Image by Marco Santiago from Pixabay
Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of Judah and reigned for 25 years (approximately from 870–848 BC). He was the son of King Asa and is remembered as one of Judah’s more righteous and reform-minded rulers. His leadership was characterized by religious revival, military readiness, and poorly aligned alliances.
King Jehoshaphat was diligently devoted to God and did not seek after Baal or idol worship. The Lord established him as the leader of Judah, and he was given riches and honor in abundance. He took delight in honoring the Lord and removed all the wooden images and idolatry from Judah. (2 Chron 17:1-6)
He was heavily dependent on God to lead him through crisis. He called for national prayer and fast when a coalition of armies came against him.
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
2 Chronicles 20:12
Photo image of wooden idols generated by Yolanda Berry utilizing AI
King Jehoshaphat was a strategic leader who strengthened Judah by building fortified cities and maintaining a strong army and establishing a system of judges rooted in justice and the fear of the Lord. 2 Chron 19:4-11
He also encouraged peace during a time of division, aiming to unify God’s people. His greatest mistake was building alliances with ungodly and wicked kings of Israel – King Ahab and Ahaziah which led to a failed trading excursion where all their work and ships were wrecked by the hand of God.
In times of uncertainty that we’re experiencing today, we can draw from the timeless lessons of Jehoshaphat—whether in business, ministry, or personal development there are nuggets of wisdom to glean from in his life and legacy.
Life and Legacy
Jehoshaphat left behind a bilateral legacy: a godly king who led spiritual revival and trusted God in crisis, but who compromised his faith in God by partnering with ungodly leaders. He is commended for walking in the ways of the Lord and striving to lead Judah in righteousness despite his poor choices.
“His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord…”
2 Chronicles 17:6
What can we learn from Jehoshaphat?
Five Lessons and Application Principles
- Lesson in Poor Judgment and Discernment
Despite being a godly man, Jehoshaphat sometimes displayed poor discernment in choosing partners, seemingly prioritizing unity or prosperity over righteousness.
2. Prioritize Alignment with God’s Vision
One of Jehoshaphat’s first moves as king was a spiritual one: he set his heart to seek the Lord. He didn’t begin with a political agenda, a marketing campaign, or a military strategy—he began by aligning his leadership with divine purpose.
Application Principle:
In a world filled with noise, trends, competition and pressure to chase quick wins, true leadership begins with clarity of purpose. Whether you’re leading your family, a business, a nonprofit, or a creative project, take time to anchor your mission.
Are my values aligned with something greater than success? Am I leading with integrity, vision, and spiritual clarity?
“The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father.”
2 Chronicles 17:3–4
3. Invest in Education and Empowerment
Jehoshaphat did something extraordinary: he sent out teachers to every city in Judah to instruct the people in the ways of God (2 Chronicles 17:7–9). He understood that he could not complete this task alone. He also understood that training well-informed and spiritually rooted people would lead to a strong kingdom mindset. There is strength in numbers.
Application Principle:
Great leaders don’t hoard knowledge- they cultivate and nurture it in others. A culture of empowerment leads to resilience and strength in uncertain times.
In your organization or community, how are you empowering others to grow? Are you mentoring, teaching, or creating systems that promote continuous learning?
4. Be Willing to Seek Counsel and Correction
One of Jehoshaphat’s leadership flaws was his alliance with King Ahab of Israel. When he was rebuked by the prophet Jehu (2 Chronicles 19:2–3), instead of resisting correction, Jehoshaphat humbled himself and made changes.
Application Principle:
Mistakes often happen, but wise leaders seek feedback and make adjustments. It’s ok to make mistakes. It’s one of our greatest teachers, however it’s important to surround yourself with people who will speak the truth—even when it’s uncomfortable. And when the truth hits hard, don’t shrink instead dissect it, reflect on it, embrace it and grow.
5. Lead with Faith and Loose Fear
Jehoshaphat prayed and fasted then sent worshippers ahead of the army—praising God in advance of the battle. God fought for Judah, and they experienced a miraculous victory.
Application Principle:
Due to the current instability in these times—economic shifts, technological disruption, social, political and cultural changes, lead with faith. Don’t rush into battle without clarity. Take time to pause, reflect, pray, and strategize. Sometimes, your biggest breakthroughs will come not through force, but through faith-filled surrender and praise.
Tomorrow, go down against them.
2 Chron 20:16-17
They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz,
and you will find them at the end of the Wilderness of Jeruel.
You will not need to fight in this battle.
Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord,
who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!
Do not fear or be dismayed tomorrow
go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
6. Build Systems and Fortify What You Have
Jehoshaphat didn’t only focus on spiritual matters. He also strengthened his cities, appointed judges, and implemented systems of justice and governance (2 Chronicles 19:4–11). He understood the significance of leadership and administration.
Application Principle:
Vision without organizational systems leads to burnout. As the world evolves, so should your workflow, infrastructure, and decision-making processes. Whether you’re leading a team, a church, or your own brand, build solid systems that support a strong foundation, long-term sustainability, and clarity of vision.
History always seems to repeat itself. In many ways, we are living in a period of time similar to Jehoshaphat. The world is unstable, challenges are unexpected, and the masses are seeking leaders with strong character and who have values, morals, integrity, wisdom, courage and humility.
We all have the ability to be role models of leadership who:
- Make wise decisions and live righteously
- Align our lives with purpose
- Empower others through education
- Embrace feedback with humility
- Stand firm in faith amdist fear
- And build workflows and systems that serve with vision
Because in the end, leadership is not just about getting through the battle-it’s about helping others thrive on the other side of it.
This concludes the leadership series. I hope you enjoyed the series and please share with a friend or associate who would benefit from the message. Please feel free to leave your comments or feedback below.
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