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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And Jehoshaphat king of Judah turneth back unto his house in peace to Jerusalem, |
Jehoshaphat – Noted as one of the best kings in the history of Judah. R3393:3
King of Judah – He had been reigning 20 years at the time of the events narrated in this lesson. R3393:3
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| 2 and go out unto his presence doth Jehu son of Hanani, the seer, and saith unto king Jehoshaphat, 'To give help to the wicked, and to those hating Jehovah, dost thou love and for this against thee [is] wrath from before Jehovah, |
Help the ungodly – Indicating the Lord's disapproval of Jehoshaphat's fellowship with Ahab. R4730:6
We should be especially on guard against associations, fellowships, matrimonial alliances, etc., with the ungodly. R3394:2
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." (Psa. 1:1). R2366:1
Wrath upon thee – Indicated by his ignominious return without any evidence of divine favor. R3394:2
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| 3 but good things have been found with thee, for thou hast put away the shrines out of the land, and hast prepared thy heart to seek God.' |
Good things found in thee – While reproving Jehoshaphat, the Lord graciously mentioned approval of his destroying idolatrous worship and of his heart seeking the Lord. R3394:3
Taken away the groves – He had utterly destroyed all the groves where idolatry had been practiced. R3393:3
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| 4 And Jehoshaphat dwelleth in Jerusalem, and he turneth back and goeth out among the people from Beer-Sheba unto the hill-country of Ephraim, and bringeth them back unto Jehovah, God of their fathers. |
Went out again – The experience led him to still greater zeal for righteousness. He went out amongst the people and effected a religious revival. R3394:3
Brought them back – To a higher appreciation of the Lord and observance of his statutes. R3394:3
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| 5 And he establisheth judges in the land, in all the fenced cities of Judah, for every city, |
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| 6 and saith unto the judges, 'See what ye are doing for not for man do ye judge, but for Jehovah, who [is] with you in the matter of judgment; |
Take heed what ye do – The king had a very high sense of justice and honor, expressing grand sentiments worthy of a saint of this Gospel age. R3394:3
Evidence that the lesson of verse 2 was not lost upon Jehoshaphat. R2366:1
What may the world hope for when the great King Immanuel shall rule with superhuman knowledge and wisdom. R3394:4
Judge not for man – The Lord's people should render to no man less than is due him; and not only be just but generous. R3394:4
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| 7 and now, let fear of Jehovah be upon you, observe and do, for there is not with Jehovah our God perverseness, and acceptance of faces, and taking of a bribe.' |
No iniquity – God is not the author of sin. He is just and right, hating evil and condemning sin in every form. R870:6
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| 8 And also in Jerusalem hath Jehoshaphat appointed of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the heads of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of Jehovah, and for strife; and they turn back to Jerusalem, |
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| 9 and he layeth a charge upon them, saying, 'Thus do ye do in the fear of Jehovah, in faithfulness, and with a perfect heart, |
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| 10 and any strife that cometh in unto you of your brethren who are dwelling in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and command, statutes, and judgments, then ye have warned them and they become not guilty before Jehovah, and wrath hath not been on you and on your brethren; thus do ye do, and ye are not guilty. |
Blood and blood – The degree of murder, whether first, second or third. R3395:1
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| 11 'And, lo, Amariah the head priest [is] over you for every matter of Jehovah, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the house of Judah, [is] for every matter of the king, and officers the Levites [are] before you; be strong and do, and Jehovah is with the good.' |
The Levites – The tribe especially consecrated to the Lord's service. R3394:5
Deal courageously – Justly. R5413:3
In the Kingdom we shall be required to render righteous and courageous judgment. R5414:4
In doing unpleasant tasks which are necessary, but in a kindly manner. R5414:5, R3395:4
Whoever has a duty to perform let him not fear. R5414:5, R3395:4
LORD shall be with – Applicable to the Jews because they were a typical people of God. R5414:4
There is no partiality with the Creator, no class distinction, neither high nor low, rich nor poor, noble nor peasant. R5413:3
The good – His whole dealing at this time is with the Church. R5414:2
The Lord will be with the good work that his faithful people will do. R5414:1
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