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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned unto his own 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 there came out to meet him, Jehu son of Hanani, the seer, who said unto King Jehoshaphat, Unto the lawless, was it [right] to give help? and, on them who hate Yahweh, to bestow thy love? For this cause, therefore, is there wrath against thee, from before Yahweh; |
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 howbeit, good things, are found with thee,-for that thou hast consumed the Sacred Stems out of the land, and hast fixed 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 So Jehoshaphat dwelt in Jerusalem,–and he again went forth among the people, from Beersheba as far as the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back unto Yahweh, the 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 stationed judges in the land, throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city; |
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| 6 and said unto the judges, See what, ye, are doing, inasmuch as, not for man, must ye judge, but for Yahweh,–who will be with you, in the word of justice. |
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 Now, therefore, let the dread of Yahweh be upon you,–observe and do, for there is, with Yahweh our God, neither perversity nor respect of persons nor the taking of bribes. |
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, even in Jerusalem, did Jehoshaphat station some of the Levites and the priests, and of the ancestral chiefs of Israel, to pronounce the just sentence of Yahweh, and to settle disputes,–when they returned to Jerusalem. |
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| 9 And he laid charge upon them, saying,–Thus, shall ye act, in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully and with an undivided heart. |
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| 10 Any dispute that shall come in unto you from among your brethren who are dwelling in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment and statutes and regulations, then shall ye warn them, that they may not become guilty against Yahweh, and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren,–Thus, shall ye act, and not incur guilt. |
Blood and blood – The degree of murder, whether first, second or third. R3395:1
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| 11 And lo! Amariah the chief priest, is over you as to every matter of Yahweh, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael the chief ruler for the house of Judah, as to every matter of the king, and, as officers, the Levites are before you,–Be strong and act, and Yahweh be 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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