THERE WAS A SIX-CENTURY SLIDE of influence and power of the kings of Israel, from David, the second king, and builder of the nation, to Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, and the subsequent exile of the people of the nation. Every now and then during this time a king would act honorably towards God, and the LORD would favor the nation for that period of time. So it was in the time of Jehoshaphat, who ruled the southern kingdom of Judah from 873-849 B.C. Jehoshaphat’s name means *“Jehovah has judged.” He is mentioned positively in the scriptures for two things: he tore down the high places of cultic worship, and he restored integrity to the judicial system in Judah, which had fallen into the corruption of political cronyism and bribery. This angered God greatly. “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people.” (Isa. 10:1-2)
The principles of jurisprudence for Israel had begun under Moses. Jethro, his father-in-law, saw that he was overburdened, and offered salient advice. “Select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” (Ex. 18:21-23)
In Judah, it had been a long time since people were satisfied in the courts; judges commonly favored the wealthy in return for bribes. Jehoshaphat began to systematically reform the judiciary. “He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.’” (2 Chron. 19:5-6) In Jerusalem itself he reformed what we would think of as a supreme court. “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. In every case that comes before you from your fellow countrymen who live in the cities. You are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not sin.” (2 Chron. 19:9-10) A season of blessing settled upon Judah for the rest of Jehoshaphat’s reign.
In today’s world, totalitarian governments are rising in power in major nations such as Myanmar, Russia, and China. In the west, the nations which gave the world freedom through democracy—Europe, England, and America—are literally descending, at a precipitous rate, into lawlessness. Cities are burning and innocents are dying. The classic components of western democratic governance—the executive, judicial, and legal branches—have all become corrupt to varying degrees.
Democracy is taking the classic pathway to extinction that was the demise of Greece and Rome and others whose stories lie in the dust of history. The clash of nations lies predictably before us once again. And the wrath of God is rising now against lawlessness, as did in the past against his holy city. “See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her. Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them. Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty declares: ‘I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross.’” (Isa. 1:21-25)
This is nothing new. It is, lamentably, the same in every cycle of civilization. A nation rises on those who give blood for it, gains prosperity by those who build it, achieves stability through wise governance, becomes bloated and corrupt through those who develop a worldview of self-entitlement—both at the top of society, and at the bottom, and descends into ever-increasing anarchy when the resources cannot sustain first the perceived needs of life and finally the most basic resources of food and shelter to sustain life. The next stop is chaos.
It may be too late for the impassioned prayers for restoration of 2 Chron. 7:14. There may be only this left to us: “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor. 7:17-18) If you are indeed citizens of the kingdom of heaven, then **‘reckon’—Paul’s word—on this future promise of God: “I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” (Isa. 1:26)
Q. Do I consider God’s judgments of nations fair and impartial?
*Strong’s 3092.
**Strong’s 3049 – “Logizomai” – “to take into account” (as reality).
Leave a Reply