This Is Not a Game

Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was on his way home from being with Ahab, the evil king of Israel. The Lord sent a prophet out to meet him with strong words for the king. “And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, ‘Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Therefore the wrath of the Lord is upon you.’” (2 Chronicles 19:2, NKJV).

God was saying to Jehoshaphat, “You don’t know the danger and consequences of what you’ve done. You may think it’s a light thing to join an affinity with someone who is against me. I have a controversy with you about this.”

At this point, you may be thinking, “I understand that Ahab was evil. But as I consider my own friends, there’s no way I can think of them as God’s enemies.” Yet, consider these passages from scripture.

• “He who is not with me is against me…” (Luke 11:23). Does your friend take the Lord’s side in all things or not?

• “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…” (1 Samuel 15:23). Is your friend’s counsel full of rebellion?

• “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 17:15). Does your friend speak evil of godly people?

This is not a game! Your friends are a serious matter to God because their actions have serious consequences. “You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you… Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver” (Psalm 50:19-22).

Thank God, scripture says, “Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3). God responded to Jehoshaphat’s brokenness by giving Judah total victory against the Moabites. Finally, the Bible says, “Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around” (2 Chronicles 20:30).

God does not tolerate our worldly alliances, but he is quick to restore a repentant heart, one that turns toward purity and commitment to him. He will be as a hedge of protection around those devoted believers.