2 Chronicles 19:4-11 - Homilies By T. Whitelaw

A royal reformer.

I. AN OLD WORK RESUMED . The reformation of religion ( 2 Chronicles 19:4 ).

1 . The reformer. Jehoshaphat. Whether the work was done by special plenipotentiaries, as in the former instance ( 2 Chronicles 17:7 , 2 Chronicles 17:8 ), or by the king in person, or, as is most probable, by both, the mainspring of this movement, as of the former, was Jehoshaphat; and for a sovereign of Judah it was certainly much more becoming occupation than feasting with Ahab or fighting with Benhadad. Such as are kings and priests unto God should study to walk worthy of their name and vocation ( Ephesians 4:1 ; Philippians 1:27 ), and, for them, furthering the interests of religion amongst themselves and others, at home and abroad, is nobler employment ( 1 Corinthians 15:58 ; Galatians 6:9 ; Titus 3:1 ; 3 John 1:8 ) than revelling and drunkenness, chambering and wantonness, strife and jealousy ( Romans 13:14 ), after the example of the world.

2 . The reformed. The people from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim. The king's efforts, though doubtless beginning at, were not limited to Jerusalem, but extended through the whole country from its southern to its northern limit. So Christ commanded his apostles, though beginning at Jerusalem ( Luke 24:47 ), to go into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature ( Mark 16:15 ).

3 . The reformation. A return to the worship of Jehovah, the God of their fathers. This work, auspiciously begun some time before ( 2 Chronicles 17:3-9 ), but interrupted by the Ramoth-Gilead expedition, was now resumed by the humbled, presumably also enlightened and repentant, monarch. A good work in itself, it was likewise a right work, since he and his people were pledged by covenant to worship Jehovah ( 2 Chronicles 15:12 ); a necessary work, if the kingdom was to be established and prosper; and a work which should neither be interrupted nor delayed, but completed with convenient speed.

II. A NEW WORK BEGUN . The establishment of courts of justice in the laud ( 2 Chronicles 19:5-11 ).

1 . Provincial courts.

2 . A supreme tribunal.

Learn:

1 . The precedence that belongs to religion even in a commonwealth. Jehoshaphat cuts down idol-groves before he erects courts of law.

2 . No administration of justice can be trusted that is not based on religion and the fear of God.

3 . He that sits in a judicial chair should be sage, saint, and soldier, learned, devout, and courageous, all in one.

4 . No system of dispensing equity can command confidence that does not admit of appeal from inferior to superior courts.

5 . Judges should remember that they themselves also must one day be judged.

6 . How much the jurisprudence of modem times is indebted to the Bible!—W.