CHAPTER 19

(896 B.C.)

JEHU REBUKES JEHOSHAPHAT

¹And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. (This Chapter proclaims rebuke and Repentance. Jehoshaphat returned in peace, only because the Lord was merciful to him. The two kings, Ahab and Jehoshaphat, are perfect examples of rebellion against God, which brings death, and serving God, which brings life and that despite Jehoshaphats unfaithfulness.)

²And 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 who hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon you from before the LORD (the Lord was very displeased with Jehoshaphats alliance with Ahab, and there would be repercussions, even as the word wrath proclaims, and which we shall see; sin must never be taken lightly or with impunity; in fact, sin is so powerful that the only answer to this dilemma is the Cross [Heb. 10:12]).

³Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the groves out of the land (idol worship), and have pre pared your heart to seek God (and it is the heart to which the Lord looks).

ADDITIONAL REFORMS UNDER JEHOSHAPHAT

⁴And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beer-sheba to Mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers (the word again, as used here, speaks of Repentance on the part of Jehoshaphat and, as well, the second revival of teaching the Law of Moses and bringing the people back to God; the Word must always be set before the people; there is no other refuge!).

⁵And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

⁶And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for you judge not for man, but for the LORD, Who is with you in the judgment (civil duties were to be carried out strictly according to the Word of the Lord).

⁷Wherefore 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 (the latter speaks of bribery; honest judgment by these Judges must be in the Name of the Lord, and all, as stated, according to Gods Word).

⁸Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of 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. (This concerned cases appealed to the higher court, actually the highest in Israel. There must be justice for the poor, and the rich must not be able to buy their way out of wrongdoing. All of this actually goes back to the Cross, in effect stating that sin cannot be assuaged by any other manner than the Cross [I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2].)

⁹And he charged them, saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

¹⁰And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren who dwell in your 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 upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and you shall not trespass (pure and simple, Jehoshaphat warns these Judges that if they do not abide by the Word of the Lord, they will be committing sin, and the Wrath of God will be the result).

¹¹And, behold, Amariah the Chief Priest is over you in all matters of the LORD (the spiritual); and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the House of Judah, for all the kings matters (Civil duties): also the Levites shall be officers before you (the Law). Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good (at the same time, the latter phrase is stating that the Lord cannot be with the bad).