2 Chronicles 19:10
“Whenever any dispute comes to you from your countrymen who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they will not be guilty before the LORD, and wrath will not come on you and your countrymen. This you shall do and you will not be guilty.”
Jehoshaphat was a good king who sought the Lord. Here he is sending judges amongst the people to make clear God’s law in regards to their disputes. Just think of the contentions that in the courts in our time. People suing others. It’s part of life that we step on others toes. Our responses may be harsh or their reaction may be selfish. Either one of us may counter in a bad way. This is what the king is seeking to reduce.
God wants us to treat others well. Jesus summed it up by saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s raising the bar quite high. We need His help and His power to do that. That’s God’s Word to us. The king is having the judges circulate amongst the people to share God’s Word at their time. It may have been known, it may not have.
Bringing in the authorities makes those involved pause their actions. They may have planned to something quite destructive. The judges are lowing the temperature. They are acting as peace makers.
The judges by bringing God’s law and wisdom are rescuing those involved from punishment that may have been coming their way. There is reference to guilt and punishment. In the kingdom age we are told we will be kings and priests (Revelation 5:10). During the thousand year reign of Christ we may be doing similar things. We will be in our resurrected bodies amongst humans and their descendants who survived the great tribulation.
The king gave them this charge to go throughout the land enacting justice. The last part of the verse says that if they do this they will not be guilty. Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? This is what God charges us all with. To do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. God will correct us if do otherwise.
God gave us His law and a conscience so we would govern ourselves. I can recall being young, thinking I had gotten away with things. I wasn’t aware God saw. It’s not true. He does see. Many don’t fear Him or acknowledge Him and they are in the same state. He seeks to open their eyes.
Lord, thank You for Your ways. You have said that Your way is easy and Your burden is light. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who is there for us and makes it so personal. Help us to heed You.