Judging on the Lord's Behalf

Jesus and the Just Reign of God
Live Justly in the Reign of God
Treat Everyone Equally

2 Chronicles 19:1-7

The Message

19 ^1-3 But Jehoshaphat king of Judah got home safe and sound. Jehu, son of Hanani the seer, confronted King Jehoshaphat: “You have no business helping evil, cozying up to God-haters. Because you did this, God is good and angry with you. But you’re not all bad—you made a clean sweep of the polluting sex-and-religion shrines; and you were single-minded in seeking God.”

⁴ Jehoshaphat kept his residence in Jerusalem but made a regular round of visits among the people, from Beersheba in the south to Mount Ephraim in the north, urging them to return to God, the God of their ancestors.
^5-7 And he was diligent in appointing judges in the land—each of the fortress cities had its judge. He charged the judges: “This is serious work; do it carefully. You are not merely judging between men and women; these are God’s judgments that you are passing on. Live in the fear of God—be most careful, for God hates dishonesty, partiality, and bribery.”

For Reflection

The underlying theme of stewardship permeates these passages.  We are to act on God's behalf in all things worldly.  In disputes among each other we are to display the justice that is derived from our obedience to God and driven by a passion for fairness.   As God saw that which was both good and bad in Jehoshaphat, we should also find mercy in sensitivity to human frailty. 

Pray

that you will be saved from looking at the world in black and white.  Pray that you will have the compassion to be fair in you judgment and to avoid being judgmental.