Our Father Corrects His Wayward King
Jehu meets the returning king with a question: should you help the wicked? Jehoshaphat answers by touring the people and appointing judges, telling them they judge for our Father and not for men, and that with him there is no injustice, favouritism, or bribery.
19 1Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. 2Jehu son of Hanani the seer met King Jehoshaphat and asked, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate our Father? For this, wrath from our Father is on you. 3Still, good is found in you: you cleared the Asherah poles from the land and set your heart to seek our Father."
4Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, then went out again among the people, from Beersheba to Ephraim's hill country, turning them back to our Father, God of their ancestors. 5He appointed judges in the land, in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. 6He told the judges, "See what you do — you judge not for people but for our Father, and he is with you in every case you decide. 7Now let fear of our Father be on you. Watch and act, for with our Father there is no injustice, no favoritism, no bribery."
8Also in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some Levites, priests, and heads of Israel's ancestral families to render the judgment of our Father and to settle disputes; they returned to Jerusalem. 9He commanded them: "Act this way, in fear of our Father, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 10Whenever your brothers in their cities bring you a dispute — over bloodshed, or over law and commandment, statutes and rulings — warn them, so they don't incur guilt before our Father, bringing wrath on you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not incur guilt." 11Now, Amariah the chief priest oversees you in every matter of our Father; Zebadiah son of Ishmael, leader of Judah's tribe, in every matter of the king. The Levites serve as officials before you. Be strong and act — may our Father be with those who do good.
