2 Chronicles 19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
Jehoshaphat, the king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, just was rebuked by Jehu for aligning with Ahab and the Northern Tribe of Israel in their battle of Ramoth-gilead. But, in spite of his failure in this respect, God had a good thought about Jehoshaphat: 2 Chronicles 19:3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
Jehoshaphat rebounds from his mistake and begins to restore order of worship in Jerusalem. We read in our text one of the first instructions he gives, which is to the judges that they should begin to judge the people. They were to be before the people judging right and wrong. In doing so, they were to remember how God judges people (vs. 7). While this may speak judicially, there is a wider application of Christians exercising daily judgment.
The common misconception today is that we are not to judge anyone, regardless of what they are doing. We are to turn a blind eye to anything that someone may do that is contrary to the Word of God. Yet, as Christians we are to judge righteous judgment. Now, we are NOT to condemn anyone - that is God's responsibility; we are to JUDGE what is right or wrong. When Christians no longer judge between right and wrong, they soon follow after wrong.
In exercising this judgment, we would do well to remember Jehoshaphat's advice and take heed how we do so since we are doing it for the LORD. It is a part of our service for God.
Jehoshaphat, the king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, just was rebuked by Jehu for aligning with Ahab and the Northern Tribe of Israel in their battle of Ramoth-gilead. But, in spite of his failure in this respect, God had a good thought about Jehoshaphat: 2 Chronicles 19:3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
Jehoshaphat rebounds from his mistake and begins to restore order of worship in Jerusalem. We read in our text one of the first instructions he gives, which is to the judges that they should begin to judge the people. They were to be before the people judging right and wrong. In doing so, they were to remember how God judges people (vs. 7). While this may speak judicially, there is a wider application of Christians exercising daily judgment.
The common misconception today is that we are not to judge anyone, regardless of what they are doing. We are to turn a blind eye to anything that someone may do that is contrary to the Word of God. Yet, as Christians we are to judge righteous judgment. Now, we are NOT to condemn anyone - that is God's responsibility; we are to JUDGE what is right or wrong. When Christians no longer judge between right and wrong, they soon follow after wrong.
In exercising this judgment, we would do well to remember Jehoshaphat's advice and take heed how we do so since we are doing it for the LORD. It is a part of our service for God.
Reminds me of:
ReplyDeleteYea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
(Luke 12:57 KJV)
Reminds me of 1 Corinthians 2:15 "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." The truth is ppl make judgements every day - what they really mean when they say "You can't judge me!" is "I won't have This Man (Jesus) to rule over me!"
ReplyDelete