GOD ORDERS GOVERNMENT
2 Chronicles 19:4-11
INTRODUCTION
At the time of this account, the Nation of Israel was
divided into the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. Jehoshaphat was king of the
Southern Kingdom. Ahab, a bad king was over the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Jehoshaphat
aligned himself with Ahab against the Syrians and nearly lost his life. He was
rebuked by the Prophet Jehu for his ill advised alliance with Ahab. He changed and continued His work for the
Lord.
A good leader listens to the Word of the Lord through others
and makes changes to
glorify the Lord.
GOD KNOWS WHERE WE ARE
4. "And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem Beersheba mount Ephraim
A. People can easily
be influenced by the world and be drawn away from God.
1. God knows at
all times where His people are.
2. God has a way
of bringing His people back to Himself.
a. God sends
preachers to remind us that He is our God.
b. The preached
Word will convict us of our shortcomings. 1Thes 1:5
3. We have a
history with God through our ancestors.
a. God was our
God before we ever knew He was God.
b. God claimed
us as His before the foundation of the earth. Eph 1:4
c. His grace and
mercy was flowing to us while we were yet sinners.
B. Our God is a long
distance God.
1. There is no way
for us to get away from Him.
a. Jesus said,
what the Father has given me, I lose none.
John 18:9
2. His love for us
is not dependant on our love for Him.
3. In order to
bring us back to himself, sometimes God sends us a preacher.
A. God establishes
governments for our benefit.
1. Notice that the
King established government from the ground up.
2. He appointed
judges in each of the cities first.
3. There has to be
order in the home before there can be order in the nation.
B. Every home needs a
godly leader.
1. God has set man
as the head of the household.
a. The man of the house has Jesus as his
leader. 1 Cor 11:3
2. Where there is
no man in the house, Jesus is the head of the woman.
3. To function
correctly, every home must follow the commands of God.
V: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."
A. The first rule: Judgment
is for God and not for man.
1. It's not about
you, it is about the Lord.
2. It's not about
family, it is about the Lord.
3. It's not about
friendship, it is about the Lord.
B. A judge must keep
his focus on the Lord and His commands.
1. The judge was
commanded to try all cases by God's rules.
C. God stands with the
judge as he rules.
1. God will remind
him of his position.
2. God will remind
him of his authority.
3. God will give
him discernment to determine the truth.
4. God will give
him the wisdom to make the correct decisions.
5. God protects
the judge in his decisions.
6. God does the
same for us when we stand on His Word.
RULES FOR LEADERSHIP
V:7. " Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon
you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor
respect of persons, nor taking of gifts."
A. Fear=pashad=alarm(sudden),
terror.
1. To much is
given, much is required. Luke 12:48
2. A judge must
be so terrified of the Lord that there is no doubt that he will be just.
B. Heed=raah=to see,
regard, respect.
1. A judge must
respect the Lord as his God.
2. A judge must
respect the Lord's commands
as the only right commands.
3. A judge must
respect the Lord's commands as the way to justice.
C. "Do it."
1. A judge must
not only fear and respect the Lord, but he must be careful to follow
God's
commands.
2. There is no sin
or injustice in the Lord.
a. There is no
right other than the Lord.
D. "Nor respect
of persons"
1. No man deserves
special judgment over another.
2. Every person is
to be treated the same.
a. Position,
education, friendship and money should never influence right
judgment.
E. " Nor taking
gifts"
1. A judge must be
above reproach.
2. Justice can not
be purchased. It must be rendered based on truth and righteousness.
A. God selects
leaders to govern His people.
1. The priests
provide guidance for the households.
a. The husband
is the priest of his household.
b. Jesus is
our high priest.
B. The King chose one
High Priest and one Chief Elder as the supreme judges to make
judgments for
him in the Southern Kingdom of Israel.
1. Jesus is both
our High Priest and Elder before the Father.
C. Under King
Jehoshaphat, Jerusalem
1. All issues that
could not be settled in the lower courts were taken to the
supreme court.
2. Our Supreme
court is "God the Father" with "God the Son" as the Supreme
Judge.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE HIGH COURT JUDGES
V:9. "And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in
the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart."
A. The first rule for
a judge is to fear the Lord.
1. The Lord has
to be his God. Prov. 4:4
2. The judge must
reverence the Lord.
3. The judge must
trust the Lord.
4. The Lord must
be his guide.
5. When we love
the Lord, we will trust him in all our ways. Prov 3:6
B. The second rule
for a Judge is to serve God faithfully.
1. A judge must
follow the laws of God in making all decisions.
2. Believers
must follow the laws of God in making all decisions.
C. The third rule for
a judge is to make sure his heart is perfect.
1. God's
commands must be written in his heart.
2. In his
personal life, a judge must follow God's commands.
3. The words of
the Lord should be written in the hearts of believers. Psalms
119:15
WHAT WE DO TO OUR BROTHERS, WE DO TO THE LORD
V:10. "And what cause soever shall come to you of your
brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and
commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass
not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do,
and ye shall not trespass."
A. The Judge was
given the responsibility to warn the people not to bring false charges.
1. They were
warned not to bring false charges against their family members.
2. They were warned not to pervert God's laws
and commands in bringing charges
against
another.
B. False charges
would bring the wrath of God upon them.
1. Whatever we
do, we must be just and fair in dealing with one another. Luke 6:36
2. What goes
around, comes around. Gal 6:8
WHEN WE DO THE RIGHT THING, GOD IS WITH US
11 "And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you
in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the
house of Judah
A. The King separated
the judgment of spiritual matters from the judgment of civil
matters.
1. Amariah the
chief priest was the judge over spiritual matters.
2. Zebadiah was
the judge over the matters of the King.
3. God is
concerned about our spiritual well being.
a. Brothers
and sisters in Christ should not be in court against one another.
Rom 14:10 .
B. Today we have
separation of Church and State.
1. We have
county, state and federal judges.
2. Our Churches have
the positions of Pastors and Deacons ordained by God.
C. The king was in
charge of all judges.
1. Jesus our king
is in control of all governments, judges and leaders.
2. Jesus is the
head of the church.
D. All judges are to
stand fast on the Word of God and judge according to God's
commands. Ps
118:8-10
1. Those who
follow God's commands have God on their side. 2 Thes 2:15-17
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