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2 Chronicles 18:3
3Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?" He answered him, "I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war."
What a beautiful declaration! Well, it sounds beautiful. Actually, good King Jehoshaphat was aligning himself and Judah with one of the wickedest kings of the northern tribes, Ahab. The north was given over to idolatry. How could Jehoshaphat declare them to be one people?
Ahab called for his prophets of Baal and they all said he would be victorious in a war against Syria. Jehoshaphat asked for at least one prophet of YHWH. The prophet of YHWH said Ahab would die in battle. Still, Jehoshaphat went ahead with the plan. Why ask God if you aren't going to listen? Even worse, Ahab convinced Jehoshaphat to dress like a king, while he dressed as a common soldier. I guess they were trying to trick God. What was Jehoshaphat thinking? Did he feel he had to stay true to that ridiculous statement of being one with the north?
The Syrians went after Jehoshaphat until they saw he was not Ahab. Then they turned away. A stray arrow hit Ahab right between the pieces of his armor and he died in his chariot later that day, just as the prophet predicted.
Consider: Be careful to not be overly generous with your words, especially with the ungodly. If you realize you are going the wrong direction, apologize for your words and obey God. Jehoshaphat was later rebuked by a prophet for helping the wicked (2 Chronicles 19:2).