Jehoshaphat
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out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.”
2 Chronicles
19:2, 3
.
The later years of Jehoshaphat’s reign were largely spent in
strengthening the national and spiritual defenses of Judah. He “went
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out again through the people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim, and
brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers.”
Verse 4
.
One of the important steps taken by the king was the establishment
and maintenance of efficient courts of justice. He “set judges in the
land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city;” and in the
charge given them he urged: “Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not
for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. 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.”
Verses 5-7
.
The judicial system was perfected by the founding of a court of
appeal at Jerusalem, where 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.”
Verse 8
.
The king exhorted these judges to be faithful. “Thus shall ye do in
the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart,” he charged
them. “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.
“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
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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.”
Verses
9-11
.
In his careful safeguarding of the rights and liberties of his subjects,
Jehoshaphat emphasized the consideration that every member of the
human family receives from the God of justice, who rules over all.
“God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth among
the gods.” And those who are appointed to act as judges under Him,
are to “defend the poor and fatherless;” they are to “do justice to the