2nd Chronicles 19 RESTORING ORDER Those who are leaders may not realize it at the time, but when they step out of line or make bad or even inappropriate decisions, a lot of people are affected. The attempt at affinity with Ahab and Israel would have been felt all across Judah. Leaders cannot act independently without it having a ripple effect on the whole nation. Not only that, but it should never be taken for granted, that everything is going good, because there are no overt problems. When Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem "in peace" he may have thought that was all there was to his foolish actions in Israel. But it cannot be over-emphasized, there are consequences to accept for every bad decision.
When Jehu the prophet met Jehoshaphat, he did not mince words. He spoke boldly, clearly and there was no mistaking his rebuke of the king. He denounced the league Jehoshaphat made with Ahab with strong words relating to the fact of helping the ungodly. Whether we want to admit it or not, to assist the ungodly even in a small way, means we are responsible for our actions. How can we participate in an event or act that is done by those who hate God, and think we are not a part of it? Believers are to love what God loves, and hate what God hates. "Friendship with the world is enmity with God."
Jehu did not only condemn that which was wrong, but he also commended Jehoshaphat for the "good things found in thee." He had prepared his heart to seek God. It is wisdom when we have to make a correction or rebuke a person, to point out that which is commendable in their actions or even in themselves. The right approach when giving a rebuke is to make sure we have an understandable conclusion we expect to result. Whether it a change in behavior or correcting a mistake, or forsaking a practice that is unacceptable in a believer's life, the person being rebuked needs to know a solution is clearly given and a good result is expected. Things are not left up in the air to be speculated upon nor should one be left wondering what else needs to be done.
It is not easy to be rebuked, nor is it easy to not be resentful after a rebuke. The way I respond reveals what kind of a person I am. If I am defensive and try to excuse my behavior, that indicates I am not willing to accept responsibility for my own sin. That is a typical reaction of an unbeliever who does not think truth and righteousness are all that important. If a believer tries to justify his or her actions in spite of evidence to the contrary, that indicates they are away from the Lord and need to be further warned or, hopefully, accept wise counsel. In was commendable of Jehoshaphat that he did not reply or retaliate in any way, but realized he needed to take action to repair the damage he had created.
He did something that probably was not done by very many rulers of nations - he visited every place in the nation to bring them "back to the Lord God of your fathers." He took to heart the rebuke and immediately set about to right the wrong he had committed and the potential bad effects it would have had on his people. By setting about to do what was needed to unite and maintain the people under divine authority, the reforms he made had a positive effect on everyone. True restoration brings blessing to many.
Without good, righteous laws, no nation can prosper but will ultimately collapse from within. It has happened to many nations in the past and can happen to our nation if we are not careful. There are times when reforms through a nation are needed to stabilize the people, the economy and the government. To promote righteousness in an unrighteous nation composed of citizens who have become used to sin, is a very difficult task. Laws are given to maintain standards of behavior, but when they are changed to suit the changing standards of people, there is no stopping the downward trend of the population into a cesspool of moral degradation. Leaders who walk with God can count on God being with them when they have to make decision that affect the people. Fairness, honesty, and impartiality in judges who do not take bribes, and are committed to upholding the law, are the key to a "quiet and peaceable life [lived] in all godliness and honesty" by the citizens.
Decisions made with reverential fear of God, and faithfulness to His word, are the ways laws are maintained and chaos is kept away from the normal life of the people. Jehoshaphat had judges who were appointed all through the land in the key cities, who were called upon to settle disputes and keep the peace. These judges were accountable to the standard of God's laws. Leadership responsibility means you are making decisions for God and in His name, or under His authority. Impartiality, honesty and faithfulness in the fear of God, but not fearing the people, is required in those who lead and make judgments that impact the whole population. We are accountable for the authority we have been given to carry it out as God intends.
A "supreme court" was in Jerusalem to deal with all sides of those matters that were brought before it. That court was composed of priests and Levites who would look at a matter from the moral and spiritual side, and chief fathers who looked at the same matter from the civil and secular side. When decisions are made by a balanced court the result will be approved by God. "The Lord who is with you in the judgment." God's wisdom was given to them when decision making was done God's way, in God's time and according to God's will. We are still able to have that divine wisdom in decisions we make in matters both small and large. It is of interest that Amariah the high priest was there to preside over the court to give the right decisions in religious matters, and Zebadiah had a similar position in the civil court. There is a difference between the "matters of the Lord" and the king's matters."
Balance in maintaining justice and righteousness in a society is necessary. It is not always easy to determine what is right. Therefore, more than one person is needed to be able to preserve the legal, moral and spiritual integrity of a nation and an assembly. When things are done in and orderly fashion, and are appropriate to the situation, then we can make decisions courageously and expect good results.