Context No. 3596 of 4322 · 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 19:1-11: in context

1Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. 2Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath is on you from before the LORD. 3Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.” 4Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 5He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you don’t judge for man, but for the LORD; and he is with you in the judgment. 7Now therefore let the fear of the LORD be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.” 8Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites, priests, and heads of the fathers’ households of Israel to give judgment for the LORD and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem. 9He commanded them, saying, “You shall do this in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 10Whenever any controversy comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you must warn them, that they not be guilty toward the LORD, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty. 11Behold, 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, in all the king’s matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good.”

After being rebuked by a prophet for allying with wicked King Ahab, Jehoshaphat turns to reform, and one of his acts is to appoint judges throughout the land with a solemn charge: consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the LORD; he is with you in giving judgment.

He reminds them that with the LORD there is no injustice, no partiality, and no taking of bribes. Human justice, he insists, is to mirror God's own character. Judges act on God's behalf, and so must be free of favoritism and corruption, judging as God himself judges, impartially and without bribe. And he ends with encouragement: deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good. There is a high vision of justice here. To judge or to lead others is a sacred trust, exercised before God, who is himself perfectly just and impartial. Everyone who holds authority answers to the God whose justice they are meant to reflect.

If I have any authority to judge or lead, do I exercise it as before God, free of favoritism and corruption, reflecting his own impartial justice?

Sources

2 Chronicles 19:6: "Consider what you do, for you don't judge for man, but for the LORD; and he is with you in the judgment."
2 Chronicles 19:7: "There is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes."
2 Chronicles 19:9: "You shall do this in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart."