17:1 亞撒的兒子約沙法接續他作王,奮勇自強,防備以色列人,
17:2 安置軍兵在猶大一切堅固城裡,又安置防兵在猶大地和他父亞撒所得以法蓮的城邑中。
17:3 耶和華與約沙法同在;因為他行他祖大衛初行的道,不尋求巴力,
17:4 只尋求他父親的上帝,遵行他的誡命,不效法以色列人的行為。
17:5 所以耶和華堅定他的國,猶大眾人給他進貢;約沙法大有尊榮資財。
17:6 他高興遵行耶和華的道,並且從猶大除掉一切邱壇和木偶。
Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
3 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals 4 but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. 5 The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. 6 His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
**********
亞撒的兒子約沙法接續他作王,他有幾項重要政策:
1. 安置軍兵在猶大一切堅固城裡,又安置防兵在猶大地和他父亞撒所得以法蓮的城邑中。
2. 他行他祖大衛初行的道,不尋求巴力,只尋求他父親的上帝,遵行他的誡命,不效法以色列人的行為。
3. 他高興遵行耶和華的道,並且從猶大除掉一切邱壇和木偶。
由於他正確使用上帝給他的權柄,使猶大王朝興盛起來,上帝堅固了他的國,並得著百姓的尊敬,提供他財務上的需要,大大獲得尊榮!
這告訴我們,人生在世必須倚靠上帝,而不是追求財富及名聲。若是敬畏上帝,一切好處都不會缺乏!但是,我們必須先敬畏上帝,不是求財富和名聲!