I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Chronicles 19-22.

    It has long bothered me that Jehoshaphat, a king who “did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight”, was a friend of King Ahab. I am not sure that I ever noticed before the prophet who confronted Jehoshaphat when he returned from the battle where Ahab died. Marrying his son to Ahab’s daughter was probably the worst thing he did as king, something which contributed to his son not being a godly king. Despite the prophet condemning Jehoshaphat’s friendship with Ahab, the prophet commended him for his commitment to seeking the Lord.

    What makes Jehoshaphat remarkable for a political leader of any time in history is that even though he lived in the capitol, Jerusalem, he spent time traveling throughout the land interacting with the common people. He encouraged them to seek the Lord. It is in the context of doing so that he appointed judges throughout the land, whom he charged to judge cases with integrity. He instructed the judges to seek to please God rather than any man or group of men. Jehoshaphat showed that he understood the need for government officials to understand the common people and to be responsive to their needs. He did so here through his own actions and the appointment of judges. He also did so through his actions where he sent government officials out to the towns and cities of Judah to teach people as recounted in 2 Chronicles 17:7-9. The principle which Jehoshaphat followed here is one which any leader would do well to heed. In order to be a good leader a leader must listen to their followers and know what motivates them. Then the leader must empower and motivate those followers to seek God.