EGW Writings2 Chronicles 17

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 19 (1904)

Ms 80, 1904

19LtMs, Ms 80, 1904, par. 35

“Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. ... And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell upon the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.” [2 Chronicles 17:1-7, 9, 10.]

19LtMs, Ms 80, 1904, par. 39

“And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. And Jehoshaphat waxed exceeding great, and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.” [Verses 11, 12.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)

Ms 33, 1903

18LtMs, Ms 33, 1903, par. 8

“The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in His commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord; moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, ... and with them he sent Levites. ... And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about through all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.” [2 Chronicles 17:3-10.]

Manuscript Releases, vol. 14 [Nos. 1081-1135]

MR No. 1098—Instruction for Men in Positions of Responsibility

14MR 100.4

Our natural affection for relatives and friends should not lead us to connive in the least at their sins, nor prevent us, when they are in the wrong, from taking decided measures to change their course and prevent the evil influence of their mistakes from being felt. When men, following their own course, become involved in perplexity thereby, they often rely upon men to relieve the situation, and feel aggrieved if their expectations are not realized. But God would not be pleased to have them relieved, because they are to be chastened for their disobedience. [2 Chronicles 17:3, 7, 9, 10, quoted.]

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 15—Jehoshaphat

PK 190.2

In his efforts to rule wisely, Jehoshaphat endeavored to persuade his subjects to take a firm stand against idolatrous practices. Many of the people in his realm “offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.” 1 Kings 22:43. The king did not at once destroy these shrines; but from the beginning he tried to safeguard Judah from the sins characterizing the northern kingdom under the rule of Ahab, of whom he was a contemporary for many years. Jehoshaphat himself was loyal to God. He “sought not unto Baalim; but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in His commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.” Because of his integrity, the Lord was with him, and “stablished the kingdom in his hand.” 2 Chronicles 17:3-5.

PK 191.1

“All Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord.” As time passed and reformations were wrought, the king “took away the high places and groves out of Judah.” Verses 5, 6. “And the remnant of the Sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.” 1 Kings 22:46. Thus gradually the inhabitants of Judah were freed from many of the perils that had been threatening to retard seriously their spiritual development.

PK 191.2

Throughout the kingdom the people were in need of instruction in the law of God. In an understanding of this law lay their safety; by conforming their lives to its requirements they would become loyal both to God and to man. Knowing this, Jehoshaphat took steps to ensure to his people thorough instruction in the Holy Scriptures. The princes in charge of the different portions of his realm were directed to arrange for the faithful ministry of teaching priests. By royal appointment these instructors, working under the direct supervision of the princes, “went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.” 2 Chronicles 17:7-9. And as many endeavored to understand God’s requirements and to put away sin, a revival was effected.

PK 192.2

For many years Jehoshaphat lived in peace, unmolested by surrounding nations. “The fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah.” Verse 10. From Philistia he received tribute money and presents; from Arabia, large flocks of sheep and goats. “Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of stores.... Men of war, mighty men of valor, ... waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.” Verses 12-19. Blessed abundantly with “riches and honor,” he was enabled to wield a mighty influence for truth and righteousness. 2 Chronicles 18:1.

From Splendor to Shadow

Chapter 15—Jehoshaphat, the King Who Believed God

SS 101.1

Called to the throne at the age of thirty-five, Jehoshaphat had before him the example of good King Asa, who in nearly every crisis had done “that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.” 1 Kings 15:11. During a reign of twenty-five years, Jehoshaphat sought to walk “in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside.” 1 Kings 22:43. He endeavored to persuade his subjects to take a firm stand against idolatry. Many in his realm “sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” 1 Kings 22:43, RSV. From the beginning the king tried to safeguard Judah from the sins characterizing the northern kingdom under Ahab. Jehoshaphat “sought not unto Baalim, but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in His commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.” The Lord was with him, and “stablished the kingdom in his hand.” 2 Chronicles 17:3-5.

SS 101.3

Throughout the kingdom the people were in need of instruction in the law of God. By conforming their lives to its requirements they would become loyal both to God and to man. Knowing this, Jehoshaphat took steps to ensure to his people thorough instruction in the Holy Scriptures. By royal appointment instructors “went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.” 2 Chronicles 17:9. And, as many put away sin, a revival was effected.

SS 102.2

For many years Jehoshaphat was unmolested by surrounding nations. “The fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah.” “Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store ... . Men of war ... waited on the king.” 2 Chronicles 17:10, 12-19. Blessed with “riches and honor” (2 Chronicles 18:1), he was enabled to wield a mighty influence for truth and righteousness. In the height of his prosperity Jehoshaphat consented to the marriage of his son Jehoram to Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. This union formed between Judah and Israel an alliance which in time of crisis brought disaster to the king and to many of his subjects.

Special Testimonies on Church Schools

A Brief History of Christian Schools

PH081 34.3

Israel’s School System—To learn the plan of ancient Israel read Deuteronomy 6:7-10 where instruction is given on the home school. All the teachers of the secondary and higher schools were tobe Levites, and were paid from the tithes. To show that they had a school in every church, read 2 Chronicles 17:7-9.