DO NOT JOIN FORCES WITH THE DEVIL

PROCLAMATION

“And the king of Israel said unto his servants, ‘Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?’  And he said unto Jehoshaphat, ‘Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-Gilead?’  And Jehoshaphat said to the king, ‘I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.’ ”  1 Kings 22:3-4 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  And it came to pass that after three years without war between Syria and Israel, Jehoshaphat, the of king Judah, went to Ahab, the king of Israel.  Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “You know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours?”  Then Ahab asked Jehoshaphat if he would join him and go into battle for it. (1 Kings 22:1-4)  It should be noted that Jehoshaphat followed in the ways of The Lord but Ahab did evil in the sight of The Lord.  Upon hearing Ahab’s request, Jehoshaphat asked if there was a word from The Lord.  The king of Israel consulted the elders regarding if he should do battle.  Then Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet available that they could consult.  There was one, Micaiah son of Imiah, and they summoned him. (1 Kings 22:5-9)  Micaiah said, “Go, and prosper; for The Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.”  Ahab did not like Micaiah because he did not prophesy good things for him.  Now Micaiah says that The Lord would deliver Ramoth to them but that Ahab would die during the battle. (1 Kings 22:13-20)  Ahab had Micaiah taken and put in prison.  Then Ahab and Jehoshaphat went up to take Ramoth.  During the battle Ahab was wounded and died as his blood ran out into his chariot.  When his chariot was washed out, the dogs licked up his blood thus fulfilling prophecy. (1 Kings 22:38)  Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began his as king and he reigned for twenty-five years.  He walked in the ways of his father Asa and he did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord.  After Jehoshaphat died, his son Jehoram reigned over Judah.  When Ahab died, his son  Ahaziah reigned over Israel in Samaria.  Ahaziah did evil in the sight of The Lord as his father Ahab and grandfather Jeroboam had done before him.  He worshipped Baal and provoked the anger of The Lord God of Israel. (1 Kings 22:50-53)

APPLICATION

There is an old saying that war can make strange bedfellows.  People with very little in common will come together to fight a common enemy.  However, to those on the outside, a different old saying may be appropriate.  “Birds of a feather flock together.”  The Bible says, “How can two walk together unless they agree.” (Amos 3:3)  We cannot walk with The Lord and hold hands with the devil.  Christians should not make an agreement with the devil to get what we want.  If praying to God will not get it for us, then maybe we were not supposed to have it.  When God closes doors, no man should try to open them.