In Second Chronicles, chapter nineteen, verse two, Jehosophat receives rebuke for associating with Ahab and helping the enemy of God, as in chapter eighteen. The prophet Jehu’s declaration of Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahab and efforts to promote the fear of God and the administration of justice in Judah from verses one through three of this chapter gives the full details. Jehoshaphat returned from the war in which Ahab had lost his life. However, on his return, the seer Jehu, the son of Hanani, who had been thrown into the stocks by Asa, as in Second Chronicles sixteen, verse seven, met him with the reproving word, “Should one help the wicked, and lovest thou the haters of Jahve!” Of these sins, Jehoshaphat had been guilty.
Jehoshaphat had already had experience of this wrath when in the battle of Ramoth the enemy pressed upon him as in Second Chronicles eighteen, verse thirty-one, and was at a later time to have still further experience of it, partly during his own life, when the enemy invaded his land in chapter twenty, and when he attempted to re-establish the sea trade with Ophir in verse thirty-five, partly after he died in his family. Shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord? Was this agreeable to thy duty and love which thou professest to God and godliness, that thou hast entered into so strict an alliance and friendship with wicked Ahab, my sworn enemy, and given such assistance to him?
Believers should not associate with the ungodly if, in that relationship, the cause of unrighteousness is advanced and our commitment to God jeopardizes the truth of God’s Word. The concern for followers of God when dealing with unbelievers is influence. Believers will impact the ungodly or vice versa. There is no in between.