2 Chronicles chapter 19

Jehoshaphat evangelizes his nation.

 


 

JEHOSHAPHAT EVANGELIZES HIS NATION

 

VERSE 1. Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

 

VERSE 2. Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath is on you from before the LORD.

Should you help the wicked. Jehoshaphat is being rebuked for his unholy alliance with King Ahab.

 

VERSE 3. Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”

there are good things found in you. Unlike most of the kings, Jehoshaphat is not 100% corrupt.

 

VERSE 4. Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

he went out again among the people. Jehoshaphat has an evangelical nature to him. He goes out to his people, and:

brought them back to the LORD. Jehoshaphat leads his people to faith in the One God.

He actively seeks out the strays.

He sends out missionaries to catechize the Jewish faithful.

He sacrifices greatly, that others may know the infinite treasure of personally knowing the lORD God.

His heart must have burned with desire for people to walk in right relationship with God.

Jehoshaphat is a good shepherd. The people of the LORD God are prone to going astray. In those times, they need a godly shepherd to bring them back. Read more »

Would that we had more of an evangelical heart, like Jehoshaphat!

 

VERSE 5. He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

 

VERSE 6. and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you don’t judge for man, but for the LORD; and he is with you in the judgment.

don’t judge for man. Many believers assume the LORD God thinks and acts like them. But he is infinitely beyond us. Read more »

These judges are to have a godly perspective as they discern their decisions. In the New Testament era we call this the Gift of Discernment.

 

VERSE 7. Now therefore let the fear of the LORD be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.”

the fear of the LORD. This means “reverential respect.”

 

VERSE 8. Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites, priests, and heads of the fathers’ households of Israel to give judgment for the LORD and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.

 

VERSE 9. He commanded them, saying, “You shall do this in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

the fear of the LORD. This means “reverential respect.”

 

VERSE 10. Whenever any controversy comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you must warn them, that they not be guilty toward the LORD, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty.

wrath come on you. If a judge fails to exercise proper godly judgment, then they will suffer divine wrath.

In our New Testament era, this has ended. Thus corruption is widespread among judges and other public servants.

Even if a judge or other public servant is a professing Christian, and perhaps especially if they are a professing Christian, corruption is even more widespread.

 

VERSE 11. Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good.”

 


next chapter »

« previous chapter


2 CHRONICLES

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Mount Moriah, The Cloud of Glory

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.