By God’s mercy, Jehoshaphat returned safely to his palace. Jehu the seer rebuked Jehoshaphat. He rebuked him for helping and loving wicked Ahab and his household. His intermarriage with Ahab’s family would be a snare for his descendants.

Then, as he had done earlier with his officials, Jehoshaphat himself went out from Beersheba to Ephraim to turn the people back to God. He must have been a great Bible teacher. Jehoshaphat really loved God. He set up judges in each city and encouraged them to judge before God. In this way, he wanted to give correct judgement, and at the same time reveal God, who is just and has no partiality.

Additionally, Jehoshaphat appointed Levites, priests, and heads of the families to judge and settle disputes with the fear of God. Jehoshaphat tried his best to establish justice and order. He wanted the people to return to God and live in peace through God’s justice. Through this, Jehoshaphat wanted to show who God is and show the love of God. When God’s justice is restored and our relationship with God is restored, we can live in true peace and freedom.
Application: Father, thank you for your love and justice in our lives.
One Word: Return to God, who is full of love and full of justice