歷代志下19:1-11

 

19:1 猶大王約沙法平平安安地回耶路撒冷，到宮裡去了。
19:2 先見哈拿尼的兒子耶戶出來迎接約沙法王，對他說：「你豈當幫助惡人，愛那恨惡耶和華的人呢？因此耶和華的忿怒臨到你。
19:3 然而你還有善行，因你從國中除掉木偶，立定心意尋求上帝。
19:4 約沙法住在耶路撒冷，以後又出巡民間，從別是巴直到以法蓮山地，引導民歸向耶和華─他們列祖的上帝；
19:5 又在猶大國中遍地的堅固城裡設立審判官，
19:6 對他們說：「你們辦事應當謹慎；因為你們判斷不是為人，乃是為耶和華。判斷的時候，他必與你們同在。
19:7 現在你們應當敬畏耶和華，謹慎辦事；因為耶和華─我們的上帝沒有不義，不偏待人，也不受賄賂。」
19:8 約沙法從利未人和祭司，並以色列族長中派定人，在耶路撒冷為耶和華判斷，聽民間的爭訟，就回耶路撒冷去了。
19:9 約沙法囑咐他們說：「你們當敬畏耶和華，忠心誠實辦事。
19:10 住在各城裡你們的弟兄，若有爭訟的事來到你們這裡，或為流血，或犯律法、誡命、律例、典章，你們要警戒他們，免得他們得罪耶和華，以致他的忿怒臨到你們和你們的弟兄；這樣行，你們就沒有罪了。
19:11 凡屬耶和華的事，有大祭司亞瑪利雅管理你們；凡屬王的事，有猶大支派的族長以實瑪利的兒子西巴第雅管理你們；在你們面前有利未人作官長。你們應當壯膽辦事，願耶和華與善人同在。」

 

When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, ² Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love^[a] those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you. ³ There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.”

⁴ Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. ⁵ He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. ⁶ He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. ⁷ Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”

⁸ In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. ⁹ He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. ¹⁰ In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.

¹¹ “Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well.”

 

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    約沙法雖然被先知責罵，但是仍然存謙卑的心，敬畏耶和華，繼續過敬拜上帝的生活。

 

    他不僅自己敬畏上帝，也教導他的臣子：「你們辦事應當謹慎；因為你們判斷不是為人，乃是為耶和華。判斷的時候，他必與你們同在。現在你們應當敬畏耶和華，謹慎辦事；因為耶和華─我們的上帝沒有不義，不偏待人，也不受賄賂。」

 

    相信上帝必定透過他大大賜福給猶大國！

 

    他對臣子的教導，也可以成為我們做人處事的原則，要清楚我們所作的一切，都是為上帝而做，不是為討人喜歡而做！也因此，我們要兢兢業業在我們的工作，因為我們是做給上帝看的！