Today in God's Word—March 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
March 1, 2 Chronicles 19
”Now then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes." - 2 Chronicles 19:7
Jehoshaphat's name means, "The LORD judges.” This chapter is steeped in the idea of judgment. Let's see why that statement is so.
It was appropriate that a king with the idea of judgment in his name should be the one to revamp the judicial system. The Israelites had a body of law they received directly from God at Mount Sinai. But from the beginning of the nation, there had always been a need for a system to apply and administer the law. Remember that Israel was a nation that grew from a family. In the times of the patriarchs, the men who were the heads of their families were responsible for teaching and enforcing the law, settling disputes within their families and households. As the families, clans and tribes grew to become a nation, the elders of a city, the recognized and respected leaders of the community, administered justice in each city. Jehoshaphat appointed judges to serve the cities across the nation by authority of the throne. Then he established a court of appeals in Jerusalem, to hear disputed cases.
The king charged the justices to be faithful, just and impartial as they judged the cases before them. He reminded the that a higher authority than the throne, even God himself, was with them as they gave judgment. They were accountable to God for the judgments they rendered. On the human level, all the judges answered to Amariah, the chief priest in all spiritual matters. On the civil side of the law, they were accountable to Zebadiah, the governor of the house of Judah. The whole system of judges answered to the king, and the king himself answered to God. Not even the king was above judgment.
After Jehoshaphat narrowly escaped death in the battle where Ahab was killed, Judah's king came safely home to Jerusalem. But Jehu the son of Hanani went out to meet the king and rebuked him for getting involved with Ahab. He asked him, "Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate the LORD?" He said that God’s wrath would come against the king because of his foolish entanglement in the alliance with the evil house of Ahab and Israel. But God also saw and acknowledged the good that was in Jehoshaphat. Jehu recalled how Jehoshaphat had been zealous to destroy all the Asherah temples, pillars and high places. He commended the king for setting his heart to seek God.
So Jehoshaphat was not above judgment himself when he told the appointed judges to consider that they were judging for the LORD. He admonished them to let the fear of the LORD be on them, to govern them and their actions as judges, even as they governed those cases under their jurisdiction.
Wouldn't Jehoshaphat's charge to "Let the fear of the LORD be upon you,” be good for every one of us who have God-given authority over others and are ourselves under God's authority and watchful eyes? No bribe, pressure or threat should outweigh the knowledge that God holds us accountable for all we say and do. Not one of us keeps the law of God perfectly. Only Jesus lived in sinless perfection before the Father. The gospel explains how he who was without sin took our sin guilt upon himself when he died on the cross. God raised him from the dead. Today the risen Savior invites all who will come to him in trusting faith to be saved. He directs the lives of those who surrender their will to his Lordship and obey him in all matters. And when we fail, his saving blood continues to cleanse those who humbly confess their sins and return to him.
Jehoshaphat's name reminds us that there is indeed a day coming when the LORD will judge
us all. Remember that our Savior will also be our judge. That fact should fill us with respectful awe (the fear of the LORD). When we remember that he loves us and holds us accountable to him, we should the find motivation and strength we need to serve him faithfully.
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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