about us.
What do you do when disaster is headed your way? Sickness sometimes feels like it is overtaking us. The stresses of trying to balance work, family, and our spiritual lives overwhelm us. We can feel so out of touch with the world around us, as though our faith has placed a target on our backs. In those moments, we are tempted to trust in our own strength. Then, when our strength fails, we fall into despair, wondering if God cares about us.
After Jesus was captured by the mob in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was brought before the Jewish authorities to be put on trial. In the garden, all of Jesus’ followers had abandoned him. But a few came back and followed at a distance. One of them was Peter.
Peter was a confident disciple—often too confident. Earlier that night, when Jesus warned Peter that he would deny knowing Jesus, Peter emphatically retorted, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you” (Matt 26:35).
Then, the opportunity came. Outside the room where Jesus stood trial, Peter was warming himself by the fire in the courtyard. Three times, he was asked if he was a follower of Jesus. Each time, Peter denied it. Then, he heard the rooster crow. Then, he remembered what Jesus had told him. Overwhelmed with guilt, Peter went outside and wept bitterly.
We have wept those tears too. In the face of pressure, feeling fearful, we have hidden our faith in Jesus too. It seemed like a prudent decision in the moment, but Jesus didn’t call us to be hidden believers. Knowing our sins, feeling our guilt, we cry out to the Lord like Jehoshaphat did on the battlefield.
In love, our Lord has heard our cries for mercy. While the disciples hid in fear and Peter denied knowing his Lord to the group around the fire, Jesus stood firm. He perfectly testified to being the Son of God, knowing that it would lead to his suffering and death. But he went willingly because he knew it was the only way to bring you into his family. It wasn’t easy, but Jesus suffered for you. He took away all of your sins of denial and all the times you hid your faith in the face of pressure.
King Jehoshaphat faced considerable pressure when the united kingdoms marched on Jerusalem. Would he trust in his political alliances again? Would he cry out in anger to the Lord? Would he trust in his fighting forces and his own strength?
By faith, Jehoshaphat’s first decision was to bring all the people into the temple in Jerusalem. They weren’t going there to make weapons or form some last stand. They went there to pray. They went to God’s house to look to the Lord in their time of crisis.
Just like those faithful kings before him, Jehoshaphat was at the same time a struggling sinner and a faithful child of God.
In love, God answered their prayers. He said, “Stand still, Judah and Jerusalem, and see that the victory of the Lord is with you” (2 Chron. 20:17). Jehoshaphat and his people didn’t have to do anything other than trust in the Lord. And sure enough, the Lord raised up another foreign army to intercept and destroy the invading forces.
In the end, Jehoshaphat was laid to rest among the tombs of his fathers, King David, King Solomon, and King Asa. It might not sound like a particularly interesting tomb description, but just like those faithful kings before him, Jehoshaphat was at the same time a struggling sinner and a faithful child of God.
We are sinners too, but by God’s grace in our Savior Jesus Christ, we will stand with believers in the kingdom of heaven for all eternity.
“My God is my rock. I take refuge in him. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my high fortress” (Ps. 18:2).
