Ok . . . so I don’t think it’s intended to be funny . . . but I gotta say, that there’s some pretty crazy stuff going on when King Jehoshaphat of Judah teams up with King Ahab of Israel. That’s Jehoshaphat , as in good king . . . as in the king whose “heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD” (2Chron. 17:6) . . . as in the king who prospered under God’s favor and built up a huge military force . . . as in the naïve king, and perhaps not so discerning king, as he enters into a “marriage alliance” with Ahab (18:1). That’s Ahab, as in really, really bad king . . . as in “the son of Omri” who “did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him” (1Kings 16:30) . . . as in the king bewitched by his wife and possessed by the forces of hell as he walks constantly in ways opposed to God. Kind of a goofy partnering . . . and some goofy stuff happens . . . don’t quite know what Jehoshaphat’s thinking . . .

First, Jehoshaphat heads down to Samaria to visit with Ahab. There Ahab “induces” or “persuades” Jehoshaphat to join him in picking a fight with Ramoth-gilead. Ahab’s pitch to Jehoshaphat? . . . “I am as you are, my people as your people.” Really? Ahab & Co. are unabashed idol worshipers . . . open pagan god followers . . . and Jehoshaphat has been taking down the high places established for idol worship and sending out his officers and officials to conduct Bible studies throughout Judah (17:6-9). Ahab gets up every morning and puts on his “Wail for Baal” t-shirt . . . Jehoshaphat starts the day by putting on prayer as he “sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel” (17:4).

What’s Jehoshaphat thinking?

Then, Jehoshaphat says to Ahab, “Before going into battle, shouldn’t we first inquire of the LORD.” Ahab’s response? . . . gathers 400 pagan prophets set on tickling the king’s itching ears . . . “Yeah . . . go for it, king! . . . you got this one in the bag . . . no sweat . . . God’s going to do for it you.” Jehoshaphat isn’t convinced and asks if there isn’t a prophet who follows God who might weigh in on this. Ahab says there is one, but that “he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil” (18:7) . . . ya’ think!!! Anyway, God’s prophet says that they’ll go into battle and get their keesters kicked because Ahab is listening to a lying spirit in the mouths of his prophets . . . and Jehoshaphat is listening to Ahab . . . what’s he thinking?

And then it really gets crazy! Before going into battle “the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.’ And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle” (18:29). Here, says Ahab, you wear the bulls eye on your chest and back and I’ll just put on these bushes. Makes me chuckle . . . how nuts is that!?! What is Jehoshaphat thinking?

Now I don’t want to be too hard on ol’ Jehoshaphat . . . ’cause I’m suspecting this has been God-breathed for me . . . that “these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come” (1Cor. 10:11).

What crazy alliances can we children of light enter into with the dominion of darkness . . . what unholy partnerships can we naively enter into with those who hate our God and pursue other gods which are no gods at all . . . what unequal yokings can we take upon ourselves where we might as well pin “kick me” signs on our backs.

Oh, to be discerning. To walk in this world, but not be taken in by it. To have a Spirit activated biblical mindset through which we filter the world’s messages . . . and it’s invitations . . . and it’s suggestions about who to go into battle with.

Again, not trashing poor Jehoshaphat . . . hopefully, by God’s grace, learning from some of the “funny” stuff in his life . . .

For my protection . . . for God’s glory . . .