Justice Established in Judah

MEMORY VERSE: “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.” —II Chronicles 19:7

II CHRONICLES 19:4-11

OUR last lesson pertained to one of the wicked kings of Israel. Of all the kings who attained to the throne of the northern kingdom of Israel, not one can be described as “good.” They all “did evil in the sight of the Lord.” Their chief sin was that, like Jeroboam, who was the first of this line of kings, they either promoted or tolerated idolatry.

In the southern kingdom of Judah, however, there were a few kings who sincerely endeavored to do the Lord’s will. These rooted out idolatry, and instituted civil and moral reforms. Among these righteous kings was Jehoshaphat, who, soon after the beginning of his reign, destroyed the places of idol worship throughout Judah. However, Jehoshaphat made one mistake for which he was reprimanded by one of the Lord’s servants. This was his alliance with King Ahab of Israel. The Lord’s servant said to him, “Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.”—vs. 2

This unholy alliance came to an end with the death of Ahab on the battlefield, and then Jehoshaphat began the task of setting just and righteous judges over the people of Judah. As these judges continued to administer the laws of God righteously, a wonderful reform of the moral and religious attitudes of the people must have resulted.

Our memory verse contains part of the instructions the king gave to the judges he appointed. They were to fear the Lord. The thought here in the Hebrew text is reverence—they were to reverence the Lord; that is they were to have due respect for his holiness, and for the righteousness of his law.

There is no “iniquity” with the Lord, Jehoshaphat s aid. The thought here is inequity, or injustice. One of the cardinal attributes of God’s character is justice. This is exemplified in his great plan of redemption and salvation of the sin-cursed and dying race. Because of sin our first parents were justly condemned to death, and if they were ever to be released from death justice demanded that a Redeemer be provided. Jesus became that Redeemer, the One who died the Just for the unjust.

Paul used the word “ransom” to describe this feature of the divine plan. He wrote that God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth,” and then explains what that truth is, saying “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified,” or made known, “in due time.”—I Tim. 2:3-6

The “due time” for the world to be made acquainted with the fact that eternal life is available through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ is during the thousand years of his reign. Then the people will learn not only that God is just, but that he is loving as well. It will be then that the knowledge of God’s glory will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.—Isa. 11:9

Jehoshaphat instructed his judges not to be respecters of persons, or to be takers of gifts. They were to be impartial in their judgments, and were not to compromise themselves by accepting bribes. These were wholesome instructions, and we are sure that to the extent they were followed justice was meted out to the people of Judah. Isaiah prophesied that in the kingdom age the Lord would raise up “judges” again to deal with and bless the people. These, we understand, will be the ancient, worthy servants of the Lord, raised from the dead to human perfection. These will be the human representatives of the divine Christ. The Psalmist refers to them as being made “princes in all the earth.”—Isa. 1:26; Ps. 45:16; Heb. 11:35,40; Matt. 8:11

Jehoshaphat admonished his judges to be courageous, assuring them that “the Lord shall be with the good.” (II Chron. 19:11) This is true in every age in connection with all God’s servants. Sometimes God permits his people to pass through bitter experiences because he knows that it will be for their good; but his blessing is upon them nevertheless, for he is preparing them for the future role they will have in Christ’s kingdom.

QUESTIONS

In what ways did Jehoshaphat demonstrate his fidelity to God?

How are God’s justice and love manifested in his plan of salvation?

Who will be the human representatives of Christ’s kingdom?

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