Jehoshaphat: Governments Under God

When King Jehoshaphat was confronted by Jehu the prophet, he repented and demonstrated that repentance in changes he made as king of Judah (2 Chronicles 19:1-3).

So that the nation would not relapse in his absence again, he educated the people in God's word and appointed judges who would rule in "the fear of the LORD" (2 Chronicles 19:4-7).

Today we looked at the division he made in the administration of justice (2 Chronicles 19:8-11).

He appointed Amariah the High Priest over matters pertaining to the LORD, and Zebadiah in matters pertaining to the king (2 Chronicles 19:11).

In its context, it is clear that both men are to rule under the LORD himself (2 Chronicles 19:9-10), with Amariah the High Priest overseeing the Temple and its worship, and Zebadiah overseeing matters not related to worship, i.e. civil law (2 Chronicles 19:11; cf. Exodus 18:26, 19; Deuteronomy 17:8–13).

The foundation of the United States of America reflects a similar structure where the civil government is under God (see the handout).

Many people misunderstand what our Lord Jesus Christ taught in Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26. He is in no way stating that civil government should be atheistic. He is simply stepping out of the net, these flatterers had spread for him (Proverbs 29:5).

In asking for the Roman coin with which one paid the Roman poll tax, he was asking for something with the image of Caesar and these words: "TI CAESAR DIVI AUG F AUGUSTUS" (Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus).

This coin led many Jews, particularly those living in the Galilee, to refuse to pay the Roman tax, contrary to the supporters of the dynasty of Herod the Great.