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11 Chronicles Chapter 19
Jehoshaphat's Reforms
- 2Chronicles 19:1 And
Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to
Jerusalem.
- 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.
- 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.
It seems like Jehoshaphat's weakness
was making alliances with wicked people that were in rebellion
against the Lord and very deep into idolatry. Either he was a very
friendly type of peace making person or else he had a weakness of
giving into fear that the Lord would abandon him and he had to have
some insurance.
Being unequally yoked is meant to
protect us and our children from evil influences. I'm not talking
about all those that are not actually serving the Lord but do not do
blatant evil but mind their own business, are honest and do not
deceive people. They might not really be what we call born again but
they are respectable people that like to do good, not evil. What is
really dangerous is joining with evil people like Ahab and others
who were totally anti God and were tyrants who murdered the
innocent. A godly woman should not marry and evil anti God person
for instance. She would then be unequally yoked.
Here is what James wrote:
God still remembered the good in
Jehoshaphat who removed idolatry from the nation of Judah. Groves
are a grove of trees where images to idols were set up and
worshipped.
- 2Chronicle 19:4 And
Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through
the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them
back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
- 5 And he set judges
in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by
city,
- 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.
He was repeating what he did at first.
It seems he must have slacked off a bit. We at times get like that
where we still are believers but have lost our first zeal and love
for the Lord. If only our own judges today would judge righteously
and not be able to be bribed, threatened or politically motivated
when they are honored to have that kind of position.
There is nothing wrong with receiving
giving gifts given out of a heart of kindness but receiving gifts
when it is clearly bribery in a way to get a person to go along with
their agenda, is to be avoided.
- 2Chronicles 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.
- 9 And he charged
them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD,
faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
- 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.
- 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.
At this time it is a time of renewing
their first love for God and His word. What we would call a revival
of sorts. Happy are those that stay the course and are determine to
keep themselves from evil in departing from the first love and
dedication to the Lord. God has a better way for all of us to live
if we just would be determined to keep going, not stop and stay
faithful. -Dorna
- Revelation 21:5
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things
new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and
faithful.
- 6 And he said
unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the
water of life freely.
- 7 He that
overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and
he shall be my son.
- 8 But the
fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death.
11
Chronicles Chapter 20
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