2 CHRONICLES LESSON 19


     We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 19:1 "And Jehoshaphat
the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem."

     This is speaking of the fact that Jehoshaphat did not continue
the battle with the Syrians. He came back home, after the death of
Ahab. It was, probably, an encouragement to the people to know that
Jehoshaphat was not killed with Ahab.

     II Chronicles 19:2 "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out
to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the
ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore [is] wrath upon
thee from before the LORD."

     God's anger is not at what Jehoshaphat had done personally, but
that he would help someone as wicked as Ahab. God did not like
Jehoshaphat fellowshipping with Ahab. The Bible warns about
fellowshipping with those of unbelief. This, as far as God was
concerned, was telling the world that he was opposed to God, because
his friend Ahab opposed God. Jehu was a seer of God, the son of
Hanani.

     II Chronicles 19:3 "Nevertheless there are good things found in
thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and
hast prepared thine heart to seek God."

     God had greatly blessed Jehoshaphat, because he had destroyed the
idols in his own land, and tried to get people back into the study of
the law of God. He was a man after God's own heart. He had just made a
very bad choice of friends.

     II Chronicles 19:4 "And 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."

     It appears, that Jehoshaphat saw the error in what he had done.
He went back out into his land from city to city trying to get the
people back into fellowship with God. He was doing everything he could
to cause his land to conform to the ways of God. He did not have
anything bad to say to Jehu, because he knew it was true. He took the
advice of the seer and began his change immediately.

     II Chronicles 19:5 "And he set judges in the land throughout all
the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,"

     These judges were to judge within the law of God. It was not just
in Jerusalem, but throughout the entire land that he set the judges.

     II Chronicles 19:6 "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 the
judgment."

     This is a reminder to the judges that there judgement had better
be just, because there was a Judge who would, also, judge them
righteously in the end. They shpuld keep in mind the wishes of God, as
they judged.

     II Chronicles 19:7 "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."

     We see that Jehoshaphat was trying to see that his kingdom was
ruled by the law of God. He did not want anyone who took bribes or was
persuaded because of a person. The judgement of the land should be
just and fair. God is not a respecter of persons, and neither should
these judges be. They should judge as a servant of the LORD in truth
and righteousness.

     II Chronicles 19:8 "Moreover 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."

     The tribunal was re-established with the Levites as the head of
it.  What we would call the supreme court was in Jerusalem, and was
judged by this group of men, who were called of God for this job. This
was comprised of several men like a jury in a court today would be.
There were elders of the various families that sat on these juries,
but the Levite in charge was like the judge. The Levites interpreted
the law of the LORD in these cases.

     II Chronicles 19:9 "And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do
in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart."

     They were in the service of the LORD, as well as being in service
to their community. God warned over and over in His Word that these
men must be fair and just in all of their decisions. They must be
guided by the law of God. They would have to answer to God for the
decisions they made.

     II Chronicles 19:10 "And what cause soever shall come to you of
your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood,
between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even
warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and [so] wrath come
upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass."

     These judges had a grave responsibility to be fair in their
judgements. In the 17th chapter of Deuteronomy, we read of this very
thing. Deuteronomy 17:8  "If there arise a matter too hard for thee in
judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between
stroke and stroke, [being] matters of controversy within thy gates:
then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD
thy God shall choose;"  Deuteronomy 17:9 "And thou shalt come unto the
priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days,
and inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment:"
Deuteronomy 17:10 "And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which
they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and
thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:"
Deuteronomy 17:11 "According to the sentence of the law which they
shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell
thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which
they shall shew thee, [to] the right hand, nor [to] the left."

     II Chronicles 19:11 "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."

     This leaves no doubt at all who had the final word. The chief
priest, Amariah, was the last and final say on a matter. The others,
here, are under his command. Whoever was judged had to comply with
whatever judgement they brought down. It was the law of the land, but
it was taken from God's law.





































                      2 Chronicles 19 Questions


1.  Where did Jehoshaphat go after, the death of Ahab?
2.  What is meant by the peace in verse 1?
3.  What was an encouragement to the people?
4.  Who came to meet him?
5.  What question did he ask Jehoshaphat?
6.  Why was God angry with Jehoshaphat?
7.  The Bible warns about _________________ with those of unbelief.
8.  In verse 3, what nice things did the seer say to Jehoshaphat?
9.  What had he done that was good, that was not mentioned in verse 3?
10. Why did he go throughout the land?
11. What did Jehoshaphat do to the seer?
12. Where did he set up judges?
13. How were they to judge?
14. Who do the judges judge for?
15. Why was it so important for them to be just in their judgement?
16. In verse 7, what did he caution them to do?
17. They must judge as servants of the LORD in __________ and
    _____________.
18. In verse 8, we read of the ___________ being re-established?
19. Who was the head of it?
20. What is this tribunal like today?
21. They were in the service of the _________.
22. Where do we read more instructions on how they are to judge?
23. Who was the chief priest at this time?
24. Who were the officers?
25. Who was the final say in the judgements?