Who deserves to be honored, and for what reason? That’s really the question that the “cancel culture” is asking when it defaces or destroys monuments to heroes of generations past. And it’s no longer just ignorant mobs that are seeking to rewrite history. Princeton University removed the name of alumnus Woodrow Wilson from its school of Public and International Affairs. Yes, he led the United States into World War I, helping to ensure an Allied victory. Yes, his “Fourteen Points” inspired a generation of leaders who sought national self-determination for ethnic groups all over the world, thus laying the foundation of the anti-colonialist movement of the 20th Century. But he also re-segregated the Federal civil service after it had been integrated for years. And so, the college from which he graduated in 1879, the college which he served as a professor and later as its president, effectively disowned him.

Isn’t it a good thing that God doesn’t act that way? Take Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah. He was, in many ways, an admirable monarch. He appointed more judges and instructed them to avoid taking bribes and to render justice in the fear of the Lord (II Chronicles 19:5-10). When his country was invaded, he led his people in fasting and prayer, expressing their complete dependence on God (II Chronicles 20:1-4). And as a result, God miraculously delivered His people, turning the swords of the invaders on each other, until they were all slain. In fact, the people of Jerusalem spent three days carrying off all the spoil of their enemies (II Chronicles 20:20-25).

But Jehoshaphat also had a desire to make peace with the northern kingdom of Israel, in spite of their infidelity to the Lord. He joined the wicked King Ahab in a military campaign against Aram, and nearly got himself killed in battle as a result (II Chronicles 18:28-31). In his later years, Jehoshaphat made an agreement with Ahab’s son Ahaziah to build ships to trade with Tarshish – but God was so displeased with their alliance that their ships were destroyed (II Chronicles 20:35-37). Worst of all, Jehoshaphat allowed his son and heir Jehoram to marry Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab. In the years to come, Athaliah would kill as many of her own grandchildren as possible in an attempt to snuff out the house of David once and for all.

So, how should we look at Jehoshaphat? Was he a credulous fool, who kept allowing himself to be duped by the wicked Israelite kings, nearly destroying his own dynasty? Or was he a faithful man who humbled himself before God and thus helped to deliver his people from their enemies?

In reality, he was both. After all, the only perfect person Who has ever lived was the Lord Jesus Christ, so even the best of the rest of us are marred in one way or another by sin. That’s why it’s such good news that, instead of trying to “cancel” all those who rebel against Him, God grants His grace even to sinners like Jehoshaphat, even to sinners like us. So, shouldn’t we all demonstrate that sort of patience and grace, not only toward the great men of history, but also toward one another today?

II Chronicles 20:31-37 (NASB)

31 Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
32 And he walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the LORD.
33 The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first to last, behold, they are written in the annals of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
35 And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing.
36 So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.
37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish.