2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 19: The LORD takes no bribes

Begin in prayer

Before we open 2 Chronicles 19, let us pray. Ask God to show us His justice and the weight of sin, and to lead us to Jesus, the righteous Judge who also pays for sin.

For you have maintained my just cause. You sit on the throne judging righteously.

Psalm 9:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are just and take no bribes, and show us Jesus, the righteous Judge. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Jehoshaphat returns in peace to Jerusalem, and the seer Jehu meets him. Jehu asks why he helped the wicked and loved those who hate the LORD, and says wrath is on him. He also says good things are found in Jehoshaphat, because he put away the Asheroth and set his heart to seek God. Jehoshaphat goes out among the people and brings them back to the LORD. He sets judges in the fortified cities and tells them they judge for the LORD, who takes no bribes. In Jerusalem he appoints Levites, priests and family heads to judge, and tells them to act faithfully and with a perfect heart.

As you read 2 Chronicles 19, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD takes no bribes and shows no favorites, so judges must judge for Him.

Jehoshaphat came home in peace after his alliance with Ahab, and Jehu the seer met him (verses 1 and 2). Jehu asked why he helped the wicked and loved those who hate the LORD, and said wrath was on him (verse 2). Yet Jehu added that good things were found in him, for he had set his heart to seek God (verse 3). Jehoshaphat then went out among the people and brought them back to the LORD (verse 4). He set judges in the fortified cities, and told them, “you don’t judge for man, but for Yahweh” (verses 5 and 6). He said there is no iniquity with the LORD, no respect of persons and no taking of bribes (verse 7). The standard for the judges was the LORD's own character. He was with them in the judgment, so they answered to Him (verse 6). This shows a just God who cannot be bought, and judges who must answer to Him.

How does 2 Chronicles 19 show us that the LORD takes no bribes and shows no favorites, so judges must judge for Him?

Jehu told Jehoshaphat that wrath was on him, but good was found in him.

Jehu asked why Jehoshaphat helped the wicked and loved those who hate the LORD (verse 2). He said wrath was on him from the LORD (verse 2). Yet he also said good things were found in him (verse 3). Jehoshaphat had put away the Asheroth and set his heart to seek God (verse 3).

Jehoshaphat set judges in Judah to judge for the LORD.

Jehoshaphat went out among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim (verse 4). He set judges in all the fortified cities of Judah (verse 5). He told them to consider what they did, for they did not judge for man, but for the LORD (verse 6). The LORD would be with them in the judgment (verse 6).

The LORD has no iniquity and takes no bribes.

Jehoshaphat told the judges to let the fear of the LORD be on them (verse 7). There is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes (verse 7). In Jerusalem he told the judges to act in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart (verse 9). He ended, “may Yahweh be with the good” (verse 11).

Jesus is the righteous Judge, and He has paid for sin.

John says the Father has given all judgment to the Son (John 5 verse 22). Paul told the Athenians that God will judge the world in righteousness by the man He has appointed (Acts 17 verse 31). Judges in Judah answered to the LORD, and everyone will answer to Jesus.

Memorise

Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.

2 Chronicles 19:7

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, who will stand for me before the Judge, and do I need Jesus?

Jehoshaphat told the judges, “you don’t judge for man, but for Yahweh; and he is with you in the judgment.” There is no iniquity with the LORD, and no bribe can buy Him. The Father has given all judgment to Jesus, the Son (John 5 verse 22).

Before such a Judge no one has a good enough record, and no gift can pay for sin. So the Judge Himself took the place of the guilty. At the cross Jesus died for His sheep, and God's justice was fully met. The Father raised Him to life.

So come to Him, the Judge who has already paid. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will be forgiven, and will stand before God without fear.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD takes no bribes and shows no favorites, and that Jesus is the righteous Judge. Parents, verse 2 is a hard rebuke of Jehoshaphat, and verse 3 shows that the LORD also saw the good in him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He is just and cannot be bought, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

Psalm 37:33

Righteous Father, thank You that You judge without bribes and without favorites. Thank You for Jesus, who took the place of sinners and rose again. Please teach each of us to turn from sin and trust Him. Amen.