He appointed judges throughout the nation in all the fortified towns, and he said to them, “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the LORD. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case. Fear the LORD and judge with integrity, for the LORD our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”
In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and clan leaders in Israel to serve as judges for cases involving the LORD’s regulations and for civil disputes. These were his instructions to them: “You must always act in the fear of the LORD, with faithfulness and an undivided heart. Whenever a case comes to you from fellow citizens in an outlying town, whether a murder case or some other violation of God’s laws, commands, decrees, or regulations, you must warn them not to sin against the LORD, so that he will not be angry with you and them. Do this and you will not be guilty.
- 2 Chronicles 19:5-10
Jehoshaphat delegated some of the responsibilities for ruling and judging the people, but he warned his appointees that they were accountable to God for the standards they used to judge others. Jehoshaphat’s advice is helpful for all leaders:
1. Realize that you are judging for God (19:6);
2. Be impartial and honest (19:7);
3. Be faithful (19:9);
4. Act only out of fear of God, not men (19:9).
God holds us accountable for the authority we exercise.
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He prayed, “O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!
- 2 Chronicles 20:6
1. He committed the situation to God, acknowledging that only God could save the nation;
2. He sought God’s favor because his people were God’s people;
3. He acknowledged God’s sovereignty over the current situation;
4. He praised God’s glory and took comfort in his promises;
5. He professed complete dependence on God, not himself, for deliverance.
To be God’s kind of leader today, follow Jehoshaphat’s example. Focus entirely on God’s power rather than your own.
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He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
- 2 Chronicles 20:15
As the enemy bore down on Judah, God spoke through Jahaziel: “Do not be afraid!... For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” We may not fight an army, but every day we battle temptation, pressure, and “rulers…of the unseen world” (Ephesians 6:12) who want us to rebel against God. Remember as believers, we have God’s Spirit in us. If we ask for God’s help when we face struggles, God will fight for us. And God always triumphs. How do we let God fight for us?
1. Realize that the battle is not ours, but God’s;
2. Recognize human limitations and allow God’s strength to work through our fears and weaknesses;
3. Make sure we are pursuing God’s interests and not just our own selfish desires;
4. Ask God for help in our daily battles.
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For the king trusts in the LORD.
The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.
- Psalm 21:7
A good leader trusts the Lord and depends upon his unfailing love. Too often leaders trust in their own cleverness, popular support, or military power. But God is above all these “gods.” If you aspire to leadership, keep the Lord God at the center of your life and depend on him. His wisdom is the best strength you can have.
Because David trusted in God, God would not let him stumble (be removed from the throne). When we trust in God, we have permanence and stability. We may lose a great deal – families, jobs, material possessions – but we cannot be shaken from God’s favor. He will be our foundation of solid rock. He will never leave us or desert us.
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Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.
- Romans 11:11
Paul had a vision of a church where all Jews and Gentiles would be united in their love of God and in obedience to Christ. While respecting God’s law, this ideal church would look to Christ alone for salvation. A person’s ethnic background and social status would be irrelevant (see Galatians 3:28). What mattered would be his or her faith in Christ.
But Paul’s vision has not yet been realized. For the most part, Jewish people have rejected the Good News. They have depended on their heritage for salvation, and they do not have the heart of obedience that was so important to the Old Testament prophets and to Paul. Once Gentiles became dominant in many of the Christian churches, they began rejecting Jews and even persecuting them. Unfortunately, this practice has recurred through the centuries.
True Christians should not persecute others. Both Gentiles and Jews have done so much to damage the cause of Christ, whom they claim to serve, that Paul’s vision often seems impossible to fulfill. Yet God chose the Jews, just as he chose the Gentiles, and he is still working to unite Jew and Gentile so they become a holy temple where God lives by his Spirit (see Ephesians 2:11-22).
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