Tag: King Jehoshaphat

II Chronicles 20:26 ” On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.”

King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were desperate.  Enemy armies were fast approaching and they didn’t know what to do.  They found themselves in a dark valley of desperation, discouragement, and fear with no way out…but they resolved to trust God.  And it’s in that same valley that God worked a mighty miracle…giving them victory over their enemies.  That valley of their suffering was changed into the Valley of Beracah…the Valley of Praise.   With God’s help,  we can grow during those hard times.  Our faith can increase and be strengthened in the midst of turmoil, loss, and strife…if we trust God.  It’s then that our valley of the shadow of death can also become a Valley of Praise.

II Chronicles 19:6-7 ” 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. Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality, or bribery.’ “

King Jehoshaphat was appointing judges for the land…wanting them to realize the seriousness of their positions and the influence they would have over the people.  His admonition against bias and prejudice is repeat, I found, within the Oath of Office for the Supreme Court Justices –  the highest Court of the land in the USA.  The oath reads as follows,   ” I,_________, do solemnly swear that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as________ under the Constitution and Laws of the United States; and that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.  So help me God.”                                        May the fear of the Lord direct them.