II Chronicles 19
Jehu the prophet confronts Jehoshaphatverses 1-3
And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah
returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem
and Jehu the son of Hanani the seer
went out to meet him
and said to king Jehoshaphat
Should you help the ungodly and love them that hate the LORD?
THEREFORE is wrath on you from before the LORD
Nevertheless there are good things found in you in that you have
taken away the groves out of the land
and have prepared your heart to seek God
Jehoshaphat appoints God fearing judgesverses 4-7
And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem
and he went out again through the people from Beer-sheba
to mount Ephraim – and brought them back to the
LORD God of their fathers
And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah
city by city
and said to the judges
Take heed what you do – for you judge not for man
BUT for the LORD – WHO is with you in the judgment
Wherefore now 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 gifts
Jehoshaphat instructs judges in Jerusalemverses 8-10
Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set the Levites
and of the priests and of the chief of the fathers of Israel
for the judgment of the LORD and for controversies
when they returned to Jerusalem
And he charged them
saying
Thus shall you do in the fear of the LORD – faithfully
and with a perfect heart
And what cause soever shall come to you for your brethren
that dwell in their cities – between blood and blood
between law and commandment
statutes and judgments
you shall even warn them that they trespass not
against the LORD – and so wrath come
on you and on your brethren
this do – and you shall not trespass
Jehoshaphat establishes final authoritiesverse 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
for all the king’s matters – also the Levites shall be officers
before you
Deal courageously – and the LORD shall be with the good
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, Should you help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? Therefore is wrath upon you from before the LORD. (5826 “help” [‘azar] means assist, be of service, succor, come to the aid of, or add to)
DEVOTION: Once Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem from his battle with the Syrians he was confronted by the prophet Jehu. The confrontation was necessary as Jehoshaphat was a king that was trying to honor the LORD but had made some bad choices recently.
He had allowed his son to marry the daughter of the king of Israel who was one who didn’t honor the LORD and had false gods set up in his kingdom. The second compromise was that he was asked by the king of Israel to go to battle with him and a true prophet had told him that he shouldn’t go to battle with this heathen king.
So when he arrived the LORD had Jehu ask him an important question. This question put everything in perspective. Should believers help the wicked in their wickedness? Should those who love the LORD help those who hate the LORD?
It is an interesting question because this was concerning a nation that loved the LORD helping a nation that didn’t love the LORD.
Today we help any country that has needs. It is mainly to help the people of the countries that are suffering but our government helps other governments that don’t love the LORD. Should the same rules that applied to this time period affect our time period?
The answer seems to be NO! We are living in a time period where those who are Christians are found in every nation of the world. Government is not under the commands of the LORD in any country today. Our country was started with the Ten Commandments and the Bible as a basis for our legal system but things are different now.
So we are to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s. The division is plain today. We are to be good citizens but also good followers of the LORD. When being a citizen we are not to break the laws of the LORD. Our first priority has to always be to be a obedient follower of the LORD.
CHALLENGE: When we make the proper choice the LORD will be pleased with us and bless us either here or in eternity.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem, and he went out again through the people from Beer-sheba to Mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD God of their fathers. (7725 “brought them back” [shuwb] means to cause someone to return to a previous place, condition or activity, turn back, withdraw, allow to return, put back, draw back, restore, or give as payment)
DEVOTION: Now we have the example of the king going throughout the land of Judah to inform the people that they must serve the LORD first and foremost. He had not done it with his joining the king of Israel but now he realized that he was wrong and needed to teach the nation to do what is right at all times.
Remember he had in the past sent men throughout Judah to teach them what the Law of the LORD was for them to obey. Now he was doing it himself to make sure that there was a revival in the teachings of the LORD.
We need leaders who encourage the people to remain faithful to the LORD on a daily basis. Sometimes it means going house to house and instructing those in their congregations regarding how to live for the LORD. If the church is too big for the pastor to do it all then the deacons and elders need to take some of the houses and make sure that instruction is given.
It was not enough for the king to wait for all the men to come to Jerusalem for the feasts to be trained but he had to go an make sure they understood what it meant to be genuine followers of the LORD.
Who are we encouraging today to walk closer to the LORD? Who is encouraging you today? We need to be an encouraging group of people if we are going to reach our world for the LORD.
CHALLENGE: The world is watching how believers treat each other. Are they seeing us as people who are encouragers or people who like to judge and put down other believers?
: 6 And said to the judges, Take heed what you do: for you judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. (8199 “shaphat” means to rule, to administer justice, to hear and be the judge of a legal case, litigate, lead, execute judgment, or to act as lawgiver.)
DEVOTION: There is a turn around here. Jehoshaphat seemed to be headed in the wrong direction and was confronted by Jehu regarding what was happening to the nation.
It is because of the confrontation that he realized that he had more good work to do for the LORD.
So he talked to the judges and told them to make sure that they were taking heed to how they did their job because they were going to answer first to him and then to the LORD.
If they honored the LORD, the LORD would honor them. If they dishonored the LORD HE would judge them for their actions.
This is true today in our world. We find that the LORD honors righteous judgments and HE judges those who don’t honor HIM in their judgment. This judgment might not happen in this lifetime but it will happen at the Great White Throne Judgment that all those who have rejected the LORD will be judged by the LORD and cast into the lake of fire.
Believers have to make sure that they are honoring the LORD in all their relationships with others even if they are not the judge in a court case. The LORD is watching what is happening now in the nations of the world and will judge accordingly at the Great White Throne Judgment for those who are not believers but will at the Judgment Seat of Christ HE will judge those who are believers regarding their treatment of fellow believes and those who are not followers of HIM.
Our responsibility is to treat everyone in a righteous manner. This takes work and it takes the leading of the Holy Spirit in our daily activities with both believers and unbelievers.
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD for guidance in our dealing with those we meet whether in the church or outside the church. We need to behave righteously at all times.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 7 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. (4856 “respect” [masso’] means partiality, bias, prejudice, or a lifting up)
DEVOTION: When Jehoshaphat returned from the battle with Ahab, he was confronted by a prophet. The prophet asked him why he was helping the ungodly. Not only were the people of Israel ungodly but they hated the LORD. The ten tribes had drifted far from the LORD.
The prophet also told him that he had done things that pleased the LORD. He needed to continue to do things that pleased the LORD. One of the things that he did was put judges in control that had the fear of the LORD in their lives.
These judges were not to be bias toward those who had money. They were not to be bias by accepting bribes. They were to know that God doesn’t condone sin by any person. The judge should do the same. They are to do their jobs faithfully. They are to have a pure heart. At the end of the day, they should be able to face the LORD with a clear conscience.
Our standards today should be the same. That is not happening in the justice system in America. Too often the judges do look at the money or the advantage to them for their judgments. Many judges don’t love the LORD. Therefore they don’t respect the laws of the LORD. The country started with the Ten Commandments posted in our courtrooms. Now they want to take them down and let everyone do what is right in their own eyes.
We are not responsible for the justice system in America, but in our churches. Are we showing bias toward those with money in our churches? Are we being faithful in our treatment of all those in our churches? Should members be able to bring problems to the church and let them settle it Biblically?
This calls on leadership to be faithful in their service to the LORD. This challenge calls on every member of all Bible believing churches to welcome all those enter the doors of the church. We need to reach all those in our community for the LORD. We need to watch how we judge people. If there is a problem we should be able to settle it between believers. Not take it to the courts of the land.
We need to be sure that we are not partial to those who have money. We need to be sure that we are not willing to hurt people who can’t afford defend themselves. We have to have righteous judgments given in the church. That means even if it means sending someone with money out of our doors.
CHALLENGE: The LORD honors RIGHTEOUS judgments among HIS people. Watch how we treat people!!! God is!!!
: 11 And 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, for all the king’s matters; also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good. (6213 “deal courageously” [‘asah] means to make, manufacture, do, to carry out or perform an action or course of action, execute, act with affect, put in action, perform a work, create or accomplish.
DEVOTION: There was a division of responsibilities given to those who were to judge Judah.
There were spiritual matters that were to be judged by the chief priest in Jerusalem. The Levites would judge in the local communities. There were the king’s matters which involved anything that was not of a spiritual nature that were to be judged by Zebadiah in Jerusalem. This division was to help the kingdom keep law and order in both matters.
If the nation was to stop judging spiritual matters with those who were spiritual it would cause there to be a drift from the Law of the LORD. This is what would cause the nation of Judah to lose the blessings of the LORD. The commandments, statutes, and judgments of the LORD had been done since the giving of the Law in the wilderness to Moses. Some of these commandments had been given to Abraham even before that time period. The LORD has made it plain throughout history what HE expected of those who wanted to follow HIM. HE has never left the human race without instructions of what is right and wrong in HIS sight.
We have no excuse today regarding what the LORD expects of us in our Daily walk with HIM. HE has given us the Bible and the Holy Spirit to help us understand what HE wants of HIS people.
The children of Israel were HIS people in the Old Testament and are set aside now with those in the church being HIS followers today. Our churches should be teaching what is found in the Bible regularly. Our government should be judging matters that pertain to legal rules made by the government that should not interfere with the rules set down by the LORD.
When government interferes with spiritual matters it creates a problem. We are to obey the LORD first and the government second. It might mean that we will have to go to jail or worse but our obligation is always to the LORD first.
We are going to see the government in many countries moving into spiritual matters which is going to cause believers problems because they are going to have to make a choice. Many are making choices now when it comes to the use of their property for matters that are against the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Note the division between government and church and always side with the LORD.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Levites – set to settle controversiesverses 8, 9, 11
with fear of the LORD
with faithfulness
with perfect heart
Priests – set to settle controversiesverses 8, 9
with fear of the LORD
with faithfulness
with perfect heart
Amariah – chief priestverse 11
Over all the matters of the LORD
Deal courageously
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Lawverse 10
Commandmentsverse 10
Statutesverse 10
Judgmentsverse 10
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 2, 4, 6-11
Wrath of the LORDverse 2
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)verses 3, 4, 7
LORD God of their fathersverse 4
Fear of the LORDverses 7, 9
No iniquity with the LORD our Godverse 7
LORD our Godverse 7
No respect of persons with LORDverse 7
No taking of gifts with the LORDverse7
Judgments of the LORDverse 8
Trespass not against the LORDverse 10
Wrath of the LORDverse 10
LORD shall be with the goodverse 11
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Ungodlyverse 2
Love those who hate the LORDverse 2
Grove worshipverse 3
Judge not for man against Law of Godverse 6
Iniquityverse 7
Respect of personsverse 7
Taking of gifts [bribes]verse 7
Trespassverse 10
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Goodverses 3, 11
Seek the LORDverse 3
Judge for the LORDverse 6
Fear of the LORDverses 7, 9
Faithfulverse 9
Perfect heartverse 9
Courageousverse 11
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Jehoshaphat – king of Judahverse 1
House in Jerusalem
Warned by Jehu
Good things found in him
took away the groves
Prepared his heart to seek God
Went throughout land to bring them
back to the LORD
Set judges – instructed them to
honor the LORD
Told Judges to knowing the LORD
is with them in judgment
Told judges not to have respect of persons
Told judges not to take gifts
Jerusalemverses 1, 4, 8
Jehu – son of Hanani the seerverse 2
Met Jehoshaphat
Told Jehoshaphat he was heading
for wrath before the LORD
Chief of the fathers of Israelverses 8, 9
Set for judgment of the LORD for controversies
with fear of the LORD
with faithfulness
with perfect heart
Zebadiah – the son of Ishmaelverse 11
Son of Ishmael
Ruler of the house of Judah
for all the kings matters
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
9–10 Israel’s faithful judge was not simply to decide cases and render verdicts but was also to “warn” his “brothers” against sin in the sight of God. For he too was responsible to the Lord, and his ultimate motivation was that he might so live that divine “wrath” would not “come on” either him or his Hebrew brothers. (Payne, J. B. (1988). 1, 2 Chronicles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, p. 501). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
19:4–11 Jehoshaphat put God’s kingdom in greater spiritual order than at any time since Solomon. To insure this order, he set “judges” (v. 5) in place and gave them principles to rule by: 1) accountability to God (v. 6); 2) integrity and honesty (v. 7); 3) loyalty to God (v. 9); 4) concern for righteousness (v. 10); and 5) courage (v. 11). All are essentials to spiritual leadership. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Ch 19:4–11). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
10. The Jews who “dwelt in the cities,” if dissatisfied with the decision given by the provincial judges, might therefore remove the cause to Jerusalem, as to a court of appeal. (Barnes, A. (1879). Notes on the Old Testament: I Samuel to Esther. (F. C. Cook, J. M. Fuller, Eds.) (p. 397). London: John Murray.)
Ver. 10. And what cause soever shall come unto you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, &c.] Whether sacred or civil, that should come before them by way of appeal from inferior courts in the country, where they could not be determined: between blood and blood; one relation and another, or with respect to shedding of blood, whether ignorantly or purposely: between law and commandment, statutes and judgments; not rightly understood, and so pleaded on both sides: ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord; the persons engaged in controversy, that they take no false oath, nor bear false testimony, and act not stubbornly against any of the laws, when explained in court unto them: and so wrath come upon you and your children; upon judges for the neglect of their duty in giving due warning, and upon the people for not taking it when given: this do, and ye shall not trespass; if the above charge in all its parts is strictly attended to. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 67). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
4–11. We hear of no complaint nor anger in Jehoshaphat, like that of Asa at the reproof of the prophet. But we find on the contrary, his heart setting about a greater reform in his kingdom. He abides at home at Jerusalem his capital, and goes no more to foreign wars. His going forth is only through his own kingdom, to look over the magistrates whom he had appointed to preside over the people. And what a pious charge is recorded here concerning his address to the judges. Nothing, surely, can afford a more lovely view than what is here held forth of Jehoshaphat. In every point, as a king, as a servant of the Lord, and as a friend of the people, Jehoshaphat appears illustrious indeed; and the Holy Ghost hath handed down his memory with great honor to all succeeding generations in the church. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, pp. 498–499). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
Act with courage (v. 11) is reminiscent of the familiar phrase, ‘Be strong and courageous’ (Josh. 1:6–7; 1 Chr. 22:13; 28:20; 2 Chr. 32:7; etc.). Since it is usually linked with major events, it shows the importance of the reform. The final phrase is certainly a promise of God’s presence, but ‘good’ (reb, neb) could refer either to the work of reform (cf. niv) or to those who will carry it out (cf. nrsv, rsv, reb, neb, etc.). (Selman, M. J. (1994). 2 Chronicles: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 11, p. 439). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
The original decree is found, and permission is given to complete the temple restoration.
INSIGHT
It is often darkest before the dawn. Just as it looks as if the work on the temple is going to be stopped, the Lord turns the situation around. Not only is permission given to complete the temple, but those who had tried to stop the work are required to finance the remainder of the restoration! Worrying does little to further the work of God; He is quite capable of accomplishing His work. Our work is trust, obedience, and faithfulness to our responsibilities.
God does not compromise. Moses asks Pharaoh to let the nation of Israel go into the wilderness to worship God. Pharaoh refuses but says the men can go. But those are not God’s instructions. Pharaoh pays the price. But, while God does not compromise, He does forgive. With the hand of judgment on him, Pharaoh begs God for forgiveness. God withdraws the judgment. Have you compromised in your walk with God? He will not accept it. But He will forgive and restore you if you ask Him. (Quiet Walk)
ENTERING GOD’S KINGDOM
…not imputing their trespasses unto them….For he hath made him to be sin for us.
2 Corinthians 5:19,21
You cannot live in God’s kingdom unless you are a worthy citizen. How, then, can you enter? Christ is the answer. This is the Good News, that He bore our sins “in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). Here is the message: “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them….For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:19,21). And thereby by dying on the cross, He has opened the gateway into the kingdom, and He says, “Today is the day of salvation–enter in.” “Come unto me, all ye that labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
“The time is fulfilled” (Mark 1:15). The time promised so long ago has arrived; the kingdom of God has drawn near, has come. He says, “I am the King; come unto Me just as you are.” Thank God you do not have to put yourself right first; you do not have to understand the profundity first; you do not have to set out on some great quest. You may have to die very soon, and your question is, “How can I stand before God? How can I know that I am going to heaven and eternal bliss?”
And this is the answer: “The time is fulfilled; the kingdom has come.” The King is the Lord Jesus Christ, and He loved you so much that He died for you and your sins, and all He says to you is, “Repent, think again, believe My message.” Repent and believe the gospel; acknowledge your folly and your sin, your shame, and your helplessness. Stop making inquiries; stop setting out with your great intellect to understand. Simply believe.
A Thought to Ponder: “I am the King; come unto Me just as you are.”
(From The Kingdom of God, pp. 23-24, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
In God We Trust
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15
In the early days of the American Revolutionary War, an expedition was launched against British forces in Quebec. When the expedition passed through Newburyport, Massachusetts, on the way to Canada, they visited the tomb of the renowned evangelist George Whitefield. Whitefield’s coffin was opened and his clerical collar and cuffs were removed. The clothing was cut in pieces and distributed in the mistaken belief that it could somehow give the soldiers success.
The expedition failed. But what the soldiers did demonstrates our human tendency to trust in something less than a relationship with God—money or human strength or even religious traditions—for our ultimate well-being. God cautioned His people against this when invasion from Assyria threatened, and they sought Pharaoh’s help instead of turning from their sins and turning personally to Him: “This is what the Sovereign Lord , the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, “No, we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee!’ ” (Isaiah 30:15–16).
Their “expedition” failed as well (just as God said it would) and Assyria overwhelmed Judah. But God also told His people, “The Lord longs to be gracious to you.” Even when we have trusted in lesser things, God still holds out His hand to help us return to Him. “Blessed are all who wait for him!” (v. 18). By James Banks, Our Daily Bread)
OUR SECURITY IN GOD
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28
There is nothing uncertain about my acceptance with God, nor about my forgiveness, nor about my sonship. When I realize that I have been brought into God’s plan, I know that nothing can frustrate this.
Now there are many people who talk about the Protestant Reformation and the influence it had upon the world. You find that certain statesmen do this. They say you cannot explain the history of England apart from the Protestant Reformation. Neither, they say, can you explain the United States of America apart from these things, because they all had their origin in that Reformation. But how little do these people really see what it all means and what it really represents, which is that these great truths are absolute and certain. Do you know why the Pilgrim Fathers made that attempt and succeeded in crossing the Atlantic? What was it that enabled men to do things like that and to do things that were even more hazardous? It was that they believed in what is called “the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints”; it was because they had seen themselves in the plan of God that cannot be broken and that cannot fail. It is as absolute as God Himself; He knows the end as well as the beginning. “Neither shall any man,” said Christ, “pluck them out of my hand.” It is unthinkable.
If God has done all this for us in Christ, and especially in His death, we can be certain that He will carry on with the work until it is completed. That is Paul’s argument: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). God, who is sufficiently concerned about me to send His Son to die on the cross of Calvary for me, is not going to let me down when any difficulty or temptation faces me.
A Thought to Ponder: God is not going to let me down when any difficulty or temptation faces me. (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 63-64 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Stan writes (NY): Heaven has Strict Immigration Laws! Hell has open borders
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