JEHOSHAPHAT APPOINTS JUDGES THAT FEAR THE LORD

PROCLAMATION

“And said to the judges, ‘Take heed what ye do; for ye judge not for man, but for The Lord, who is with you in judgment.  Wherefore now let the fear of The Lord be upon you; take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with The Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.”  2 Chronicles 19:6-7 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The words of First and Second Chronicles were written as one book under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar according to Jewish tradition.  After the death of Ahab king of Israel and the defeat of Ramoth Gilead, Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned home to Jerusalem.  Upon his return Jehu the son of Hanani the seer approached him and said, ‘Should you help the ungodly, and love them that hate The Lord? …’  Therefore the wrath of The Lord will be upon you. (2 Chronicles 19:1-2)  The fact was that Jehoshaphat did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord (2 Chronicles 17:3-4) but the same could not be said for Ahab.  However, Jehu did acknowledge that there was some good in Jehoshaphat even though he had done wrong by helping Ahab.  Jehoshaphat continued to do good.  He went out to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to The Lord. (2 Chronicles 19:3-4)  He appointed judges in each of the fortified cities of Judah.  He told them that they were working for The Lord and they should let the fear of The Lord be upon them. (2 Chronicles 19:5-7)  He also appointed Levites as priests to administer the law and settle disputes in the non-fortified areas.  They were also told to serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of The Lord. (2 Chronicles 19:8-10)

 

APPLICATION

We should do whatever we do in the fear of The Lord. (2 Chronicles 19:9)  We should do everything faithfully and wholeheartedly.  Nothing should be done haphazardly.  If it is worth doing, then it is worth doing right the first time to the best of our ability.  We are to work as though all that we do is for The Lord God. (Colossians 3:23)  So, “whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)