2 Chronicles 19:1-11 - Homiletics

The third chapter in Jehoshaphat's career.

In this chapter, regarded for the time in the light of a third chapter in the biography of Jehoshaphat, we are enabled to gauge, not altogether unsatisfactorily, his character as respects the measure of right and wrong in it, and of good and evil in himself. And we are reminded that—

I. THERE IS SUCH A THING , MOST UNDENIABLY , AS THE PEACE OF PRESENT SAFETY , WITHOUT THAT WHICH FLOWS FROM CONSISTENT RECTITUDE , UNFALTERING INTEGRITY , THE INNER APPROVAL OF CONSCIENCE , AND THE CONVICTION OF GOD 'S OWN APPROVAL .

II. THERE WAS ONE REDEEMING FEATURE IN THE CONDUCT OF , JEHOSHAPHAT , A SLENDER TRIBUTARY THAT MAY COUNT FOR SOMETHING IN THE WHOLE SCENE , VIZ . THE ABSENCE OF ALL PRETENCE OF SELF - DEFENCE , OF EXCUSE , OF EXTENUATION OF WHAT WAS WRONG , AND EVEN OF REPLY . We do not hear of penitence, of confession, or of repentance in so many words, but this last we certainly do argue from the fresh devotion of Jehoshaphat to the right, and to the religious teaching of his people; and the former two we may in/or in turn from this.

III. THERE IS THE SURELY STILL CONTINUING STREAM , FLOWING CALM , FULL , DEEP , OF THAT " MERCY WITH GOD " WHICH SUSTAINS AND FEEDS " THE FEAR " OF HIM IN PLACE OF DESTROYING IT . There are, perhaps, few greater or more striking contrasts between Divine and human methods than that herein to be noted. If hope is wrecked, practically all in any man's life and character is too certainly wrecked also. The threats, denunciations, immediate and peremptory proceedings of men towards offending fellow-men, even in the clearest cases of wrong possible, work too often either callousness or recklessness. But God's forbearing methods, his pitying compassion, his patient long-suffering, and sweet disposition of "mercy enduring for ever," preserve and just save the Continuity of (what is sometimes a very brittle thread) human hope. How much of human life, of reason itself, and of encouragement to moral reformation, depends on this one feature of the Divine administration, this one grand attribute of God!

IV. THERE IS A STEADY , CONSISTENT PRESERVING OF THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND OF MORAL GOVERNMENT ON THE PART OF GOD . The guilty is not treated as the innocent—"therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord" ( 2 Chronicles 19:2 )—or as though innocent. Sometimes there is one solution of the crucial difficulty involved in this, sometimes another. Sometimes the penalty, whatever it may be, is paid , suffering endured, and punishment gone through; sometimes the "way of escape is found, and under the pressingness of the case is distinctly provided for the guilty, but under safeguards which both indicate and sufficiently guarantee the moral aspects necessary.

V. GRIEVOUS FAULTS AND SINS OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD ARE INDEED GRIEVOUS BLOTS ON THEIR ESCUTCHEON ; BUT SO FAR FROM SHUTTING UP THEIR WORK FOR GOD , AND SHUTTING OUT HOPE FROM THEMSELVES , THEY MAY BE MADE , BY WARNING AND REPENTANCE , THE VERY DATE OF A NEW DEPARTURE OF REDOUBLED DEVOTION . It was manifestly so with Jehoshaphat ( 2 Chronicles 19:4-11 ). Except on some such suggestion as is offered above, we must remain in much uncertainty as to why there is no word recorded of the working of the inner thoughts of Jehoshaphat, either as he went wrong, or as he was restored to the ways of righteousness. Very different measure is given us in the disclosures of Scripture in other instances, such as that of David and a host besides. But instead of most painful uncertainty (as in the history, for instance, of Solomon and many another man) as to the facts succeeding a fall, the case of Jehoshaphat is not less clear than that of St. Peter, though in matter so different. Jehoshaphat's tears, self-upbraidings, confession, and vows are not told. It would have been interesting to know them, and our curiosity is no doubt stimulated by the taciturnity and remarkable reticence of the historian respecting them. But what is most to the point is communicated in Scripture's own best way. The king left off to do evil; did not repeat it; learned to do well "again" ( 2 Chronicles 19:4 ) himself; with redoubled energy urged the same on the people ( 2 Chronicles 19:6 , 2 Chronicles 19:7 , 2 Chronicles 19:9 , 2 Chronicles 19:11 ); and kept a good record, as may be seen in the next and last chapter of his life, to that life's end.