Word In Life Study Bible
GOD-FEARING JUDGES
2 Chr.19:5-11
(1) Judges were to take the job seriously (19:6). Again and again, Jehoshaphat urged his legal officials to pay attention to what they were doing.
(2) Judges were accountable to God (19:6). As king, Jehoshaphat was responsible for the legal system (see “David’s Cabinet” at 2 Sam. 8:16–18). But ultimately the judges’ authority and power derived from God. Thus they needed to serve in fear of Him (2 Chr. 19:7), “faithfully and with a loyal heart” (19:9).
(3) Judicial character was to mirror God’s character (19:7). Just as God was pure in His character, so the judges needed to judge with purity and equity. In practical terms that meant that they should avoid perverting justice by showing partiality or taking bribes.
(4) The judge’s role was to warn and educate as well as decide cases (19:10). There was a preventive aspect to Jehoshaphat’s conception of the judiciary. He expected judges to use disputes as a teachable moment to instruct the people in the Law and to warn them about violating God’s commandments. If they failed to do so, they would be guilty before the Lord if the people fell into sin.
(5) Judges presided over certain areas of the law (19:11). Apparently the judiciary was organized in a way that handled both religious and civil matters. Two leaders were appointed as “chief justices” and consultants over these two areas respectively. Levites and others were appointed as peace officers to assist the judges.
Jehoshaphat’s reforms, which probably had the effect of increasing centralized control of the justice system, had an immediate impact. Other nations had decided not to make war on Israel (17:10), and those that did attack were defeated through God’s miraculous help (20:22–23).
Would Jehoshaphat’s judicial policies make a difference in justice systems today? It is important to remember that Israel had a special relationship with God that governed its political life. Even so, modern nations, and especially people who work in the justice system, could implement most of Jehoshaphat’s principles. They serve as a broad outline of the godly basis on which true justice is founded.
Study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible, copyright 1993,1996, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible appearing at this web site are for personal use only.
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