What does it say?
Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied with Ahab king of Israel by marriage. Ahab talked Jehoshaphat into going up against the city of Ramoth-gilead which was under the control of the king of Aram. Jehoshaphat requested to hear the word of the Lord regarding the matter. There was a lying spirit in the tongues of the prophets in Israel but Micaiah spoke truth about what would happen in the battle. He prophesying the death of Ahab. The Lord saved Jehoshaphat but let him know through the seer Hanani that he was not pleased with the alliance he had made with Ahab saying,
“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so bring wrath on yourself from the LORD? But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.” (vs. 19:2-3)
Jehoshaphat made reforms in the land, appointing judges who would hear cases, directing them to judge righteously and not with partiality or the taking a bribe. They were to judge in accordance with the law and commandment of the Lord, his statutes and ordinances. Judah was invaded by the peoples that they were reframed from destroying when they entered the land: the sons of Moab, the sons of Ammon, with some of the people inhabitants of Mount Seir. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah and Jerusalem sought the Lord for help. The Lord answered them through Jahaziel saying, “Do not fear.” The Lord turned these attackers against one another and they destroyed one another. After this, Jehoshaphat allied with Ahab’s son Ahaziah king of Israel. As he had warned previously through the seer Hanani that alliances with the unrighteous displeased him, the Lord destroyed the ships that Jehoshaphat built with the help of Ahaziah. Elizer prophesied their destruction.
What does it mean?
The Lord God is the sovereign ruler of the universe. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. Whatever he allows will be and whatever he disallows will not. God was against Ahab and used a deceiving spirit in the mouths of the prophets and the king of Aram to destroy him. God was with Jehoshaphat, he even sent him council regarding alliances with the unrighteous. The Ammonites, moabites, and inhabitants of Mount Seir could not do what they wanted to do (destroy Judah and Jerusalem) because the Lord did not allow it. Jehoshaphat could not be successful in alliances with the unrighteous because God did not allow it.
What shall I do?
I shall trust in the sovereignty of the Lord, his word is truth. In whatever plans I am making, I shall consult the word of God before and while making them. I shall know that whatever occurs on the earth that may seem good or bad at the time, God has either allowed or caused for good.
